After many years of anticipation, Starfield is finally set to release sometime this year. This will be the first new IP from Bethesda in 25 years, and it looks like it will be a treat for sci-fi fans everywhere. Players will be whisked away on a galactic adventure filled with colorful characters to meet and planets to explore, and it will offer a new level of customizability that no Bethesda game has before. Starfield has the chance to redefine what it means to be a Bethesda game, and some of its biggest features may help influence future titles.
One of Starfield's biggest features has to be its modular ship customization. Players are able to customize virtually every aspect of their starship, and they will unlock even more customization features as they fly across the stars. It could be a real game changer, and help to set Starfield apart from the rest of the sci-fi crowd. Its level of customizability may also help shape future Bethesda titles and could do wonders for Fallout 5's settlement feature.
Starfield's Modular Ship-Building Explained
Starfield players are going to be able to customize almost every aspect of their starship via the modular building system that Bethesda is introducing. They will have control over the engines, landing gear, cockpit, shape, color, and much more. This system will give players the ability to build their dream starship, and then they will be able to take it across the stars on a wild galactic adventure. As they venture across the galaxy, they will be able to acquire even more parts that will allow them to alter their starship in whole new ways.
Customizing the starship's look is not the only purpose of Starfield's modular ship-building feature. These parts also seem to have a significant effect on the starship's core stats. The gameplay preview showed 11 different stats that could be altered through customization. These stats include the hull and shield strength, cargo space, speed, jump range, damage, and the way that it handles. Altering these stats will give players even more freedom to create their unique starship, and it will hopefully be as advanced as it sounds.
Fallout 5's Settlement Building Could Copy Starfield
Starfield's modular ship-building looks like it could be a fantastic addition to the game, and it kind of feels like a natural progression of Fallout 4's settlement feature. Bethesda experimented with letting players construct their own settlements in Fallout 4, and then expanded some of its functionality with Fallout 76. This feature has given players the ability to survive in the wasteland however they want, and Bethesda will likely expand upon the feature more in Fallout 5.
Fallout 4 and Fallout 76 gave players a lot of freedom, but the building was very cumbersome. It was limited to certain objects, the menus were annoying to navigate, players could only place a certain amount of things, and Fallout 4 limited it to certain locations. Players could only customize so much, and that prevented them from building the settlement of their dreams. Starfield seems to remove a lot of those limitations with its ship and outpost building, and Fallout 5 should do the same with its settlements.
Starfield seems to give players control of every aspect of their ship and allows them to customize it down to the minute detail. The game also seems to do this with its outpost building, but Bethesda has not shown much of that system yet. The gameplay preview showed a less cumbersome building menu that gives players a better look at what exactly they are building. Instead of having them build through the eyes of their character, Starfield seems to give them free range to move the camera and what they are building wherever they want. It just looks like it will be super easy to use, and will allow for a new level of customization that Bethesda has never offered before.
Starfield's building could be applied to Fallout 5's settlements, and it would give players virtually limitless possibilities when designing their perfect home. Players could control every aspect, and they would be able to build whatever their heart desired. While players will have to wait and see if Starfield's building is truly as great as it sounds, it has the chance to change Bethesda's RPGs for the better.
Starfield releases in 2023 for PC and Xbox Series X/S.