As impressive as Starfield was at the Summer Game Fest, many have felt apprehensive about Bethesda's choice to lock the game at 30 FPS, prompting Todd Howard to reassure the fans that it will benefit the game at launch. From gameplay and progression, to customization and visual fidelity, Starfield is the culmination of every Bethesda sandbox released since Oblivion. Starfield's planets will blend procedural generation with handmade elements, in the hopes that they will offer an experience that is both vast and full of character. However, to explore the wonders of space in Starfield, Xbox players will have to accept a 30 FPS limit.
Given that many modern console releases often come with a performance mode, many fans were disappointed to find out that Starfield wouldn't follow the trend. Though God of War developer Dannie Carlone defended Starfield's 30 FPS lock, it hasn't stopped the community from seeing it as a blemish on an otherwise stellar sales pitch that Starfield provided with its deep dive.
In a recent interview with Kinda Funny Games, Todd Howard revealed a plethora of new details on Starfield, such as accessibility options, in-game radio stations, and the different ways to traverse Starfield's planets. Howard also had a chance to clarify Bethesda's stance on the 30 FPS lock for Xbox Series X/S, to which he replied that the team never considered cutting features for the sake of including a performance mode. Starfield is designed to be a consistent experience that delivers on its visuals, and ultimately Bethesda made the choice to prioritize stability over performance.
Todd Howard went on to say that there are tricks to make 30 FPS feel better in the hands of a player, such as motion blur, how fast the game refreshes, or even how it reacts to controller input. Though the difference between 30 FPS and 60 FPS is certainly noticeable, some would argue that having a stable and complete visual experience in Starfield is worth the sacrifice. PC players need an SSD to play Starfield, though unlike console players, they will not be hampered by any frame rate limitations.
Starfield will be coming to Xbox Game Pass from day one, allowing fans on either platform to enjoy the first major single-player Bethesda Game Studios title since Fallout 4 in 2015 with just a subscription. Though many have argued that Phil Spencer is leaving money on the table by not withholding Starfield's release on Game Pass, it does speak to the immense confidence Microsoft and Bethesda have for the project. All that's left for Todd Howard and his team now is to stick the landing.
Starfield releases on September 6 for PC and Xbox Series X/S.