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Now that the countdown to Starfield has begun, Besthesda is laying the groundwork for what to expect from the game. Starfield’s relationship with hard science fiction is number one on the list today.
“Starfield is more hard science fiction to us,” creative director Todd Howard said in a question-and-answer video. This means we probably won’t see space wizards, but rather what happens in the game falls within the realm of scientific possibility. While most science fiction is based on science and the known possibilities of our universe, it can still bend the rule of what is and is not possible in our physical universe. In hard sci-fi, you largely see technology that could theoretically exist, along with the limitations that come with it, such as long commutes.
Ultimately, Howard points out that Starfield may never meet all the demands of hard science fiction because “in a hard science fiction video game, you would die in cold space.”
hard science fiction
Bethesda has tried as much as possible to place Starfield within the realm of hard science fiction. From ships to quantum physics, you’ll see a lot of elements in the game that are a definite nod to this goal, Howard says.
Looking at the Starfield ships, Howard says they have “a visual identity that goes back to” the history of human spaceflight. It is essential for Starfield to create this achievable timeline in which there are acknowledgments of what has gone before. Not only to create an immersive and believable experience, but also to fit into the remit of hard science fiction.
Howard also describes the hours spent trying to understand quantum physics, reading newspapers, and understanding space travel. All this aims to create a product that will excite hard science fiction enthusiasts or just casual enthusiasts of the genre.
Through this research, Howard also came across what problems there would be in Starfield as a result of hard science fiction. The biggest of these is refueling your spaceship. This quickly became “very punitive to the player,” he says. Once you ran out of fuel, that was it, you were dead in space with no chance to help yourself. So a compromise was made. Now the “fuel and gravity in your ship limit where you can go at once,” Howard says, “but the fuel isn’t running out.”
Really fun
However, games are made to be fun. If you want reality, you should play a simulator game like Brewmaster, where the developer refused to break the laws of physics for its players, or maybe pick up the Powerwash simulator – it’s an extremely chill time.
Even then, many simulator games also need to balance reality with entertainment. So these changes to Starfield seem like a good indication of what’s to come. A space adventure that is realistic and creative while taking into account the interests of the fans.