Starfield, what you need to know so far

Bethesda's Todd Howard spoke to fans during a Reddit AMA back in November, where he disclosed a few exciting morsels of information about the title. He revealed that players will, thankfully, have access to a robust character creation system, allowing a customizable appearance and skill-set as we journey across the stars. Full mod support, Robot companions and the promise that we can expect a full gameplay reveal around summer time were also revealed by the veteran Director.

A new engine is being used to power the game, leading to improved animation and a graphical leap fitting of a next-gen AAA title. NPCs will play a massive role in how the narrative develops and it's been promised that this new engine will allow for an unprecedented improvement in both features and fidelity.

Set in the year 2330, players will traverse an area beyond the Solar System known as The Settled Systems. The game takes place 20 years after the brutal Colony Wars between the two largest factions of The Settled Systems – the United Colonies and the Freestar Collective. There is a fragile peace between the two now, but the world is described as still being a dangerous place, plagued by pirates and mercenaries. Keeping the peace is the organization known as Constellation, and as its newest recruit you are sent out to explore the mysteries of the farthest reaches of the Settled System. Not much else is known about the story but these small snippets go some way to give a taste of the massive world players will inhabit. 

Concept art gives a sneak peak at a few of the in-game locales and planets. A densely populated cyberpunk, noir vibe is definitely apparent in the city teased during a developer exploration of the limited info released so far. Alien planets glimpsed thus far range from neon drenched wonderlands to dense jungle, rocky outcrops and huge industrial areas promising a rich and diverse world ripe for exploration. 

A somewhat retro-futuristic aesthetic is teased in the trailer as the player launches from a rocky planet into the cosmos. Just how this mechanic will work remains to be seen but the prospect of full space exploration coupled with the incredible mechanics that prove so popular in both Fallout and Elder Scrolls make Starfield a very exciting prospect. As more information becomes available and the release date towards the end of the year looms, we can be sure the true scope of the game will become apparent. At the very least, players are promised a massive single player game that provides huge exploration potential and a compelling story. Keep posted on Fanatical for more info as it comes.

Get an extended look at the game and some insight from Game Director Todd Howard, Studio Director Angela Browder and Art Director Matt Carofano.