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Pre-Release Starfield |Pre-Release Discussion Thread| Skyrim in Space (Up: game has gone gold)
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it definitely sounds like a misunderstanding over the fact the collector's edition (which has become a common trend unfortunately, GOW Ragnarok and Spider-Man 2 do the same thing.) only has a digital code.
though do note this only applies to the Xbox Series version, the standard retail PC release (SKU 6548059) is almost certainly a Steam key in a box like Bethesda's previous ones.
though do note this only applies to the Xbox Series version, the standard retail PC release (SKU 6548059) is almost certainly a Steam key in a box like Bethesda's previous ones.
Pre-loads
OP
OP
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shamelessly stolen from Era
Pre-loads start August 9th
www.resetera.com
Pre-loads start August 9th
Starfield pre-load goes live August 9th News
Didn't see a thread for this in search... Directly from Amazon's listing for the 1TB Xbox Series S + Starfield bundle (sold and shipped by Amazon, listing not created by 3rd party seller) "Pre-load after 08/09/2023. Game will be playable after 09/06/2023." Link to the listing
www.resetera.com
OP
OP
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JorgenRaft
Chain Chomp
Might have to finally cop a XBX to get ahead of the hype.
OP
OP
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Yep, I’m hyped as hell. But I kinda do care how it looks on Series S
I need to decide if I’m gonna play it on XSS, my Asus G14 laptop, or xCloud.
The biggest benefit of my Series S is how small it is. I'm going to move it out of the basement and into the living room for Starfield, something that would require a forklift for my PS5 lol.
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Yep, I’m hyped as hell. But I kinda do care how it looks on Series S
I need to decide if I’m gonna play it on XSS, my Asus G14 laptop, or xCloud.
My PC still rocks a 1070 so I know it won't be better on PC lol.
Starfield Q&A credit Vixolus from resetera for the recap
Q: Can we buy houses or property in main cities?
Q: If we get the Kids Stuff trait, will our parents be generated based on our characters look or are there standard parents put in place? What benefits might there be?
Will Shen
Our programmers on our new face tech were excited to make a function that could try to match your custom face and then create the two parents. So they are based on what your character looks like, although the specific math involved is a bit beyond me. We had similar tech in our previous games.
Emil Pagliarulo
Yes, totally. Just as we did in Fallout 3 with your dad, and in Fallout 4 with your son, in Starfield, if you take the Kid Stuff Trait. your parents are based off of you. No spoilers, but I think fans will really appreciate the actors we got to play those roles. And they just get SO into it, it's awesome. (Oh, and yeah, you can get... stuff)
Q: For those of us who have never played a BGS game and will be starting with Starfield, what information should we know that will make the experience more impactful right from the start?
How deep should we go into creating our character's backstory before we start the game?
Emil Pagliarulo
Hmmm... Well... We always make our games for fans both old AND new. So you can jump in without ever having played a Bethesda title before. But we like to look at it less as playing a game, and more about living in the universe we created. So settle in, go at your own pace, and pretty soon you'll learn all the systems and be adventuring through the Settled Systems the way you choose. As for going into a character's backstory, that's entirely up to you. I'm all about that head canon.
For example, my latest character is a working shlub named Mitch Dombrowski. He's a husky, good-natured space trucker, and while he'll do whatever he needs to defend himself, he'll never shoot first. He's like Han Solo's sweeter older brother.
And yes, there are Traits and Backgrounds that support that kind of thing.
Will Shen
While we do start you off in the same spot, what happened to you before the game starts is totally up to you and your head canon. There is a Trait and Background system that will let you specify more about yourself, but you can also select an anonymous background and no traits if you want. In terms of if you've never played a BGS game before: Try anything! We're a simulation as well as a roleplaying game, so we try to support the player doing what they want as much as we can.
Q: How will the smuggling cargo system work? Can we hide it somewhere on the ship and sell it for more currency later?
Will Shen
Certain items are considered "Contraband" and you'll need to smuggle them past security ships that are in orbit of major settlements.
Emil Pagliarulo
There are specific items that are considered Contraband, meaning they're pretty much illegal everywhere.And yes, you can hide them using special ship modules you can purchase. So, you know, don't get caught with those harvested organs.
The economy is fixed, but prices of bought and sold good can change based on the Skills you choose.
Q: Will there be a jail system if we committed crimes?
Will Shen
Yes, you can elect to go to jail or pay a fine when you're arrested (or even resist arrest and try to escape).
Emil Pagliarulo
Yup. The Settled Systems is more like Skyrim than Fallout 4's Commonwealth in that regard. Ya bancha criminals! There's civilization, there's government, and there are laws. And in a couple cases, we actually explore the themes of crime and punishment in our futuristic universe.
Q: Will time pass when not in the game? For example, will my trade routes, outposts, and mining operations continue to produce or does that only occur while actively playing?
Emil Pagliarulo
The sim only runs when you're actively playing. No sleeping on the job!
Will Shen
Only when actively playing.
Q: Can you be a double agent in the game? For example, if you join the United Colonies, can you also join the Crimson Fleet and give the United Colonies information? And what factions have that feature if they do?
Will Shen
All of the playable factions can be completed independently. The Crimson Fleet storyline does feature you being an undercover agent inside the Fleet on behalf of UC SysDef (a specific military branch of the United Colonies), but whether you betray the Fleet or UC SysDef is a choice you will get to make.
Emil Pagliarulo
Ha! That is exactly what you can do – infiltrate the Crimson Fleet for UC SysDef! It's specific to that questline. In the studio, I have been (half-jokingly) accused of referencing movies that some folks have never seen, because I'm old. So with this particular plotline, the inspiration was very much the movie Donnie Brasco, which is the true story of an FBI agent who infiltrates the mafia. HOW FAR WILL YOU GO?!
