Bethesda Explains Why Starfield Is So Damn Big

Starfield looks like it’s going to be a very, very big game full of things to do, places to explore, people to meet, and creatures to battle. The Starfield Direct provided the best look yet at the sci-fi shooter, which is Bethesda’s first new IP in 20+ years, and in the video briefing, the developer explained why the game is so damn big.

Bethesda games are known for giving players freedom on a grand scale, and the idea is for Starfield to up the ante.

“In every one of our games, we always put so much care into all those little details that breathe life into our worlds. But Starfield isn’t just a Bethesda Game Studios world. It’s a Bethesda Game Studios galaxy. So why go this big with Starfield? Because we want to give you freedom on a galactic level,” lead landscape artist Matt Carofano said. “A freedom to experience both the exciting planets and the quiet ones.”

Starfield has more than 1,000 planets that can be landed on and explored. Carofano said players might find it handy to scan planets so they can see what resources it has for crafting, building, and customizing before setting their ship down.

The planets in Starfield are, in part, procedurally generated, which allowed Bethesda’s developers to go so big with Starfield. At the same time, the game features more handcrafted content than any game that Bethesda has ever made, director Todd Howard told IGN.

During the start of the Xbox Games Showcase, executive Sarah Bond said Starfield is “one of the most important RPGs ever made.”

In other news about big, big games, Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed series was criticized in recent years for getting too big and making players feel overwhelmed. The creative director of this year’s Assassin’s Creed Mirage told GamesRadar that Ubisoft heard feedback that players wanted a more “character-driven” game on an “intimate scale” and is trying to deliver that.

After a big delay, Starfield is now set for release on September 6. The game’s Constellation Edition providing access to the game five days early. An official Starfield controller and headset are also on the way.

For more from the Starfield Direct, check out GameSpot’s extended coverage linked below: