Bethesda Excises Gruesome Details in 'Starfield'

Bethesda's Starfield initially included plans for visceral gore and dismemberment, but technical hurdles forced their removal. Dennis Mejillones, a character artist who worked on Skyrim, Fallout 4, and Starfield, explained to Kiwi Talkz that the complexity of integrating these mechanics with the game's spacesuits proved insurmountable.

The technical challenges stemmed from the intricate design of the suits. Mejillones detailed the numerous considerations, including realistic helmet removal, flesh simulation beneath the suit, and the interaction with various suit modifications and hoses. The system's complexity, he stated, became unwieldy. Furthermore, the significant evolution of the character creator, allowing for considerable body size variations, added another layer of difficulty.

While some fans expressed disappointment over the absence of gore and dismemberment—features present in Fallout 4—Mejillones argued that such mechanics are more fitting for Fallout's satirical tone. He noted that the over-the-top violence contributes to Fallout's comedic style.

Despite this omission, Starfield, Bethesda's first major single-player RPG in eight years, has still captivated over 15 million players since its September 2023 release. IGN's 7/10 review highlighted the game's compelling quests and satisfying combat as key strengths.

Recent revelations from another former Bethesda developer shed light on the game's extensive loading times, particularly noticeable in Neon. Since launch, Bethesda has actively addressed performance issues, introducing a 60fps performance mode and releasing the "Shattered Space" expansion.