Q: Depending on traits selected during character creation, will it at all be possible to play through the game in a 'pacifist mode', i.e. without killing anyone, or even potentially, anything?
Will Shen
I can't guarantee every mission can be completed in pacifist mode, but we do have a couple of systems that will help. One system is our Speech Challenge game, where you can persuade someone to do something like not fight you. The speech challenge game is added in specific scripted moments, and we try to add one in to most quests where important characters confront you.
Emil Pagliarulo
So, we talked about this very early on during pre-production, whether or not we would fully support a "non-lethal" playthrough. We realized that, for various reasons, that wasn't totally feasible. Now, that being said, there are some good non-lethal options, whether through dialogue or by using a non-lethal weapon. Those can be used in certain situations, honestly a lot of situations, though I couldn't comfortably say you can complete the entire game without any killing whatsoever. The Settled Systems is mostly civilized, but it can be a dangerous place if you're going off the beaten path. And you're absolutely going off the beaten path!
Q: What are the beliefs and basic history of the religions we can join (Sanctum Universum, Enlightened, Great Serpent)?
Emil Pagliarulo
Okay, so this one... Existing, IRL religions are part of the Starfield universe, (with folks of all religions and denominations out there) but we don't really focus on them. Instead, we highlight three new ones specific to the game. Sanctum Universum – The members, called "Universals," believe that God very much exists somewhere in the universe. That a higher power is guiding us all. Specifically, they believe that humanity's ability to travel the universe and grav jump is God's way of saying, "I'm out here. Come find me." The Enlightened – These folks are essentially organized atheists. They don't believe in any kind of higher power. Rather, they teach that human beings have to take care of each other, and they practice what they preach through various community outreach programs.
Will Shen
Yeah. The Sanctum Universum is only a couple decades old in our timeline, but has gained a lot of prominence. They believe that God is out there, somewhere in the universe, and that humanity's ability to travel the stars brings us closer to God. The Enlightened are an atheist group that focus on humanitarian and community work. They believe that life is something every person has to take responsibility for, so that if we want the world to be a better place, we have to do it. House Va'ruun - Ho boy.
So, in the game, you're not really sure what the complete truth is, but... The gossip among the guards is this: a colony ship sets off for a new world, making grav jumps along the way. After one of the grav jumps, one of the passengers claims he spent that time communing with a celestial entity known as the Great Serpent. What was a few seconds for everyone else was... much longer for him. And he brought back a mandate, which is basically, "get onboard, or be devoured when the Great Serpent encircles the universe." Is it true?? I ain't sayin'.
So in the game, you sometimes face off against House Va'ruun Zealots (as an enemy group), and that's their motivation. I recently got the House Va'runn logo tattooed on my wrist. So yeah, I dig them.
Q: How many companions total will we be able to recruit?
Will Shen
There are over 20 named characters who can join your crew. Four of them are from Constellation and have the most story and interaction with the player, but all of the named characters have their own backgrounds and can follow you around (and carry your stuff).
Emil Pagliarulo
Over 20 total, and we really focused on the members of Constellation. What Will said. lol When we first began Starfield pre-production, we looked back at our previous games, and realized how popular and effective the companions were. So they were a big priority for us, and we really wanted to tie them directly to the main quest. There are some really big moments with them specifically. I should also mention that our companion voice cast is amazing. We haven't released the list yet, but you can be sure there are a lot of talented actors bringing those characters to life. (Same for Constellation in general)
Q: When we assign crew members to work at outposts, do we have to pay them salaries?
Emil Pagliarulo
You just pay them once. We actually experimented with paying them regular salaries, but ultimately decided to just have the one cost up front. There's a lot to do in Starfield, and we wanted to minimize what the player had to constantly keep track of.
Will Shen
Yep. One time payment (that you can use the speech challenge game to negotiate over. Some traits also affect the cost)
Q: Will our companions be able to level up their perks? Will their perks stack with ours?
Will Shen
All crew start with a set of perks at specific ranks. So you might meet a character that's especially good at rifles, and you hire them to watch your back. Or you might meet an Astrodynamics expert that will increase your grav jump range when assigned to your ship.
Emil Pagliarulo
They don't level up, but they come at different ranks, depending on the companion. Well, we call them Skills in Starfield. And they do stack with yours, when relevant. Some are there for flavor, to highlight the companions' backgrounds and interests. But you'll really feel the benefit of the ship- and combat-related ones. Getting a boost to your shields, or seeing your companion laying down fire with a weapon they're proficient in, are pretty sweet moments.
Q: What are your favorite parts of the game?
Emil Pagliarulo
Shipping it! But seriously, folks. Because of my position, my experience is a little different than yours. I won't speak for Will, but personally, I've seen every questline, every city, every major piece of content in the game at every stage of development. So my answer is colored by that. For me, the real pleasure is seeing how they've all evolved into the versions they are today – the versions everyone here will play. I have a real soft spot for Neon. Getting that city nailed down took a lot of work by a lot of different people, and the result is, really, the cyberpunk settlement I always hoped it would be. I also love all the questlines. I think they're the best we've ever done. The designers on this project totally killed it.
Will Shen
I love finding content that I haven't seen yet or forgot about. Our games are so big that no one person is likely to have seen it all, even after all our passes and levels of review. Our quests really evolve over development and its great to see how everyone adds to them (designers, animators, voice actors, lighting, everything).
Q: What books or movies had a big influence on some of the quests?
Will Shen
I'm a history nerd, so I actually listen to a lot of podcasts like Hardcore History and The History of Rome. While our game is science fiction, I like how historians can tell you about how human beings react to extreme circumstances (like war, famine, and technological breakthroughs), and you can imagine how we'd react to similar circumstances in a fictional setting (just at a grander scale).
