Bethesda’s forthcoming space odyssey, Starfield, promises to eclipse several titles in terms of depth, immersion, and its sheer content, with Xbox Game Studios boss, Phil Spencer, comparing it to The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion but, only that it’s set in space, more beautiful, and in many ways, better. But it seems, as with the mysteries of the universe, there’s even more to it than meets the eye.
Speaking at Gamescom 2023 with IGN, Pete Hines, the head of publishing for Bethesda, the same guy asking the fans to watch a certain Netflix documentary, talked about an engrossing journey that it made him lose all sense of time. He claims he hasn’t really come close to seeing Starfield through 150 hours or so in.
Yet, this anecdotal behemoth of gameplay might not be a universal experience. Todd Howard, Starfield’s director, claims that the main storyline would revolve around the 30 to 40-hour mark. Perhaps it’s a testament to the game’s captivating nature that, given the depth of side quests and exploration, one can easily lose themselves for extended hours, like how Spencer apparently spent more than 200 hours playing the game.
But Starfield isn’t just about longevity. The vibrancy of its universe has been described as having a plethora of games all packed into one massive experience. From Bethesda’s previous blockbusters such as Fallout and Skyrim, this title seems poised to raise the bar. It offers players a kaleidoscope of roles to embody, leading them through experiences that could feel like entirely separate games within this universe. The sheer agency given to players’ hands, to carve their unique paths and narratives, is astounding.
While the majesty of Starfield’s universe remains largely undisclosed, Todd Howard’s reference to the number of planets in the game paints an evocative image. Remarkably, only 10% of these planets are believed to harbor life, but you’ll be able to explore all of them – albeit on foot.
There’s another intriguing element to this odyssey: the game, Hines asserts, unveils its true grandeur only after the main storyline concludes. This is perhaps a nod to Starfield’s New Game+ mode, recently hinted at by Howard, which is poised to entice players for another bout with its unique twists, ensuring continued and repeat play.
Of course, there’s more than just gameplay mechanics at play here. Emotionally, Hines has dubbed the main story as his “favorite Bethesda Game Studios story.” The ending, it seems, is a magnum opus in narrative storytelling, and Hines hopes players will resonate with it as profoundly as he did.
“Profound” isn’t a word most would use describing the endings to Bethesda’s games – they’re words usually best fit for the side quests and the journey from the start to completion. Yet, Hines is sure enough that it’s willing to give Starfield the vote of confidence, as if it needed any more hype.
Speaking of believing in their product, only Bethesda is brazen enough to give game copies weeks in advance, even if it came at the expense of their leaks, disappointment, and an early review that led to a felony crime.
To say that the anticipation for Starfield among fans is electric is only fitting. There’s a warped sense time as audiences eagerly await the release, with many already coming up with their respective sick day excuses so they can stay home and enjoy Starfield.
Starfield’s expansive galaxy, available to everyone on Xbox Series S/X and PC from September 6, is a treasure trove for dedicated players. With potentially thousands of hours of gameplay, a word of advice from Hines to players is to get the main quest started right away. Everyone’s first 40 hours could be wildly different, depending on their chosen paths.
Given Bethesda’s track record, particularly the hundreds of thousands of hours players devote to their games, especially with mods, Starfield’s expansive content, even without post-launch expansion, indicate a game that will resonate with fans for years to come.
