Bethesda's RPG Starfield has felt like it's been a long time coming, not only because it will be the studio's first new IP in over twenty-five years, but also because players got their first glimpse of it way back in 2018. Starfield still doesn't have a launch date, but fans are hoping Bethesda is going to stick to its current release window of the first half of 2023. With that being said, it could be only a matter of months until players are able to get their hands on the game, and thankfully Bethesda has been showing off what Starfield is all about, so gamers can see what they might be in for.
One of the main things that stuck out once Starfield's marketing really got underway and the developer started revealing more details was the sheer size of the game. Fans already had high hopes for an epic spacefaring adventure with the scope of a Fallout or an Elder Scrolls title, but the fact that Starfield was going to have over a thousand planets was an exciting and unexpected revelation. While Bethesda has barely scratched the surface of this immense amount of planets with its pre-release content, there are a few that have already been revealed ahead of Starfield's launch.
Starfield's Main Planets
During the Xbox & Bethesda Showcase last year, the developer showed off some of Starfield's exploration and combat and also revealed what a few of the planets will look like. Starfield is clearly an ambitious game and the fact that players will be able to visit over a hundred systems and a thousand planets definitely indicate that Bethesda is trying to create a next-level action RPG. Some of Starfield's pre-release content has focused on Alpha Centauri, the closest solar system to the player's own. This is the capital of the United Colonies faction and has three planets that gamers currently know about.
So far, Bethesda has shown off Jemison; it's the location of the main headquarters of New Atlantis, which players will undoubtedly make frequent visits to. The system also has the gas giant Olivas towards Alpha Centauri's outer edge, which has five moons including Chawla, and another planet called Gagarin. There are also unnamed moons that gamers will presumably be able to explore, as well as many planets that have been shown in trailers and clips without much more information. Small glimpses of Starfield's galactic map have also revealed another star system near Alpha Centauri with at least one location called Vectera, which was a moon used to show off Starfield's new outpost system. The Earth and Mars also reportedly play some part in Starfield.
Other Starfield Planets Players Can Explore
Gamers don't yet know the name or setup of all the systems, but there will apparently be an average of ten planets per system. There will be a mixture of inhabited and frequently-visited planets, in addition to less-welcoming places that gamers will have to explore. With desolate landscapes, potentially dangerous local wildlife, and many mysteries to uncover, Starfield should be an enjoyably challenging experience with a wealth of different locations for players to take their starship.
As well as the main star systems with named planets, the developer has also revealed a few places that don't have specified locations yet. Revealed in trailers, development updates, and behind-the-scenes looks, gamers know about a moon known as Kreet, which is the home of an abandoned research base. There are also a few unnamed planets like an aquatic planet where the city of Neon is based, and an arid mountainous planet where players can find the Freestar Collective's capital city of Akila.
Starfield is in development for PC and Xbox Series X/S.