Emil Pagliarulo
Well, I'm a child of the late 70s-early 80s, and I have very fond memories of the sci-fi of that time. So, let me think... Star Wars, OG Battlestar Galactica, Space: 1999, Buck Rogers, Battle Beyond the Stars, Ice Pirates... and let's not forget the classic that is Metalstorm: The Destruction of Jaryd Syn. I think I actually saw that one in 3D. But also much "headier" sci-fi stuff, like the writings of Arthur C. Clarke and Robert Heinlein, or films like Contact, Interstellar, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and even Event Horizon. In all of those examples, you realize that outer space is two things: 1.) A source of mystery and wonder, sometimes terror AND 2.) A giant blank page on which you can write any story. And we have written a lot of VERY different stories in Starfield.
Q: What are some favorite small details in Starfield to add to the immersion?
Emil Pagliarulo
I think what I really love is that, although humans are living in space, and our aesthetic is very much "NASApunk," this is a very lived-in universe. And you can see it everywhere. You know, everyone loves the sandwiches. But it's the books that are lying around, the notes on bulletin boards, the environmental storytelling that our level designers and world artists are so good at. So all, I'm a slow typer, and somewhat typo obsessed... Totally love the workj from our voice actors, too. And the music. And sound effects. And clothes. lol Buttons! We do love our buttons. Oh, I do want to mention this, if you haven't heard about it. Adam Savage and team are building a filming model of the Frontier:
And that ship, man. And all the ships - the level of detail is insane.
Will Shen
I look really closely at all our outfits. You can see seams, materials, especially on the spacesuits (Constellation members have patches on their spacesuits and they're tied to what skills they have). We also love buttons. There's a lot of buttons.
Q: What is the history of the mechs?
Emil Pagliarulo
Oooooo the mechs. Good one. So, we showed this a bit in one of the animated shorts. The mechs are leftovers from the Colony Wars. (Note it's Colony War and not Colony Wars. Singular) Both sides, United Colonies and Freestar Collective, had mechs. But the Freestar Collective really mastered them. The United Colonies had mechs, too, but they also relied on the controlled alien beasts from their Xenowarfare division.
Both of those were outlawed with the Armistice that ended the Colony War.
I'm not saying there's an old mech battleground in the game.
I'm typing it.
Mechs - not usable, no. They're in ruins.
Q: Can we buy houses or property in main cities?
Will Shen— Today at 12:09 PM
Yep! There's housing in different cities that the player can get. Some you have to purchase and some are rewards for specific quests.Q: If we get the Kids Stuff trait, will our parents be generated based on our characters look or are there standard parents put in place? What benefits might there be?
Will Shen
— Today at 12:09 PM
Our programmers on our new face tech were excited to make a function that could try to match your custom face and then create the two parents. So they are based on what your character looks like, although the specific math involved is a bit beyond me. We had similar tech in our previous games.Emil Pagliarulo
— Today at 12:09 PM
Yes, totally. Just as we did in Fallout 3 with your dad, and in Fallout 4 with your son, in Starfield, if you take the Kid Stuff Trait. your parents are based off of you. No spoilers, but I think fans will really appreciate the actors we got to play those roles. And they just get SO into it, it's awesome. (Oh, and yeah, you can get... stuff)Q: For those of us who have never played a BGS game and will be starting with Starfield, what information should we know that will make the experience more impactful right from the start?
How deep should we go into creating our character's backstory before we start the game?
Emil Pagliarulo
— Today at 12:10 PM
Hmmm... Well... We always make our games for fans both old AND new. So you can jump in without ever having played a Bethesda title before. But we like to look at it less as playing a game, and more about living in the universe we created. So settle in, go at your own pace, and pretty soon you'll learn all the systems and be adventuring through the Settled Systems the way you choose. As for going into a character's backstory, that's entirely up to you. I'm all about that head canon.For example, my latest character is a working shlub named Mitch Dombrowski. He's a husky, good-natured space trucker, and while he'll do whatever he needs to defend himself, he'll never shoot first. He's like Han Solo's sweeter older brother.
And yes, there are Traits and Backgrounds that support that kind of thing.
Will Shen
— Today at 12:11 PM
While we do start you off in the same spot, what happened to you before the game starts is totally up to you and your head canon. There is a Trait and Background system that will let you specify more about yourself, but you can also select an anonymous background and no traits if you want. In terms of if you've never played a BGS game before: Try anything! We're a simulation as well as a roleplaying game, so we try to support the player doing what they want as much as we can.Q: How will the smuggling cargo system work? Can we hide it somewhere on the ship and sell it for more currency later?
Will Shen
— Today at 12:15 PM
Certain items are considered "Contraband" and you'll need to smuggle them past security ships that are in orbit of major settlements.Emil Pagliarulo
— Today at 12:15 PM
There are specific items that are considered Contraband, meaning they're pretty much illegal everywhere.And yes, you can hide them using special ship modules you can purchase. So, you know, don't get caught with those harvested organs.
The economy is fixed, but prices of bought and sold good can change based on the Skills you choose.
Q: Will there be a jail system if we committed crimes?
Will Shen
— Today at 12:17 PM
Yes, you can elect to go to jail or pay a fine when you're arrested (or even resist arrest and try to escape).Emil Pagliarulo
— Today at 12:17 PM
Yup. The Settled Systems is more like Skyrim than Fallout 4's Commonwealth in that regard. Ya bancha criminals! There's civilization, there's government, and there are laws. And in a couple cases, we actually explore the themes of crime and punishment in our futuristic universe.Q: Will time pass when not in the game? For example, will my trade routes, outposts, and mining operations continue to produce or does that only occur while actively playing?
