Bethesda Game Studios has been creating some of the most acclaimed single-player experiences in gaming for decades, and when Starfield releases later this year it looks set to continue that legacy. But even though Bethesda is known for crafting rich solo experiences full of epic adventures and detailed lore like The Elder Scrolls series, that doesn’t mean that playing through Starfield should have to be an entirely solitary endeavor. By looking to some other popular titles, and its own back catalog, for inspiration Bethesda could make Starfield a satisfying single-player experience while still letting players know they’re not alone in the cold depths of space.
Adding some level of multiplayer functionality to Starfield doesn’t mean that Bethesda needs to follow in the footsteps of its own online-only Fallout 76, though. Rather than adding features like co-op missions that would seriously detract from the game’s solo-focused story, Starfield could include multiplayer in subtler ways that would be in keeping with the game’s themes and setting. From leaderboards for missions to being able to leave encouraging notes for other players, even simple multiplayer functionality in Starfield could help players feel like they’re part of a universe that’s truly alive.
Basic Multiplayer Functionality Could Make Starfield’s Vast Universe Feel More Alive
Including multiplayer systems that let players know there are others out there experiencing the game’s sprawling sci-fi narrative alongside them would be a great way to make the world of Starfield feel genuinely lived-in. One simple way to do this would be to include leaderboards tracking stats and accomplishments to let players compete against friends and strangers from around the world. To avoid detracting from the game’s sci-fi setting, these leaderboards could be presented in-universe as a database tracking the exploits of the different members of Constellation.
Another way to make players feel like they’re part of a living universe filled with other explorers would be to take a page from Nintendo’s now-defunct Miiverse for the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS. Miiverse allowed users to share notes, drawings, and more in supported titles that could be viewed by other players. This system could be adapted for Starfield to allow players to leave notes or hints as in-universe signage outside important areas, or even as a way for gamers to share their accomplishments on the news feeds running in the capital city, New Atlantis.
Going Solo in Starfield Doesn’t Have to Mean Players Can’t Work Together
If Bethesda wanted to be more ambitious with multiplayer in Starfield it could take a cue from the strand system from Death Stranding. Rather than asynchronously working together to build roads and watchtowers for Bridges, Starfield players could create structures like Constellation supply depots and outposts that could be used by both themselves and other gamers. This would encourage cooperation between players while staying in line with the game’s theme of a universe filled with explorers.
Bethesda could also look to its past for inspiration when it comes to potential multiplayer options for Starfield. With it seeming likely that Starfield will feature Creation Club functionality similar to Skyrim, the developer could include some of the concepts from the paid mod program into the core game. Implementing a simple quest creation system directly into Starfield could allow gamers to come up with missions and challenges that could be accessed by other players at outposts, adding even more variety to the game’s already vast array of activities.
With Starfield’s release date now pushed back to September, Bethesda should consider using a portion of its extra development time to add some form of multiplayer to the game. Adding even basic multiplayer functionality could not only increase the game’s appeal for some players but also help ensure that it becomes Bethesda’s most immersive game yet. And as players explore the vast reaches of space later this year, knowing other Constellation members are making the same journey could make the universe of Starfield feel just a bit less empty.
Starfield is set to launch on September 6 for PC and Xbox Series X/S.