Starfield: Everything You Need to Know About Bethesda’s New Space RPG

What is Starfield?

Starfield is an upcoming action role-playing game developed by Bethesda Game Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks. It is the first new intellectual property from the studio in 29 years, since The Elder Scrolls series debuted in 1994. The game is set in a space-themed setting, where players can explore the galaxy, create their own characters, and embark on an epic journey to answer humanity’s greatest mystery.

When is Starfield coming out?

Starfield is scheduled to release on September 6, 2023, for Windows PC and Xbox Series X/S. The game will be available on Xbox Game Pass on day one, meaning that subscribers can play it at no additional cost. The game will also be playable on other platforms via Xbox Cloud Gaming, which allows streaming games to devices such as Xbox One, iOS, and Android.

What are the features of Starfield?

Starfield promises to be a massive and immersive RPG with a galaxy of content to explore. Here are some of the features that have been revealed so far:

• Open world: Starfield features an open world in the form of an area within the Milky Way galaxy, containing both fictional and non-fictional planetary systems. Players can land on more than 1,000 planets and an unspecified number of moons and space stations. The landscapes are procedurally generated and then handcrafted by the developers. The game will also generate the terrain and the alien flora and fauna of a planet depending on the star of its system and its atmosphere.
• Character creation: Players can customize their character’s appearance, background, and traits at the beginning of the game. The background of the character will unlock three starting skills, while the traits will provide advantages or disadvantages throughout the game. Traits can be removed or added through quests or actions. For example, the Introvert trait grants more endurance when traveling alone, but reduces it when traveling with a companion.
• Skills and abilities: As players progress, they will gain experience and level up, allowing them to unlock abilities found in five distinct skill trees: Physical, Social, Combat, Science, and Tech. Each skill can be ranked up by completing related challenges. Skills will affect various aspects of the gameplay, such as dialogue options, combat effectiveness, hacking abilities, and more.
• Weapons and combat: Players can use a variety of firearms, explosives, and melee weapons to defeat enemies. Each weapon type can be modified to suit different playstyles. The game also features zero-gravity environments and boost packs that add a chaotic spectacle to combat and allow for more freedom of movement.
• Ship customization: Players can pilot and command their own ship, which can be personalized with different looks, systems, weapons, shields, and crew members. The ship can also be used as a base of operations, where players can store items, craft equipment, research projects, and access various features.
• Exploration and discovery: Players can explore planets with a scanner device that can locate and identify resources, plants, animals, and other points of interest. The scanner also shows how many discoverable resources there are on each planet and how much of the flora and fauna has been scanned. Resources can be used to craft items or sold for money. Players can also use a tool called a Cutter to mine materials from the environment.
• Outpost building: Players can build their own outposts on planets and hire crew members to passively extract materials from them. Outposts can also provide benefits such as fast travel points, storage space, crafting stations, and more.
• Factions and companions: Players will encounter various factions and characters in the game world, some of whom may join their crew or offer quests. Each companion has their own unique skills and abilities that can help the player in different situations. Some companions can also be romanced by the player.
• Story and choices: Starfield has a main story that revolves around the mystery of humanity’s origin and destiny in the universe. Players will join Constellation - the last group of space explorers seeking rare artifacts throughout the galaxy - and face various challenges and dangers along the way. The game also features branching dialogue options and choices that will affect the outcome of the story and the relationships with other characters.

Where can I pre-order Starfield?

Starfield is available for pre-order on various platforms and stores. Here are some of the options:

• Xbox Game Pass: Subscribers can play Starfield on day one at no additional cost. Xbox Game Pass costs $10.99 per month for console only or $16.99 per month for PC, console, and xCloud.
• Windows Store: Players can pre-order Starfield for $69.99 for the standard edition or $99.99 for the premium edition. The premium edition includes early access to the game (starting from August 31), a digital art book, a digital soundtrack, and a constellation emblem. Players can also upgrade to the premium edition for $34.99 if they already own the standard edition.
• Steam: Players can pre-order Starfield for $69.99 for the standard edition or $99.99 for the premium edition. The premium edition includes the same bonuses as the Windows Store version.
• Amazon: Players can pre-order Starfield for $69.99 for the standard edition or $299.99 for the constellation edition. The constellation edition is a physical collector’s edition that includes a steelbook case, a constellation patch, a star map poster, a collector’s coin, a data pad replica, and a helmet replica.
• Best Buy: Players can pre-order Starfield for $69.99 for the standard edition, $299.99 for the constellation edition, or $34.99 for the upgrade to the premium edition.
• GameStop: Players can pre-order Starfield for $69.99 for the standard edition or $299.99 for the constellation edition.
• Walmart: Players can pre-order Starfield for $299.99 for the constellation edition.

Why should I be excited about Starfield?

Starfield is one of the most anticipated games of 2023, and for good reasons. It is the first new IP from Bethesda Game Studios in almost three decades, and it promises to be a huge and immersive RPG with a galaxy of content to explore. It is also one of the first games to showcase the power and potential of the next-generation consoles and PC hardware, with stunning graphics, physics, and performance. If you are a fan of Bethesda’s games or sci-fi in general, Starfield is a game you don’t want to miss.