Emil Pagliarulo
— Today at 12:18 PM
The sim only runs when you're actively playing. No sleeping on the job!Will Shen
— Today at 12:18 PM
Only when actively playing.Q: Can you be a double agent in the game? For example, if you join the United Colonies, can you also join the Crimson Fleet and give the United Colonies information? And what factions have that feature if they do?
Will Shen
— Today at 12:19 PM
All of the playable factions can be completed independently. The Crimson Fleet storyline does feature you being an undercover agent inside the Fleet on behalf of UC SysDef (a specific military branch of the United Colonies), but whether you betray the Fleet or UC SysDef is a choice you will get to make.Emil Pagliarulo
— Today at 12:19 PM
Ha! That is exactly what you can do – infiltrate the Crimson Fleet for UC SysDef! It's specific to that questline. In the studio, I have been (half-jokingly) accused of referencing movies that some folks have never seen, because I'm old. So with this particular plotline, the inspiration was very much the movie Donnie Brasco, which is the true story of an FBI agent who infiltrates the mafia. HOW FAR WILL YOU GO?!Q: Depending on traits selected during character creation, will it at all be possible to play through the game in a 'pacifist mode', i.e. without killing anyone, or even potentially, anything?
Will Shen
— Today at 12:20 PM
I can't guarantee every mission can be completed in pacifist mode, but we do have a couple of systems that will help. One system is our Speech Challenge game, where you can persuade someone to do something like not fight you. The speech challenge game is added in specific scripted moments, and we try to add one in to most quests where important characters confront you.Emil Pagliarulo
— Today at 12:21 PM
So, we talked about this very early on during pre-production, whether or not we would fully support a "non-lethal" playthrough. We realized that, for various reasons, that wasn't totally feasible. Now, that being said, there are some good non-lethal options, whether through dialogue or by using a non-lethal weapon. Those can be used in certain situations, honestly a lot of situations, though I couldn't comfortably say you can complete the entire game without any killing whatsoever. The Settled Systems is mostly civilized, but it can be a dangerous place if you're going off the beaten path. And you're absolutely going off the beaten path!
Q: What are the beliefs and basic history of the religions we can join (Sanctum Universum, Enlightened, Great Serpent)?
Emil Pagliarulo
— Today at 12:23 PM
Okay, so this one... Existing, IRL religions are part of the Starfield universe, (with folks of all religions and denominations out there) but we don't really focus on them. Instead, we highlight three new ones specific to the game. Sanctum Universum – The members, called "Universals," believe that God very much exists somewhere in the universe. That a higher power is guiding us all. Specifically, they believe that humanity's ability to travel the universe and grav jump is God's way of saying, "I'm out here. Come find me." The Enlightened – These folks are essentially organized atheists. They don't believe in any kind of higher power. Rather, they teach that human beings have to take care of each other, and they practice what they preach through various community outreach programs.Will Shen
— Today at 12:23 PM
Yeah. The Sanctum Universum is only a couple decades old in our timeline, but has gained a lot of prominence. They believe that God is out there, somewhere in the universe, and that humanity's ability to travel the stars brings us closer to God. The Enlightened are an atheist group that focus on humanitarian and community work. They believe that life is something every person has to take responsibility for, so that if we want the world to be a better place, we have to do it. House Va'ruun - Ho boy.
So, in the game, you're not really sure what the complete truth is, but... The gossip among the guards is this: a colony ship sets off for a new world, making grav jumps along the way. After one of the grav jumps, one of the passengers claims he spent that time communing with a celestial entity known as the Great Serpent. What was a few seconds for everyone else was... much longer for him. And he brought back a mandate, which is basically, "get onboard, or be devoured when the Great Serpent encircles the universe." Is it true?? I ain't sayin'.
So in the game, you sometimes face off against House Va'ruun Zealots (as an enemy group), and that's their motivation. I recently got the House Va'runn logo tattooed on my wrist. So yeah, I dig them.
Q: How many companions total will we be able to recruit?
Will Shen
— Today at 12:28 PM
There are over 20 named characters who can join your crew. Four of them are from Constellation and have the most story and interaction with the player, but all of the named characters have their own backgrounds and can follow you around (and carry your stuff).Emil Pagliarulo
— Today at 12:28 PM
Over 20 total, and we really focused on the members of Constellation. What Will said. lol When we first began Starfield pre-production, we looked back at our previous games, and realized how popular and effective the companions were. So they were a big priority for us, and we really wanted to tie them directly to the main quest. There are some really big moments with them specifically. I should also mention that our companion voice cast is amazing. We haven't released the list yet, but you can be sure there are a lot of talented actors bringing those characters to life. (Same for Constellation in general)Q: When we assign crew members to work at outposts, do we have to pay them salaries?
Emil Pagliarulo
— Today at 12:30 PM
You just pay them once. We actually experimented with paying them regular salaries, but ultimately decided to just have the one cost up front. There's a lot to do in Starfield, and we wanted to minimize what the player had to constantly keep track of.Will Shen
— Today at 12:30 PM
Yep. One time payment (that you can use the speech challenge game to negotiate over. Some traits also affect the cost)Q: Will our companions be able to level up their perks? Will their perks stack with ours?
Will Shen
— Today at 12:31 PM
All crew start with a set of perks at specific ranks. So you might meet a character that's especially good at rifles, and you hire them to watch your back. Or you might meet an Astrodynamics expert that will increase your grav jump range when assigned to your ship.Emil Pagliarulo
— Today at 12:31 PM
They don't level up, but they come at different ranks, depending on the companion. Well, we call them Skills in Starfield. And they do stack with yours, when relevant. Some are there for flavor, to highlight the companions' backgrounds and interests. But you'll really feel the benefit of the ship- and combat-related ones. Getting a boost to your shields, or seeing your companion laying down fire with a weapon they're proficient in, are pretty sweet moments.Q: What are your favorite parts of the game?
