Summary

  • A Starfield character resembles Skyrim's Jarl Balgruuf, hinting at intentional references by Bethesda.
  • Starfield's attention to detail makes it highly replayable, with new discoveries even after launch.
  • Previous nods to Skyrim in Starfield suggest intentional references, adding depth to the game's universe.

A Starfield player online has noticed that a character in the recently released Shattered Space expansion appears to be a reference to a classic character in Bethesda's previous game, Skyrim. While it may prove to be a coincidence, this Starfield character looks undeniably like their alleged Skyrim equivalent.

Although many gamers have their reasons for not quite liking Starfield as much as some previous Bethesda games, no one can deny the game has the studio's typical attention to detail. There's always something new to discover throughout Starfield's vast galaxy, which makes it all the more replayable. Some of these impressive details have even been added after its launch, with another Starfield player pointing out an adorable Vasco detail that was included in the game in an August 2024 update. If previous Bethesda titles are anything to go by, gamers will be stumbling upon these kinds of details for many years to come.

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Redditor MelekRik has pointed out that Lovek Veth'aal, who represents House Veth'aal in the Starfield: Shattered Space DLC, bears a strong resemblance to Whiterun's Jarl Balgruuf from Skyrim. Looking at the two side by side, it's difficult to deny. Purely from a visual standpoint, they both have beards, long blonde hair, and similar face shapes. Where Jarl Balgruuf has a circlet representing his position of power, Lovek Veth'aal has a tattoo. Even the fact that they both lead their people is another similarity between the two.

Starfield's Lovek Veth'aal May Be a Jarl Balgruuf Reference

Of course, there's every chance that this could be a total coincidence, but that wouldn't be Bethesda's style. What can seem like happy accidents are often intentional references, and Bethesda has definitely earned the benefit of the doubt when it comes to attention to detail over the years. Bethesda is a studio that loves to reference its own games. This wouldn't even be the first Skyrim reference in Starfield. When the game first launched, it was discovered that Starfield has a cheeky nod to Skyrim's guard dialogue, so it's certainly not beyond the realm of possibility that a new reference was added in Shattered Space.

It will be interesting to see where the Starfield franchise fits Bethesda's plans going forward. The game was a financial success for the studio, even if it heavily divided players. This leaves Bethesda with three successful franchises: The Elder Scrolls, Fallout, and Starfield. While it's known that Bethesda wants to release games at a quicker rate, it isn't difficult to imagine a world where players are left waiting a decade for a Starfield sequel. If Elder Scrolls fans can wait more than 13 years for a Skyrim sequel, nothing is off the table. Hopefully, Bethesda will figure out a solution that's an improvement on the wait time between its titles at the moment.

Rating block community and brand ratings Image
Starfield Tag Page Cover Art
10 /10

Starfield
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Action
RPG
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Systems
PC-1 Xbox-1
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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
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WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
PHYSICAL
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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.

Steam Deck Compatibility
yes
Genre(s)
Action, RPG
How Long To Beat
20 Hours
X|S Optimized
Yes
File Size Xbox Series
101 GB (September 2023)
OpenCritic Rating
Mighty