The long-awaited Starfield gameplay deep dive has finally been unveiled, and its ship customization and interstellar combat have been a highlight in its 40-minute presentation. Starfield has been in development for over seven years, and after a string of delays pushed its release all the way to September 2023, Microsoft is finally ready to show what the team cooked up. Very much described as a traditional Bethesda title, it is an open world experience that puts the players into the role of galactic explorers. Comparable to Skyrim and Fallout 4, it is the next evolution of the Bethesda sandbox, as fans will be able to take flight in fully-customizable ships and explore the dark corners of space.
Starfield will feature over a thousand planets for players to immerse themselves in, as the developers at Bethesda have created new tech to bring their ambitious dream to reality. Yet outside the unique, handcrafted landscapes that await on the many worlds of Starfield, space itself is being treated with the same amount of detail and reverence. Players will be able to explore it on a ship of their own, and will be able to take direct command from the cockpit.
The ship customization in Starfield is truly modular, as fans will be able to shape, color, and assemble their vessel in whatever way they desire. Different manufacturers will feature different interior styles, and an unrestricted color wheel will allow players to give their ship the right coat of paint. At the 20-minute mark of the Deep Dive video, Bethesda showed how complex and freeform ship customization could go, and even featured some of the developers' personal designs (such as a colorful mech or a platypus).
In addition to customizing the exterior and interior modules of their ship, players will also be able to hire companions and crewmates in Starfield to maintain their vessel. Discovered throughout their adventure, and likely through many of the game's factions, these NPCs will help liven up the ship's quarters in an immersive way. However, the vast reaches of space won't be without their fair share of dangers, as players will often engage in interstellar combat.
Whether hostile ships are warping into view, or players are choosing to engage in piracy, the ship combat in Starfield will allow players to not only turn the enemy vessels into scrap (while looting them from the comforts of their cockpit), but also directly dock and seize the ship on the ground. Doing so will allow Starfield players to not only capture the vessel, but also add it to their own personal fleet. In true sci-fi fashion, fans will also have to be strategic about their energy spending during space exploration, as the ship will only be able to focus on Laser, Engines, Gravity, or Shields based on the amount of power left unallocated. Though there is plenty to be excited about when it comes to space flight in Starfield, it is but one pillar of its gameplay.
Starfield launches September 6 for PC and Xbox Series X.