Emil Pagliarulo
— Today at 12:33 PM
Shipping it! But seriously, folks. Because of my position, my experience is a little different than yours. I won't speak for Will, but personally, I've seen every questline, every city, every major piece of content in the game at every stage of development. So my answer is colored by that. For me, the real pleasure is seeing how they've all evolved into the versions they are today – the versions everyone here will play. I have a real soft spot for Neon. Getting that city nailed down took a lot of work by a lot of different people, and the result is, really, the cyberpunk settlement I always hoped it would be. I also love all the questlines. I think they're the best we've ever done. The designers on this project totally killed it.Will Shen
— Today at 12:34 PM
I love finding content that I haven't seen yet or forgot about. Our games are so big that no one person is likely to have seen it all, even after all our passes and levels of review. Our quests really evolve over development and its great to see how everyone adds to them (designers, animators, voice actors, lighting, everything).Q: What books or movies had a big influence on some of the quests?
Will Shen
— Today at 12:37 PM
I'm a history nerd, so I actually listen to a lot of podcasts like Hardcore History and The History of Rome. While our game is science fiction, I like how historians can tell you about how human beings react to extreme circumstances (like war, famine, and technological breakthroughs), and you can imagine how we'd react to similar circumstances in a fictional setting (just at a grander scale).Emil Pagliarulo
— Today at 12:37 PM
Well, I'm a child of the late 70s-early 80s, and I have very fond memories of the sci-fi of that time. So, let me think... Star Wars, OG Battlestar Galactica, Space: 1999, Buck Rogers, Battle Beyond the Stars, Ice Pirates... and let's not forget the classic that is Metalstorm: The Destruction of Jaryd Syn. I think I actually saw that one in 3D. But also much "headier" sci-fi stuff, like the writings of Arthur C. Clarke and Robert Heinlein, or films like Contact, Interstellar, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and even Event Horizon. In all of those examples, you realize that outer space is two things: 1.) A source of mystery and wonder, sometimes terror AND 2.) A giant blank page on which you can write any story. And we have written a lot of VERY different stories in Starfield.Q: What are some favorite small details in Starfield to add to the immersion?
Emil Pagliarulo
— Today at 12:39 PM
I think what I really love is that, although humans are living in space, and our aesthetic is very much "NASApunk," this is a very lived-in universe. And you can see it everywhere. You know, everyone loves the sandwiches. But it's the books that are lying around, the notes on bulletin boards, the environmental storytelling that our level designers and world artists are so good at. So all, I'm a slow typer, and somewhat typo obsessed... Totally love the workj from our voice actors, too. And the music. And sound effects. And clothes. lol Buttons! We do love our buttons. Oh, I do want to mention this, if you haven't heard about it. Adam Savage and team are building a filming model of the Frontier: And that ship, man. And all the ships - the level of detail is insane.
Will Shen
— Today at 12:39 PM
I look really closely at all our outfits. You can see seams, materials, especially on the spacesuits (Constellation members have patches on their spacesuits and they're tied to what skills they have). We also love buttons. There's a lot of buttons.Q: What is the history of the mechs?
Emil Pagliarulo
— Today at 12:45 PM
Oooooo the mechs. Good one. So, we showed this a bit in one of the animated shorts. The mechs are leftovers from the Colony Wars. (Note it's Colony War and not Colony Wars. Singular) Both sides, United Colonies and Freestar Collective, had mechs. But the Freestar Collective really mastered them. The United Colonies had mechs, too, but they also relied on the controlled alien beasts from their Xenowarfare division.Both of those were outlawed with the Armistice that ended the Colony War.
I'm not saying there's an old mech battleground in the game.
I'm typing it.
Mechs - not usable, no. They're in ruins.
- Pronouns
- He/Him
I am in the same boat, I was worried until I talked with one of my more PC savvy friends and said that I may have to do some tweaking in the settings, but should be able to run. I also just bought an SSD for this so hopefully I have minimal issues.
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- He/Him
Starfield Q&A credit Vixolus from resetera for the recap
Q: Can we buy houses or property in main cities?
Will Shen— Today at 12:09 PM
Yep! There's housing in different cities that the player can get. Some you have to purchase and some are rewards for specific quests.
Q: If we get the Kids Stuff trait, will our parents be generated based on our characters look or are there standard parents put in place? What benefits might there be?
Will Shen
— Today at 12:09 PM
Our programmers on our new face tech were excited to make a function that could try to match your custom face and then create the two parents. So they are based on what your character looks like, although the specific math involved is a bit beyond me. We had similar tech in our previous games.
Emil Pagliarulo
— Today at 12:09 PM
Yes, totally. Just as we did in Fallout 3 with your dad, and in Fallout 4 with your son, in Starfield, if you take the Kid Stuff Trait. your parents are based off of you. No spoilers, but I think fans will really appreciate the actors we got to play those roles. And they just get SO into it, it's awesome. (Oh, and yeah, you can get... stuff)
Q: For those of us who have never played a BGS game and will be starting with Starfield, what information should we know that will make the experience more impactful right from the start?
How deep should we go into creating our character's backstory before we start the game?
Emil Pagliarulo
— Today at 12:10 PM
Hmmm... Well... We always make our games for fans both old AND new. So you can jump in without ever having played a Bethesda title before. But we like to look at it less as playing a game, and more about living in the universe we created. So settle in, go at your own pace, and pretty soon you'll learn all the systems and be adventuring through the Settled Systems the way you choose. As for going into a character's backstory, that's entirely up to you. I'm all about that head canon.
