After years of waiting, Bethesda is finally set to launchStarfieldsometime this year. It is a long time coming, as the game was announced back in 2018. The release ofStarfieldwill mark the first new IP from the studio in years, and it will be Bethesda’s first foray into space-faring science-fiction. That means that there is a lot riding on the game, and right now it feels like it may get lost in the crowd.
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Starfield May Get Lost in the Crowd
Even beforeStarfieldwas announced, there had already been multiple games that gave players the same type of experience. They could explorea massive procedurally generated universe inNo Man’s Sky, a 1:1 scale version of the Milky Way galaxy inElite Dangerous, and jump into the highest-funded crowdfunding project everStar Citizen.Each of those games has given players the fantasy of exploring space in their own personal starship, andStarfielddoes not seem to be doing anything different.
Obsidian Entertainment also beat Bethesdato the action RPG space game with the popularThe Outer Worlds.The game launched a year afterStarfieldwas announced, and it whisked players away to a colorful star system filled with charismatic and unique characters. WhileThe Outer Worlds’galaxy is far smaller than that ofStarfield, the gameplay style is similar to Bethesda’s classic RPG model. Obsidian has not only made a belovedFalloutgame withFallout: New Vegas, but it seems to have also made a smaller version ofStarfieldbeforeStarfieldeven hit store shelves.
There are so many different space games out there, andStarfield’s gameplay trailer did not make it seem like it will be that different. Players will land on a planet, mine resources, explore their surroundings, fight enemies, and take off to do it all over again. The trailer looked rather like a less vibrant version ofNo Man’s Sky, and Bethesda needs to ensure that the game can justify its existence.
Bethesda Needs to Wow Its Audience
Starfieldseems to be in a bit of a tough spot. While it will probably be a success sinceBethesda has delivered some great RPGsover the years, its similarities to other space games may ultimately make the game pretty forgettable. The gameplay that has been released make it seem like every other game out there rather than an exciting new concept from an award-winning team. Bethesda needs to show its audiencewhat makesStarfielddifferent and why gamers should care about the studio’s latest endeavor. It needs to shed more light on the narrative it crafted, the uniqueness of the galaxy, what makes the gameplay engaging, and how the RPG mechanics come into play.
All eyes are on this game as it is the first new IP from Bethesda in over 25 years, and it needs to justify why it exists when there are so many games like it.Starfielddefinitely looks like it could be a good time for fans of space games, but it has not quite shown why they should move from games likeNo Man’s Sky. It will likely have the classic Bethesda charm, but the gameplay also needs to be interesting enough to give itthe longevity ofThe Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim. Right now, it is coming eerily close to being just another space game, and the next couple of months are Bethesda’s chance to make sure that does not happen.
Starfieldis scheduled to release in 2023 for PC and Xbox Series X/S.
