Starfieldfans are eagerly waiting for more news on Bethesda’s new science fiction RPG. While there are some features that fans can likely expect to carry over from other Bethesda titles into its newest IP, there are still many questions about how certain elements will work inStarfield. There is a lot of mystery around how players will interact with NPCs, how combat will work, or how spaceships will function inStarfieldthat many excited fans are eager to learn about.
Fans are looking at other popular science fiction games forpossible inspirations forStarfield, such asStar Citizen. However, Bethesda and the team working onStarfieldshould also take some inspiration fromNo Man’s Sky. WhileNo Man’s Skyreceived a negative reaction when it was originally released in 2016, since then it has received a number of patches and large updates that have brought it closer to the original promises made by Hello Games. With how successful the game now is, it isNo Man’s Sky’s original promises thatStarfieldshould borrow from in its development.
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Starfield Should Borrow From No Man’s Sky’s Detailed Planets
One of the most enticing aspects ofNo Man’s Skyis visiting its immense number of planets, and exploring their ecosystems and species. Of course,Starfieldwill likely not include the sheer vastness ofNo Man’s Sky’s universe, but it should definitely borrow from the game’s level of detail for each planet. There is still not muchknown aboutStarfield’s galaxy, but there is a lot of potential for the game to define itself with the planets that players will visit. Having each planet distinct from the others, with its own plant life, ecosystems, and animals for players to interact with would help the game’s world feel larger and more alive.
It also would help exploring inStarfieldfeel better, as players would be more interested in exploring each individual planet if they are distinct enough from one another.Starfieldalso has the opportunity to be even better at this thanNo Man’s Skypromised since it will have a more limited number of hand-made planets. Since planets inNo Man’s Skyare procedurally generated there can be some repetition between them if players visit enough.
Starfield, however, can handcraft each planet to feel completely different from the others, and can give each planet more detailed touches like unique areas, interactions, or even events that players can witness. All of this could helpStarfieldkeep its players engaged for much longerthan they otherwise would if the planets are all made of the same assets.
Starfield Should Borrow No Man’s Sky’s Promise of a Living Universe
Another part ofNo Man’s Sky’s promises that had fans so excited for its launch was its living universe. Players expected to be able to have an impact on things in the game. They expected to be able to blow up space stations, work with different factions, or stumble on battles going on in space and join in for some dogfighting. Running across events or being able to truly leave an impact on the galaxy would fit great inStarfield. Not only could it have a significant impact on the player’s relationships withStarfield’s various factions, but it also would help make the galaxy feel more alive and give the player more to do than just play through quests.
The events and living aspects of the world could also easily be expanded on inStarfield. A player’s actions could have sprawling impacts and consequences on the world and characters more than is possible inNo Man’s Sky. A player intervening in a space battle could tip the tides of a galactic war while stopping to help a stranded NPC could give players a unique spaceship part or weapon. These options would all help reward players for exploring the world while allowing them to get personal upgrades to their gear orspaceships inStarfield.
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Starfield Still Needs to Differentiate Itself from No Man’s Sky
With as much asStarfieldshould borrow fromNo Man’s Sky’s promises, it should also take steps to ensure that it maintains its own identity and sets itself apart fromNo Man’s Sky. One major way to do this is forStarfieldto embrace roleplayingand give players numerous choices and different approaches to the game. Expanding features like dialogue trees with skill-based options, a variety of approaches to combat, and branching questlines will helpStarfieldstand out and become something really special. It also would greatly help players want to replay the game more so that they can explore all the options and see how differently the game can be played.
Another way thatStarfieldcan differentiate itself fromNo Man’s Skyis by introducing new features as well. To do thisStarfieldcould pull from other Bethesda titles to draw inspiration for mechanics like followers, faction questlines, and filling its world with a painstakingly detailed universe and lore. These features will likely make it intoStarfieldas the features have been so popular in previous Bethesda titles.Starfieldfocusing on satisfying Bethesda fans could also be good to help tide Bethesda fans over while theywait forElder Scrolls 6and a newFallouttitle.
Of course, there is no knowing what players should expect fromStarfielduntil Bethesda releases more information on its newest RPG. Until then, there are a lot of different sources of inspiration that the developers could pull from. WhetherStarfieldpulls fromBlade RunnerorHalo, it will be very interesting to see what the studio does with its new science fiction setting and what other games or properties it takes inspiration from. The game undeniably has a lot of potential, and it could be a very big release for Bethesda and Xbox alike. Hopefully, players will not have to wait much longer to learn of its release later this year.
Starfieldreleases on June 01, 2025 for PC and Xbox Series X/S.