For example, my latest character is a working shlub named Mitch Dombrowski. He's a husky, good-natured space trucker, and while he'll do whatever he needs to defend himself, he'll never shoot first. He's like Han Solo's sweeter older brother.
And yes, there are Traits and Backgrounds that support that kind of thing.
Will Shen
— Today at 12:11 PM
While we do start you off in the same spot, what happened to you before the game starts is totally up to you and your head canon. There is a Trait and Background system that will let you specify more about yourself, but you can also select an anonymous background and no traits if you want. In terms of if you've never played a BGS game before: Try anything! We're a simulation as well as a roleplaying game, so we try to support the player doing what they want as much as we can.
Q: How will the smuggling cargo system work? Can we hide it somewhere on the ship and sell it for more currency later?
Will Shen
— Today at 12:15 PM
Certain items are considered "Contraband" and you'll need to smuggle them past security ships that are in orbit of major settlements.
Emil Pagliarulo
— Today at 12:15 PM
There are specific items that are considered Contraband, meaning they're pretty much illegal everywhere.And yes, you can hide them using special ship modules you can purchase. So, you know, don't get caught with those harvested organs.
The economy is fixed, but prices of bought and sold good can change based on the Skills you choose.
Q: Will there be a jail system if we committed crimes?
Will Shen
— Today at 12:17 PM
Yes, you can elect to go to jail or pay a fine when you're arrested (or even resist arrest and try to escape).
Emil Pagliarulo
— Today at 12:17 PM
Yup. The Settled Systems is more like Skyrim than Fallout 4's Commonwealth in that regard. Ya bancha criminals! There's civilization, there's government, and there are laws. And in a couple cases, we actually explore the themes of crime and punishment in our futuristic universe.
Q: Will time pass when not in the game? For example, will my trade routes, outposts, and mining operations continue to produce or does that only occur while actively playing?
Emil Pagliarulo
— Today at 12:18 PM
The sim only runs when you're actively playing. No sleeping on the job!
Will Shen
— Today at 12:18 PM
Only when actively playing.
Q: Can you be a double agent in the game? For example, if you join the United Colonies, can you also join the Crimson Fleet and give the United Colonies information? And what factions have that feature if they do?
Will Shen
— Today at 12:19 PM
All of the playable factions can be completed independently. The Crimson Fleet storyline does feature you being an undercover agent inside the Fleet on behalf of UC SysDef (a specific military branch of the United Colonies), but whether you betray the Fleet or UC SysDef is a choice you will get to make.
Emil Pagliarulo
— Today at 12:19 PM
Ha! That is exactly what you can do – infiltrate the Crimson Fleet for UC SysDef! It's specific to that questline. In the studio, I have been (half-jokingly) accused of referencing movies that some folks have never seen, because I'm old. So with this particular plotline, the inspiration was very much the movie Donnie Brasco, which is the true story of an FBI agent who infiltrates the mafia. HOW FAR WILL YOU GO?!
Q: Depending on traits selected during character creation, will it at all be possible to play through the game in a 'pacifist mode', i.e. without killing anyone, or even potentially, anything?
Will Shen
— Today at 12:20 PM
I can't guarantee every mission can be completed in pacifist mode, but we do have a couple of systems that will help. One system is our Speech Challenge game, where you can persuade someone to do something like not fight you. The speech challenge game is added in specific scripted moments, and we try to add one in to most quests where important characters confront you.
Emil Pagliarulo
— Today at 12:21 PM
So, we talked about this very early on during pre-production, whether or not we would fully support a "non-lethal" playthrough. We realized that, for various reasons, that wasn't totally feasible. Now, that being said, there are some good non-lethal options, whether through dialogue or by using a non-lethal weapon. Those can be used in certain situations, honestly a lot of situations, though I couldn't comfortably say you can complete the entire game without any killing whatsoever. The Settled Systems is mostly civilized, but it can be a dangerous place if you're going off the beaten path. And you're absolutely going off the beaten path!
Q: What are the beliefs and basic history of the religions we can join (Sanctum Universum, Enlightened, Great Serpent)?
Emil Pagliarulo
— Today at 12:23 PM
Okay, so this one... Existing, IRL religions are part of the Starfield universe, (with folks of all religions and denominations out there) but we don't really focus on them. Instead, we highlight three new ones specific to the game. Sanctum Universum – The members, called "Universals," believe that God very much exists somewhere in the universe. That a higher power is guiding us all. Specifically, they believe that humanity's ability to travel the universe and grav jump is God's way of saying, "I'm out here. Come find me." The Enlightened – These folks are essentially organized atheists. They don't believe in any kind of higher power. Rather, they teach that human beings have to take care of each other, and they practice what they preach through various community outreach programs.
Will Shen
— Today at 12:23 PM
Yeah. The Sanctum Universum is only a couple decades old in our timeline, but has gained a lot of prominence. They believe that God is out there, somewhere in the universe, and that humanity's ability to travel the stars brings us closer to God. The Enlightened are an atheist group that focus on humanitarian and community work. They believe that life is something every person has to take responsibility for, so that if we want the world to be a better place, we have to do it. House Va'ruun - Ho boy.
So, in the game, you're not really sure what the complete truth is, but... The gossip among the guards is this: a colony ship sets off for a new world, making grav jumps along the way. After one of the grav jumps, one of the passengers claims he spent that time communing with a celestial entity known as the Great Serpent. What was a few seconds for everyone else was... much longer for him. And he brought back a mandate, which is basically, "get onboard, or be devoured when the Great Serpent encircles the universe." Is it true?? I ain't sayin'.
