Whenever Bethesda Softworks makes headlines, it is usually because something big is cooking. Sometimes the deliveries are criticized because they are weighed down by bugs. Perhaps, that explains why gamers were cautiously optimistic when 6 September was announced as the release date for ‘Starfield’.
Starfield was originally set for release in 2022. The announcement was made back in 2018 at Bethesda’s E3 press event. In what is sadly becoming a norm for big-budget titles, Starfield was pushed back to the first half of 2023.
The new release date missed that target by three months. PCGamer’s Wes Fenlon claimed that it was almost impossible to “launch a Bethesda RPG without some pretty big bugs”. According to Fenlon, Microsoft’s influence may be the game changer this time. Todd Howard, the game director could not hide his excitement in the official launch date announcement.
“We have poured ourselves into this game and even I’m surprised how much we can pour, it is large,” Howard said, sounding a little exhausted. “This June, we’re going to bring you into the studio and give you a deep dive into the game and our Starfield Direct.”
Speculations have been springing up to explain the September 6 release date. One of such speculations claimed the recent delay was to enable Bethesda to polish the game to the point where it will be delivered to consumers with as minimal bugs as possible, unlike previous titles from the developer.
Another popular opinion is that Starfield is probably still unfinished and the developers want to buy as much time as possible to complete the project. The first speculation sounds closer to reality. Regardless of what the case may be, fans eagerly await Starfield because it would be the first game that will be built on the new “Creation Engine 2”.
So, what’s the buzz about Starfield?
Set in the year 2330, Starfield promises to be nothing like we have seen in the gaming world before. It will feature more than 1,000 planets, outpost buildings, companions, ship combat, and customizations. That is a whole lot to put together. Perhaps, we will know more on 11 June 2023 during the Starfield Direct.
The stakes are really high and Starfield is arguably one of the most anticipated titles coming into 2023. Some fans believe that it will likely take cues from some of the previous elite titles from the developer such as Fallout 4.
One of the biggest concerns of Bethesda fans is whether the new release date will affect other future titles from the developer including The Elder Scrolls 6. By the way, if you are yet to play the previous Elder Scrolls titles, now may be a good time to play them so that you will better follow the story.
The video of Starfield’s official release announcement also gave fans the opportunity to scrutinize the graphics and glean more information about the environment. During Howard’s short and passionate appeal to fans at the end of the trailer, testers could be seen playing the games in the background.
If all the gameplay we saw in the background were all Starfield, then, gamers should expect to experience the Sept. 6 release in both first-person and third-person POVs. Although it would not be the first game to pull it off, there are only a handful of games that have successfully done it.
Another piece of information that some gamers spotted from the trailer announcement was that it would likely make use of the weapon favoriting function that we saw in the 2015 Fallout. This feature allows gamers to add an item to the quick selection menu.
Who can play the game?
When Starfield arrives in summer—and hopefully there won’t be another sudden delay—it will be available on Xbox Series X|S and PC. PlayStation gamers would probably be biting their nails. However, that shouldn’t be because myriads of PlayStation-exclusive games don’t make it to Xbox too.
Back in 2021, the developer confirmed that future Bethesda Game Studios titles will only be released on Xbox and PC. Interestingly, gamers with Game Pass Ultimate will have access to the game right from the Sept. 6 release date.
It is hard to say with certainty that Starfield will not be delayed again. A similar fate befell Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. However, with the patients of gamers running out, it will be costly for Bethesda not to stick with the Sept. 6 release date.
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