Starfield Could Be Bethesda's Cyberpunk 2077

Summary

Starfield's release has been polarizing, with an engaging leveling system and 'NASA Punk' art style praised, but outdated systems and familiar design choices criticized.
Starfield's settlements, like Neon, draw parallels to Night City in Cyberpunk 2077, but the similarities could continue through a similar comeback for Starfield.
The confirmed DLC expansion, Shattered Space, could revive interest in Starfield, like Phantom Liberty did for Cyberpunk 2077. Also like Cyberpunk, updates prior to the DLC could address complaints fans have.

Starfield is the first new IP from developer Bethesda in 25 years, and by that tagline alone it was sure to garner a lot of attention. Half a decade after its release, it finally hit shelves, and the game delivered on plenty of its promises, including an engaging leveling system, amusing characters, and a 'NASA Punk' art style that Bethesda deployed to great effect.

However, some of its drawbacks drowned out its advancements, and so the conversation surrounding Starfield has been somewhat polarizing. The same could once be said of Cyberpunk 2077, which has enjoyed a renaissance of sorts in recent months, so it's not a huge leap to think that Starfield could be on a similar trajectory.

Cyberpunk is a Changed Product Since its Launch

Cyberpunk 2077 caught harsh, and largely justified, heat for its poor state on release. Bugs were plentiful for players on high-end PC systems, and those who were hoping to explore all corners of Night City on the base PS4 or Xbox One were struggling to even run the game at all. It was a blemish on CD Projekt Red's otherwise great resume, but since then, with the arrival of substantial patches like 1.5 and the Edgerunners update in 1.6, the game has started to resemble the promotional material that players saw prior to release.

Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty is the biggest reason to jump back into the game, with a popular and well-liked expansion adding to the story and justifying more time in the game's huge open-world. The way the game felt three years ago compared to today is night and day, showing that games that are seriously flawed can still be revitalized and rehabilitated if enough attention is given to them.

Starfield's Good Grace Among Audiences is Dwindling

Starfield released to a respectable amount of critical acclaim, and players who gave the game a chance at launch were generally satisfied, save for a few shortcomings. Since then, however, the conversation seems to have become less about what it does right, and more about how Starfield can feel like it relies too heavily on outdated systems and overly familiar design choices. In some ways, Starfield is Bethesda's most ambitious project, but in others it's clear to see where the developer has resorted to its comfortable, repeatable gameplay mechanics that can be seen in games as far back as 2008's Fallout 3.

The initial praise surrounding Starfield is unlikely to return unless something is done to bring it back into gamers' good graces. The confirmed DLC expansion, Shattered Space could be that ticket, but before this can happen Bethesda has to take steps like updating key mechanics, keeping support going, and maintaining an open dialogue with fans. It will likely be a while before The Elder Scrolls 6 is on store shelves, though, so Starfield has enough time to make changes as the months go on.

Starfield's Neon Already Draws Parallels to Night City

While Starfield deploys a planet-hopping exploration philosophy (much like Mass Effect or No Man's Sky), there are settlements that feel substantial enough to warrant more than just a fleeting visit. The center of the Freestar Collective, Akila City, and the starting city, New Atlantis, are each memorable places, but Neon is one that is reminiscent of Omega in Mass Effect 2 or, more notably, Night City in Cyberpunk 2077. It lives up to its name, with bright colors being paired with petty crime and an overbearing security presence doing well to make it feel exciting, but hostile. It's a small, but significant indicator that Starfield can garner a similar feeling to what Cyberpunk 2077 draws out of players, and Neon could be ripe for more content akin to Phantom Liberty. With Starfield already having an area that feels straight out of Cyberpunk 2077, Bethesda looking closer at that game is not out of the realm of possibility.

Singleplayer Games are Constantly Evolving, So Starfield Should Too

In recent years, the gaming industry is seeing more and more projects releasing in a flawed state and being improved over time. With live service games, this is intentional, but solo games (or at least those that launched as such) like Cyberpunk 2077 and No Man's Sky are finding success down the line thanks to the developers' commitment to improving the product. It's not necessarily something that should be championed by gamers, but Cyberpunk 2077's Best Ongoing Game accolade at The Game Awards shows that a title's image can be rehabilitated over time, and people can get over launch day shortcomings.

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OpenCritic Reviews: Top Critic Avg: 85 /100 Critics Rec: 83%

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Released: September 6, 2023
ESRB: M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood, Suggestive Themes, Use of Drugs, Strong Language, Violence
Developer(s): Bethesda
Publisher(s): Bethesda
Engine: proprietary engine
Cross-Platform Play: no multiplayer
Cross Save: no