So in the game, you sometimes face off against House Va'ruun Zealots (as an enemy group), and that's their motivation. I recently got the House Va'runn logo tattooed on my wrist. So yeah, I dig them.
Q: How many companions total will we be able to recruit?
Will Shen
— Today at 12:28 PM
There are over 20 named characters who can join your crew. Four of them are from Constellation and have the most story and interaction with the player, but all of the named characters have their own backgrounds and can follow you around (and carry your stuff).
Emil Pagliarulo
— Today at 12:28 PM
Over 20 total, and we really focused on the members of Constellation. What Will said. lol When we first began Starfield pre-production, we looked back at our previous games, and realized how popular and effective the companions were. So they were a big priority for us, and we really wanted to tie them directly to the main quest. There are some really big moments with them specifically. I should also mention that our companion voice cast is amazing. We haven't released the list yet, but you can be sure there are a lot of talented actors bringing those characters to life. (Same for Constellation in general)
Q: When we assign crew members to work at outposts, do we have to pay them salaries?
Emil Pagliarulo
— Today at 12:30 PM
You just pay them once. We actually experimented with paying them regular salaries, but ultimately decided to just have the one cost up front. There's a lot to do in Starfield, and we wanted to minimize what the player had to constantly keep track of.
Will Shen
— Today at 12:30 PM
Yep. One time payment (that you can use the speech challenge game to negotiate over. Some traits also affect the cost)
Q: Will our companions be able to level up their perks? Will their perks stack with ours?
Will Shen
— Today at 12:31 PM
All crew start with a set of perks at specific ranks. So you might meet a character that's especially good at rifles, and you hire them to watch your back. Or you might meet an Astrodynamics expert that will increase your grav jump range when assigned to your ship.
Emil Pagliarulo
— Today at 12:31 PM
They don't level up, but they come at different ranks, depending on the companion. Well, we call them Skills in Starfield. And they do stack with yours, when relevant. Some are there for flavor, to highlight the companions' backgrounds and interests. But you'll really feel the benefit of the ship- and combat-related ones. Getting a boost to your shields, or seeing your companion laying down fire with a weapon they're proficient in, are pretty sweet moments.
Q: What are your favorite parts of the game?
Emil Pagliarulo
— Today at 12:33 PM
Shipping it! But seriously, folks. Because of my position, my experience is a little different than yours. I won't speak for Will, but personally, I've seen every questline, every city, every major piece of content in the game at every stage of development. So my answer is colored by that. For me, the real pleasure is seeing how they've all evolved into the versions they are today – the versions everyone here will play. I have a real soft spot for Neon. Getting that city nailed down took a lot of work by a lot of different people, and the result is, really, the cyberpunk settlement I always hoped it would be. I also love all the questlines. I think they're the best we've ever done. The designers on this project totally killed it.
Will Shen
— Today at 12:34 PM
I love finding content that I haven't seen yet or forgot about. Our games are so big that no one person is likely to have seen it all, even after all our passes and levels of review. Our quests really evolve over development and its great to see how everyone adds to them (designers, animators, voice actors, lighting, everything).
Q: What books or movies had a big influence on some of the quests?
Will Shen
— Today at 12:37 PM
I'm a history nerd, so I actually listen to a lot of podcasts like Hardcore History and The History of Rome. While our game is science fiction, I like how historians can tell you about how human beings react to extreme circumstances (like war, famine, and technological breakthroughs), and you can imagine how we'd react to similar circumstances in a fictional setting (just at a grander scale).
Emil Pagliarulo
— Today at 12:37 PM
Well, I'm a child of the late 70s-early 80s, and I have very fond memories of the sci-fi of that time. So, let me think... Star Wars, OG Battlestar Galactica, Space: 1999, Buck Rogers, Battle Beyond the Stars, Ice Pirates... and let's not forget the classic that is Metalstorm: The Destruction of Jaryd Syn. I think I actually saw that one in 3D. But also much "headier" sci-fi stuff, like the writings of Arthur C. Clarke and Robert Heinlein, or films like Contact, Interstellar, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and even Event Horizon. In all of those examples, you realize that outer space is two things: 1.) A source of mystery and wonder, sometimes terror AND 2.) A giant blank page on which you can write any story. And we have written a lot of VERY different stories in Starfield.
Q: What are some favorite small details in Starfield to add to the immersion?
Emil Pagliarulo
— Today at 12:39 PM
I think what I really love is that, although humans are living in space, and our aesthetic is very much "NASApunk," this is a very lived-in universe. And you can see it everywhere. You know, everyone loves the sandwiches. But it's the books that are lying around, the notes on bulletin boards, the environmental storytelling that our level designers and world artists are so good at. So all, I'm a slow typer, and somewhat typo obsessed... Totally love the workj from our voice actors, too. And the music. And sound effects. And clothes. lol Buttons! We do love our buttons. Oh, I do want to mention this, if you haven't heard about it. Adam Savage and team are building a filming model of the Frontier:
And that ship, man. And all the ships - the level of detail is insane.
Will Shen
— Today at 12:39 PM
I look really closely at all our outfits. You can see seams, materials, especially on the spacesuits (Constellation members have patches on their spacesuits and they're tied to what skills they have). We also love buttons. There's a lot of buttons.
Q: What is the history of the mechs?
Emil Pagliarulo
— Today at 12:45 PM
Oooooo the mechs. Good one. So, we showed this a bit in one of the animated shorts. The mechs are leftovers from the Colony Wars. (Note it's Colony War and not Colony Wars. Singular) Both sides, United Colonies and Freestar Collective, had mechs. But the Freestar Collective really mastered them. The United Colonies had mechs, too, but they also relied on the controlled alien beasts from their Xenowarfare division.
