It is rare that a game’s start screen becomes the epicenter of a debate that ropes in heavyweights of the industry, fans, and casual gamers. But the start screen of Bethesda’s latest offering, Starfield, has done just that.
Over the weekend, Mark Kern, a former Blizzard developer, took to Twitter (or X, rather) and threw shade at Bethesda’s minimalist design. In a thread that, for some reason, captured the attention of many, Kern suggested the game’s start screen reflects either “hasty shipping deadlines by a passionate team overworked” or perhaps indicates “a team that didn’t care.”
There’s a longstanding argument in the industry surrounding the importance of a game’s introductory screen. It sets the tone, being the first impression players receive, as some would say. Kern hinted at the latter, suggesting that the start screens typically manifest at the end of a game’s development, being a reflection of a team’s pride or lack thereof.
Or they designed what they wanted and that’s been our menu for years and was one of the first things we settled on.
Having an opinion is one thing. Questioning out a developer’s “care” because you would have done it different is highly unprofessional coming from another “dev”
— Pete Hines (@DCDeacon) August 20, 2023
You’d think that this was the end of it, but you’d be wrong. Pete Hines, Bethesda’s head of publishing, didn’t bother to take his sweet time to defend his team and their vision. In a resounding yet professional retort, Hines pointed out that the minimalist start screen is part of Bethesda’s design DNA, consistent across their RPGs for over two decades. “Having an opinion is one thing. Questioning out a developer’s ‘care’ because you would have done it different is highly unprofessional coming from another ‘dev’,” Hines wrote.
Upon further reflection, Hines’ sentiment, although unnecessary and presumably born out of passion, makes sense. As “lazy” as Kern might call it, it isn’t unlike what we’ve seen in recent titles. For example, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, the co-frontrunner for this year’s Game of the Year award, sports a similar layout. Bethesda’s design has long had a minimalistic charm. Take The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim for instance; a rugged Nordic setting harmoniously mirrored its start screen.
Besides, isn’t the point of the start screen to take you from the start menu into the game as quickly as possible? We’re all for admiring the start menu of games, and it’s not like Starfield’s is irredeemable. With its atmosphere and stellar soundtrack, it’s reminiscent of other iconic start screens, like, for example, the first Mas Effect game.
But does Kern have a point, or is he simply blowing steam without context? At this point, it’s hard to tell. The discourse surrounding Starfield has switched so much that it’s spawned its own saga. The latest word is that Bethesda is taking down early review copies of the game following an earlier leak, much to the dismay of a different Bethesda executive.
Beyond the argument, what’s evident is Bethesda’s commitment to its design philosophy and the respect it has for the creative geniuses behind the game. Hines’ response wasn’t just a defense against a Twitter thread but a nod to the hard work and vision of his team. The same classy ethos was visible when Bethesda congratulated Larian Studios upon Baldur’s Gate 3, something Larian will likely reciprocate come September 6.
In the grander scheme of things, the debate surrounding Starfield’s start screen may seem like a minor hiccup. But it underscores a larger issue: the need for empathy, understanding, and respect in the gaming community. In an industry that thrives on creativity, passion, and countless hours of hard work, perhaps it’s crucial to remember that games, like art, are subjective. What might seem minimalist to one could be a masterpiece to another.
As the debate rages on, one should always remember that, sometimes, amidst heated discussions, a touch of humor provides the best perspective.
