Starfield’s Shattered Space DLC was meant to usher in a brand new period for Bethesda’s divisive area recreation Starfield, rekindling reminiscences of the studio’s nice DLCs of the previous such as Fallout 4’s Far Harbor. However following its launch final month, issues haven’t gone to plan.
Sci-fi RPG Starfield launched in September 2023 as Bethesda’s first model new mental property in years and its first mainline single-player recreation since Microsoft purchased dad or mum firm ZeniMax Media in March 2021. IGN’s Starfield overview returned a 7/10. We mentioned: “Starfield has lots of forces working towards it, however ultimately the attract of its expansive roleplaying quests and respectable fight make its gravitational pull troublesome to resist.”
A 12 months later, Shattered Space has a ‘principally detrimental’ consumer overview ranking on Steam, as Starfield gamers complain about every little thing from a scarcity of worth to boring quest design.
Now, Emil Pagliarulo, studio design director at Bethesda Recreation Studios, has responded to one fan’s concern about not simply Starfield and Shattered Space, however the route Bethesda is headed. This concern was prompted by a GamesRadar interview with Pagliarulo who enthusiastically bigged up the growth. This, the fan mentioned, instructed Bethesda was dismissive of neighborhood concern round Starfield.
In a series of tweets, Pagliarulo responded straight to this suggestion and extra typically to the continued discourse round Starfield and Bethesda. “My optimism is by no means meant to be mud within the eye of any dissatisfied fan,” Pagliarulo insisted. “That is not the way it works.”
Pagliarulo went on to say “I’m additionally very happy with Shattered Space. All of us are,” and confirmed that many of the quests and ranges within the growth had been developed by designers who labored on earlier Bethesda video games and DLC, going all the way in which again to 2002 masterpiece Morrowind. “They’re good at what they do, and it reveals,” he added.
“If of us haven’t performed Shattered Space, and so they like Starfield, I feel they’re lacking out,” Pagliarulo continued. “If of us have performed Shattered Space and nonetheless don’t prefer it, that makes me unhappy, actually. Simply know that we’ve additionally been listening to from loads of individuals who adore it.”
Pagliarulo supplied a proof of types for this obvious disconnect between the way in which he views Shattered Space and the way followers have reacted to it. “Perhaps it’s a recreation of expectations,” he instructed. “Followers need lots, and we do all we are able to to accommodate them. Right here’s what I can inform you – no one, and I imply no one, at Bethesda is patting themselves on the again whereas ignoring our gamers.”
Now Shattered Space is out, followers have questioned what’s subsequent for Starfield. In June, Bethesda Recreation Studios’ Todd Howard mentioned the corporate was dedicated to supporting Starfield, which has seen 14 million gamers throughout PC and Xbox Collection X and S, and confirmed not less than one different story growth would launch following Shattered Space. Howard mentioned Bethesda is aiming to launch an annual story growth for “hopefully a really very long time.”
Pagliarulo reiterated this dedication of help, saying Bethesda will proceed to tackle neighborhood considerations and make fixes whereas “listening to our followers each step of the way in which.”
“Starfield is a large recreation, and it takes time for us to tackle issues,” he defined. “We transfer as quick as we are able to, as safely as we are able to. Recreation improvement is all the time tough, however with a recreation as massive as Starfield, each repair may probably break one thing else.
“To shut, let me simply say… I like video games. I like Bethesda’s video games. I’ve been taking part in them for the reason that Terminator days. All I or anybody right here desires to do is make these video games after which make them higher. No ego. No vanity. Simply lots of laborious work, and appreciation of our followers.”
It’s a busy time for the 450-person Bethesda Recreation Studios, which at the moment operates 5 groups: Starfield; Elder Scrolls 6; Fallout 76; cell; and exterior improvement partnerships. It’s engaged on the aforementioned Elder Scrolls 6, ongoing content material for Fallout 76, varied cell video games, updates for older video games, and, ultimately, the following Fallout.
However will Starfield see a sequel? If it does materialize it could be a while earlier than we see something of it, with Elder Scrolls 6 anticipated no sooner than 2028 and one other Fallout recreation set to comply with.
Wesley is the UK Information Editor for IGN. Discover him on Twitter at @wyp100. You’ll be able to attain Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.