Both of those were outlawed with the Armistice that ended the Colony War.
I'm not saying there's an old mech battleground in the game.
I'm typing it.
Mechs - not usable, no. They're in ruins.
I wish someone had asked if there were any other playable races or other humanoid type aliens in the game.
SpaceGodzilla
Did You Get that Thing I Sent You?
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i hate people
OP
OP
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what a sad person
i hate people
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This individual literally has no life.
i hate people
Koren Lesthe
Turrican, Terranigma and ESO lover
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Since I bought a PS+ Premium sub, I had to cancel my Game Pass but then my BF took it so now I have access to Game Pass on my Xbox (thanks account sharing ?), so I'll play it on my Series X in case it does run well enough on my PC (i5 12500k, RTX 3060 Ti, 16 Gb RAM).
I hope the DLSS mod will come fast, the modder who brought it to Skyrim & Fallout 4 said he will do it for Starfield.
I hope the DLSS mod will come fast, the modder who brought it to Skyrim & Fallout 4 said he will do it for Starfield.
Beanstar40
Chain Chomp
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Oh boy it’s gonna be hard to put down bg3 for this! Hope I can have it beaten before September 1st, but at the slow ass rate i game these days, its not likely lol
Koren Lesthe
Turrican, Terranigma and ESO lover
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Review copies have been sent to the press.
Embargo lifts on the 31th, so two weeks of review, one week before release.
Embargo lifts on the 31th, so two weeks of review, one week before release.
Lmao
i hate people
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I loved TOTK but based on past history this is probably the game that will take the most hours this year. Replaying Fallout 3 lately to scratch the Bethesda itch a bit.
Jahranimo
Starman
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i hate people
Loser behavior lol
With that said, I'm excited for the game (and to see how well my PC will run it)
Koren Lesthe
Turrican, Terranigma and ESO lover
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Exploring the stars on an OLED screen... my next monitor / TV will be an OLED for sure.
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Koren Lesthe
Turrican, Terranigma and ESO lover
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You can be sure that this collection of human wastes is a twitter blue / X Premium, hiding his blue check and very happy with the buzz he's making to get some views / money from the musk of ass.
anothergamer100
Rattata
Any spoiler impressions of this yet. Seems like a lot of people are playing it
Joy-Boy
Bob-omb
i hate people
PSA
According to reddit, this guy is leaking the story now
I havent seen anytihng, but I'm trying my best to avoid it so I dont know if its true or not, but if you want to go in clean now might be the time to go dark
Koren Lesthe
Turrican, Terranigma and ESO lover
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I believe Baldur's Gate 3 didn't had much more and it is also a massive ginormous game with lots and lots and lots of ways your playthrough can change.
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I am so interested to see how I’ll take to this one. Bethesda has made some of my favourite games ever; I also believe they haven’t put out a great game in like 12 years. I hope Starfield capital ‘R’ Rules and there doesn’t need to be too many asterisks on the end of that statement. I admit the 30FPS on Xbox announcement was a bit of a bummer lol. That won’t matter much if the game is awesome though (and the 30 is stable)
that's what I'm saying. Most of the big publications put out their reviews after release, right?
I just think this is a game that may need like 150 hours+ of gameplay to really give a good review, and I may be generous based on everything I've read and seen lmao.
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Alright. I have pre-loaded 100GB of It Just Works onto my Series S. Starting to get pretty excited now that it’s so close!
I doubt it tbh, as it seems that Starfield is pretty heavy on the CPU, and that's certainly not the Deck's strong suit. Four CPU cores needing to share the limited power with the GPU? I'm very skeptical. Something like the ROG Ally might do quite a bit better here, given its APU design (and will probably only last like 45 mins or so on battery, lol).
Not sure if I wanna play this on my aging gaming laptop instead or just wait for Deck 2 (or similar). I'm not really in a rush.
Phosphorescent Skeleton
It's a hard world for little things.
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Everytime I see this thread I read it as Seinfeld.
OP
OP
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I’m gonna fire up my Series S for the first time in a while and get that preload going. I can’t believe it’s so close!!
SpaceGodzilla
Did You Get that Thing I Sent You?
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me: starting to feel the hype and wanted to check if there were any early impressions so far on social media
Reality: it's nothing but Xbox fanboys and PlayStation fanboys fighting
Reality: it's nothing but Xbox fanboys and PlayStation fanboys fighting
SpaceGodzilla
Did You Get that Thing I Sent You?
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one thing great about Bethesda RPG's is that despite being 300+ hours long games there super easy to pick up for a few hours busts (aka the perfect collage game for me)
Hero of Hyrule
Frieren the Slayer
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Ya'all this game could be a fourth GOAT contender in the span of five months...
OP
OP
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Preload is done and ready to go!
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"Xbox console wrap" just makes me think of people who put a towel around their Xbox 360.
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Less than a week until reviews!!
Prophet64
Moblin
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I'm on the fence on whether or not I buy it outright or resubscribe to Gamepass. In either case I'm trying to preload it through the XBOX app but it just stays on the screen that says "Turn on your console and sign in with your account", which I have but nothing seems to happen at all even after turning on all the remote features. Anyone else try this or have any issues with it?
Edit: Seems to be working now.
Edit: Seems to be working now.
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TheRealWario
Piranha Plant
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I've had issues with the remote features as well. Usually it's an issue with the device running the app or your internet connection. Either way, Gamepass is a fantastic deal, but you might end up spending close to the full price if you put 200+ hours into the game.
Prophet64
Moblin
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The game's premium edition costs roughly about 6 months of Gamepass ultimate without any shenanigans. Though I guess my next question to possibly potentially put me over would be whether or not you can buy the premium edition for early access after the game has been released in early access but prior to the official launch date?
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