Starfield Map
As we edge closer to the September 6 launch of Bethesda’s highly anticipated game, Starfield, anticipation is growing about the sheer magnitude of the game’s universe. We’re already aware that the largest city Bethesda has ever constructed is set to feature, but what about the scale of the planets and solar systems comprising Starfield’s expansive open world?
Thankfully, E3 2023’s Starfield Direct provided a significant glimpse into the sprawling environments we can expect to delve into. It’s evident that Bethesda harbors ambitions for Starfield to ascend to the pinnacle of RPG gaming, a dream that will only materialize through their meticulous crafting of immersive and enticing realms.
Rather than considering Starfield as merely another “Bethesda Game Studios world”, the developers aim to frame it as a full-blown “Bethesda Game Studios galaxy”, promising fans “galactic-level freedom… to experience the thrill of vibrant planets as well as the serenity of the quieter ones.” After completing character creation, it will be entirely up to the players how they navigate through the game’s staggering variety of planets and solar systems.
How Big is Starfield Map?
As indicated in the official gameplay reveal trailer for Starfield, the game boasts an impressive “over 100 systems” and “over 1,000 planets”, all of which are ripe for exploration. This ambitious claim insinuates that your spacefaring character will have the option to land on any of these celestial bodies. Upon reaching a new planet, Bethesda asserts that players will have the liberty to “explore anywhere on the planet.”
During the 2023 Starfield Direct, Bethesda unveiled that the “scale of the game” necessitated a novel approach to worldbuilding. The designers leveraged procedural generation to faithfully reproduce the enormity of the game’s universe while simultaneously incorporating “as many stories as possible.”
This implies that the total expanse of land available for exploration in Starfield will be incredibly vast. The main storyline is expected to unfold in a region that is approximately 20% larger than the areas of Fallout 4 and Skyrim, as reported by The Gamer.
Are planets procedurally generated?
Starfield’s mechanisms for planetary exploration will rely significantly on procedural generation. The Starfield Direct revealed that when players land on a new planet, “the planet itself” will feature “procedural content”. However, “handcrafted content” will gradually come into play “as the player explores. Our system fabricates a planet as the player nears it, piecing together the terrain. Subsequently, we have a system that inserts intriguing locations for exploration, creatures for encounters, and plants to collect. This enables us to infuse the environmental storytelling that Bethesda is renowned for.”
This suggests that “even if your friends traverse the same planet you have already explored, they would have a distinct narrative to share.”
It’s worth noting that the richness of the uncharted environments will depend largely on the proficiency of Bethesda’s procedural generation approach. However, if the developer can successfully design a system that generates engaging and vibrant environments, then the potential is limitless. This is particularly true considering that Starfield will be as moddable as Skyrim.
Loading...
