The COVID-19 pandemic forced Bethesda to cut content from Starfield

"We talked about it," Howard remarked jovially, suggesting that while the idea had been part of the initial plans, it was eventually shelved.

The reason behind such pivotal design decisions stemmed from a deeper technical conundrum. Bethesda's initial work on Starfield was rooted in their old Creation Engine. However, as the game's vision expanded, it became evident that they needed to transition to the newly minted Creation Engine 2. A significant portion of the groundwork had to be ported to this new engine, a task daunting in its own right. Yet, the universe threw another curveball at Bethesda: the COVID-19 pandemic.

As the pandemic wreaked havoc worldwide, Bethesda, like countless others, had to pivot to a work-from-home model. However, unlike conventional tech jobs, game development thrives on collaboration.

Think of artists working side by side, sharing their creations in real-time, deriving feedback, and weaving a tapestry of immersive experiences. While developers can conduct daily progress reviews remotely, the true essence of development blossoms when artists and developers are in close quarters.

Coupled with the unique challenges games pose, such as handling terabytes of data and the intricate dance of syncing changes, the work-from-home model began to show its cracks.

Underlying all these technical challenges, Starfield was not just any game but a project that required the development of a brand-new technological backbone. The planned release for November 2022 seemed feasible with a comfortable buffer in place. But as Howard admitted, even a small deviation in percentage when scaling up a project of this scale is going to translate into significant time lags.

Thus, the decision to push the game's release to September was not a whim but a calculated choice to ensure the final product was nothing short of perfection.

For the most part, this appears to have worked for Starfield. By all intents and purposes, it's a commercial success that, although might not win any awards, will likely be enjoyed by players for years.

Even post-launch, Starfield has captivated audiences, boasting 1 million concurrent players on its debut day and racking up a total of 6 million players shortly after. The journey, however, is far from over. With expansions like Shattered Space on the horizon, Bethesda is committed to enriching the Starfield experience.

So, as critics and enthusiasts alike delve into the myriad worlds of Starfield, one thing becomes clear: the stars, while challenging to reach, are undoubtedly worth the journey.