Starfield is now in its second year, and the future of the IP is currently in a tricky situation. As of now, Bethesda's ambitious space adventure has yet to announce more post-launch plans. The developer's original intent was for Starfield to have annual expansions, but after the mixed reception to its first DLC, Shattered Space, it's unclear if Bethesda is going to change its game plan or not.
Despite strong critical reviews ahead of its launch, Starfield has struggled to attract players in the same way that past Bethesda games have. Starfield's world has been hailed as sterile by some players, leaving the game in the midst of an identity crisis. There are a lot of strong qualities found within Starfield, but the game is still in need of something that encourages players to come back for more. It has yet to be revealed how Bethesda plans on improving replayability, but Starfield could have a secret weapon hidden within one specific species: Aceles.
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Starfield's 'A Legacy Forged' Quest Could Hold Untapped Potential
Dealing With the Galaxy's Terramorph Threat
- "A Legacy Forged" is the final mission players complete in the UC Vanguard questline.
- The mission requires players to choose between two methods of dealing with Terramorphs.
This particular quest for the UC Vanguard is fascinating because it requires players to make an important choice when it comes to the galaxy's wildlife. Players are given the choice between using specially bred Aceles, a large endangered species, or experimental Microbes that will wipe out the Terramorphs. The Aceles are natural predators of the Terramorphs, but their endangered status keeps them from being a current threat to the latter, requiring UC Vanguard breeding interventions. No matter what choice a player makes, the desired outcome is to get rid of the Terramorphs, but the Aceles are the more natural solution.
The main concern with choosing the Aceles in "A Legacy Forged" is that it's a slower method of dealing with the Terramorph threat. However, if players choose the Aceles, the population of the species grows at a surprising rate, making the method faster than anticipated.
Bringing More Conservation and Wildlife Science to Starfield
The Aceles could be the key to Starfield finding its own unique identity. Moving forward, Starfield could easily become a story about both the repercussions and benefits of colonizing space. Humans were largely responsible for the Aceles becoming endangered, but "A Legacy Forged" demonstrates how useful it can be to bring species back from the brink in order to restore balance to an ecosystem.
Whether it be through future expansions or even a full-blown Starfield sequel, Bethesda could lean into missions that require players to conserve ecosystems or even drastically change wildlife for one's own gain, depending on a character's moral alignment.
Players could get a clear demonstration of how humanity's choices can completely reshape environments. Seemingly mundane choices can hold a lot of unseen weight, and watching that unfold through environmental change could be an incredibly compelling route to venture down. Not only would this be a fascinating angle, but it may also give Starfield the longevity it needs. Spending hours in Starfield could be even more interesting when seeing that in-game choices have beneficial or harmful outcomes as time passes.
Completing "A Legacy Forged" will gift players with several rewards: Class One Citizenship, a New Atlantis Penthouse, 15,000 Credits, and lower prices on Colonial purchases.
Starfield News Could Be Around the Corner
With the Xbox Games Showcase set to premiere on June 8, Bethesda could be gearing up for an announcement revealing the game's future plans. Speculation about a Starfield PS5 port and its second expansion will hopefully get some answers, but only time will tell. Until then, the Aceles-based mission in the UC Vanguard questline might be a rich source of inspiration.
Starfield
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 85 /100 Critics Rec: 83%
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.
