Starfield is an upcoming action role-playing game developed by Bethesda Game Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks. It was announced during Bethesda's E3 presentation in 2018. The game takes place in a space-themed setting, and is the first new intellectual property developed by Bethesda in 29 years. It is scheduled to release for Windows and Xbox Series X/S on September 6, 2023, with the early access release receiving generally favorable reviews. Starfield is an action role-playing video game. Players can switch between a first-person and third-person perspective any time in the game. Starfield features an open world in the form of an area within the Milky Way galaxy, containing both fictional and non-fictional planetary systems, with players being able to land on more than 1,000 planets and an unspecified number of moons and space stations. The majority of the landscapes within the game were procedurally generated; they were subsequently modified and handcrafted content was developed around them. The game will generate the terrain and the alien flora and fauna of a planet depending on the star of its system and its atmosphere, as well as locations of interest as the player approaches a planet. The largest city in the game, New Atlantis, is the largest fictional city Bethesda has developed. As the player explores the game world, they will encounter various non-playable characters (NPCs), some of whom may join the player's crew. Such NPCs may aid the player in combat, carry items, or during confrontations, speak to other NPCs on the player's behalf. Some may comment on choices the player makes.[8] The player may station crew members at any of their constructed outposts. Each companion character has their own unique skills and abilities. Some recruitable NPCs are able to be romanced by the player.
At the game's beginning, the player may customize their character, who is a silent protagonist. This includes choosing their body type, appearance, background, and traits. Choosing the background of the player character will unlock three starting skills. As the player progresses, they will unlock additional traits which may aid or hinder them. For instance, the Introvert trait grants players more endurance when travelling alone, but reduces their endurance when travelling with a companion. Traits are removable through quests or certain actions. As the player progresses, 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. A variety of firearms, explosives, and melee weapons may be used to defeat enemies. Most weapons are customizable via attachments. Equipping a telescopic sight enhances a weapon's accuracy while equipping a suppressor may engender a stealth-oriented playing style. The player is additionally able to equip various jetpacks (called boostpacks), which aids the player in both combat and the traversal of impassable or challenging environments. When landed on a celestial body, the gravitational force acting upon the player varies depending upon the body's mass. This may affect combat.
Prior to landing, the player may scan planets to view their natural resources.[13] These must be extracted or harvested to fulfill many crafting recipes.[14] Outposts can be erected by the player; these can serve as homes or to facilitate resource-extraction operations. In these outposts, the player can install laboratories to research craftable items and upgrades, which are sorted into five categories: Pharmacology, Food & Drink, Outpost Development, Equipment, and Weaponry. Outposts can be constructed from both a first-person perspective and an isometric perspective.
