Released in September 2023 following years
Of anticipation from fans of the legendary developer, Bethesda Game Studios’ sci-fi RPG, Starfield, was seen by some as a failure to launch. Despite providing players with an expansive universe to explore and a space opera storyline filled with twists and turns, Starfield struggled to live up to the sky-high expectations that had been established in the minds of many gamers. But by bringing back one intriguing piece of cut content, the ability to craft unique ship parts, Bethesda could give gamers a far more in-depth and customizable experience and potentially provide Starfield with a second shot at success.
Although there are already countless parts to choose from when customizing a ship in Starfield, Bethesda had originally planned for players to also be able to craft their own components. While the choice to abandon the ship part crafting system may initially seem like a small omission, bringing back this particular piece of cut content could help breathe life back into Starfield by adding a new level of customization to the game . And by introducing rare and powerful new components to be crafted with each new expansion and major update, Bethesda could keep players coming back to Starfield for years to come.
New Starfield Update Made Some Huge Lighting Changes
Now that Starfield has received a hefty new update, gamers are noticing a drastic overhaul to some of the visuals as they revisit areas.
Player-Crafted Parts Could Make Starfield’s Ships Feel More Unique
Initially designed as just one piece of an ambitious resource management mechanic for Starfield, the ability to craft custom ship parts ultimately failed to make the cut for the game’s release. Although modders have managed to recreate some of the same functionality, bringing back custom-crafted ship parts as a core gameplay mechanic could provide players with a reason to give Starfield a second chance. This is especially true given the high praise Starfield’s powerful shipbuilding system received even from many who found the overall game to be underwhelming.
With crafting unique Starfield ships having proven to be one of the game’s biggest draws, letting players create custom parts seems like a surefire way to reignite interest in the ambitious RPG. This would not only give gamers a new way to make their ship feel like a truly one-of-a-kind creation, but also open the door to integrating the crafting system into future Starfield expansions and updates. This would create an incentive for players to log back into the game on a regular basis to ensure that their ship is always kitted out with the latest and greatest accessories.
Regularly Releasing New Components to Craft Can Keep Players Coming Back to Starfield
One of the best ways for Bethesda to build interest in a resurrected crafting mechanic for Starfield would be tying the functionality in with future expansions and updates. Releasing even a handful of new components to craft with each new Starfield update would create a steady stream of content and give players countless new ways to customize their ships. Future expansions and DLC releases could even include missions centered around producing particular parts.
For expansions like the upcoming Starfield: Shattered Space DLC, this could mean tasking players with hunting down components held by members of House Va’ruun in order to craft a powerful new part. Other parts could potentially be crafted only if players completed specific missions, creating a reason to seek out sidequests instead of simply sticking to the main campaign. In either case, those who took the time to track down rare components would be rewarded with unique ship parts that couldn’t simply be purchased from Starfield’s many vendors.
Removing the ability to craft custom ship parts in Starfield may have been a misstep on Bethesda’s part, but there’s still time to bring back this potentially game-changing feature. Providing players with more freedom to customize their ship as they see fit would not only expand on what has proven to be one of Starfield’s most popular features, it would help give the game some serious staying power for the long run.
Starfield
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 85 /100 Critics Rec: 83%
WHERE TO PLAY
Starfield is the first new universe in 25 years from Bethesda Game Studios, the award-winning creators of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Fallout 4. In this next generation role-playing game set amongst the stars, create any character you want and explore with unparalleled freedom as you embark on an epic journey to answer humanity’s greatest mystery.
The year is 2330. Humanity has ventured beyond our solar system, settling new planets, and living as a spacefaring people. From humble beginnings as a space miner, you will join Constellation – the last group of space explorers seeking rare artifacts throughout the galaxy – and navigate the vast expanse of the Settled Systems in Bethesda Game Studios’ biggest and most ambitious game.
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- yes
- Platform(s)
- PC, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- How Long To Beat
- 20 Hours
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- File Size Xbox Series
- 101 GB (September 2023)
