Summary
Bethesda Game Studios executive producer Todd Howard addressed the criticisms of players left disappointed byStarfield. Since its release in 2023, the open-world sci-fi RPG has had trouble reaching the same level of universal acclaim as previous Bethesda titles, with longtime fans of the developer still divided on their opinions regarding their experience. While some enjoyed their playthrough of the title, other players found issues with several elements ofStarfield’s design and have not been shy of criticizing its developer for its perceived shortcomings.
At the time of writing,Starfield’s Steam overall reviews are hovering at a “Mixed” rating of 61%, and its Xbox Games store page retains an average review score of 3.4/5 stars. Though the game is far from an outright critical or financial failure, scores indicated thatStarfieldplayers are nevertheless finding it difficult to fall in love with the IP in the same way fans did withBethesda’sThe Elder ScrollsorFalloutseries. The criticisms ofStarfieldfocus on a variety of issues, but a sizable portion of negative reviews were directed at the game’s setting. Users claimed the title lacked a strong creative vision and engaging narrative, with some further stating that it failed to innovate on Bethesda’s established formula.
Now, over half a year after its release, Howard discussed thepolarized reception forStarfieldduring an interview with Greg Miller at Kinda Funny Games. When asked how the studio responded to some of the negative reviews, the Bethesda executive first assured fans that developers were listening closely to their feedback. He stated that they understood why some fans were disappointed thatStarfielddidn’t offer the same flavor of exploration as previous Bethesda games.
Todd Howard Responds to Starfield Critics
Howard additionally sympathized with players who were excited to land andexploreStarfield’s various planetsbut emphasized that the developers' vision for a sci-fi video game necessitated certain trade-offs. He further encouraged fans to go intoStarfieldwithout letting their experience with previous Bethesda games color their expectations, claiming that they should let each of the franchises stand out in their own unique ways.
WhileStarfieldis still on shaky ground, there is hope for Bethesda’s newest IP, with additional patches and content already in the production pipeline. Howard notably claimed developers were still working on adding official mod support for the title and hinted that more information would be made available soon. He also revealed arelease window for the Shattered Space DLC, which is reportedly scheduled for release sometime in Fall 2024.
Starfield
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.
