Bethesda's anticipated space RPG Starfield's galaxy will have 1,000 planets spread across 100 separate systems, but with so many on offer, there are some question marks over how unique each of these planets will actually be. Starfield's showing at the showcase was still impressive, but there is a worry that the game's scale could lead to a lack of detail as players explore certain aspects of its galaxy.
This year's Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase charted the future of the Xbox platform over the coming year, with an emphasis placed on Bethesda's output. Bethesda - now an Xbox-owned studio and publisher - showed off new footage of vampire-themed battle royale Redfall, but the bulk of attention was on Starfield, which has been described as a space-set Skyrim by Bethesda itself. This has led to a great deal of hype surrounding the project, which is set to release in 2023.
Space exploration is central to Starfield's open-world gameplay, but it remains to be seen just how detail-filled and vibrant every location is. With 1,000 different planets, it seems impossible that each of these planets can be a large and living world, and not just be the size of a town. Another problem could be the distinction between these planets. With so many different worlds to explore, planets may eventually start to look pretty similar, which could cause problems in of repetition.
Starfield's 1,000 Planet Promise Could Be A Big Problem
With over 1,000 planets included in the game, there's a real chance that this means each of Starfield's planets will be quite small. While this isn't inherently a problem, it does seem like an odd choice. Instead of having 1,000 small planets, a more concise solar system, with a smaller number of planets, could have lent itself well to the game. It's still too soon to tell how the 1,000 planets will work in practice, but it's difficult to see how every setting and location in Starfield will boast the same level of detail.
By deg 1,000 planets to explore, Bethesda has a lot to live up to with Starfield's release. There's no doubt some of these environments will look impressive, but maintaining that level of detail and atmosphere across 100 separate systems is a big challenge. The large amount of worlds brings Starfield even closer to No Man's Sky territory, especially with the presence of procedurally generated content. Regardless, players will get to explore all 1,000 planets in Starfield when the game releases in the first half of 2023 on Xbox and PC.
