During the Starfield Direct, players noticed an interesting detail in the gameplay footage that could be a reference to one of the most popular Skyrim players, Skyrim Grandma. Since Bethesda is behind both Starfield and Skyrim, this cameo could be a nod to the studio's past work and the players who helped make it one of the bestselling video games in history.
After months of anticipation, players finally discovered more about the story and gameplay of Starfield, the first original IP created by Bethesda since The Elder Scrolls. Right after the Xbox Games Showcase shared world premiere trailers of Fable, Payday 3, and Cities Skylines 2, Bethesda hosted the Starfield Direct to show exclusive footage of the upcoming space RPG. Todd Howard and his team shared new information about Starfield’s gameplay, with footage showing the exploration of various planets, fights against aliens, as well as ship and base building. Bethesda also introduced some of the characters players will meet during their adventures and some of the cities they will visit.
During Starfield’s gameplay deep dive, Bethesda showcased a player exploring the galaxy when they stumble upon another spaceship that belongs to someone called Grandma, who invited them over to share some food. This cameo is likely a reference to Shirley Curry, an 87-year-old YouTuber better known as Skyrim Grandma. Curry uploaded her first Skyrim video in 2015 and quickly became a real phenomenon, now boasting over 1.22 million followers on YouTube. Some of her fans asked the studio to include her in its next game, with Bethesda promising to feature Curry in The Elder Scrolls 6. It seems that Skyrim Grandma may also be part of Bethesda’s upcoming space RPG, with her cameo highlighted in the Starfield Direct.
Besides Skyrim Grandma, Starfield makes another reference to The Elder Scrolls when players choose the Hero Worshipped trait, a boy regularly appears to express their adoration for the player and offer gifts. This character is a direct reference to the Adoring Fan from The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion, where a Bosmer child follows the player to cheer them up after they become Champion of the Arena.
These references should please players who already have experience with Bethesda games, but the Starfield Direct also unveiled new features for those who haven't played any of The Elder Scrolls or Fallout games. Starfield features an advanced ship customization tool, allowing players to upgrade each part of their ship and assemble new parts in any way they desire. Players can then set off to explore various planets, mine their resources, and meet their inhabitants.
Starfield releases September 6 for PC and Xbox Series X/S.