Starfieldturned up in a big way during Bethesda’s E3 2021 conference. Bethesda revealed an in-game cinematic trailer, a release date, a faction name, and gave some insight into the tone of the game. “They say the wonder is not that the field of stars is so vast, but that we have measured it.” This breathy narration opened the exciting trailer, and drew particular attention to the game’s title.Starfieldis not just an upcoming science fiction game from Bethesda Softworks, it is not only the company’s first original IP in over 25 years:“Starfield"is also a legitimate astronomical terms that has some fascinating implications for the game.
Bethesda choosing this very particular scientific term speaks volumes to the realism the studio seems to be aiming for withStarfield. It might also speak volumes to the game’s focus on the material difficulty of travelling between specific points in space. In short, a “starfield” is not a precise term, but a more general description of closely grouped interstellar bodies. As well as showing the level of realism Bethesda might be aiming for withStarfield, the name could also imply the kind of scale the game is working with. It seems then, that the measuring of vast starfields could play into the game, the Constellation faction’s purpose, and the player’s role itself.
What Is a Starfield?
A starfield is a very general term for a cluster of stars that can be observed together. Most of the time, it is used to help describe specific areas of cosmic significance that can be seen together through a telescope. For example, the starfield surrounding the stars Betelgeuse and Rigel arguably covers all of the Orion constellation. A recent example of a starfield in videogames comes from Hello Games’No Man’s Sky. The galactic map is a really important tool for players in that game, as it shows their progress in context, being the huge web of stars, planets, and systems that constitute the massive open universe.
No Man’s Sky’sgalactic mapis one that shifts and reorients at a player’s whim. What it really shows is the actual utility of the term “starfield” - a description that helps people comprehend vast galaxies in more manageable parts. It will be interesting to see if the term has any mechanical bearing on Bethesda’s game. Perhaps the term could be used to navigateStarfield’s procedurally generated universe. With an open world so vast that Bethesda needed to overhaul its RPG engine for the next generation, ways of breaking up this space might be essential to the game.
How Big Is a Starfield Anyway?
While a starfield is not an exact unit of measurement, it normally covers a colossal expanse of space. A relatively close example of a starfield would be the stellar cloud of Sagittarius. This span of space clocks in at around 10,000 light years in distance. Another, much older example, would be Messier 107. This cluster of stars (pictured above) contains some of the oldest objects in the known universe, all together in this cluster. Messier 107 measures roughly 20,900 lightyears across. These huge sizes are typical of starfields across the cosmos. Perhaps this is indicative of the scale ofStarfield’sopen world, perhaps hinting atStarfieldhavingplentyof space to explore.
Creating an open-world space game is obviously ambitious. Bethesda’s expansive environments and associated storytelling draw millions of fans to every game they release.Daggerfallis thelargestElder Scrollsgameto date, with its map clocking in at around 100,000 miles wide. Considering the game is nearly 25 years old, a practically limitless sandbox of that size is very impressive.
Although some might assume that the more recentFallout 76would have the series' largest map, that title in fact goes to the 20 year oldFallout: Tactics.Falloutgames have real-world locations to compare to, so whenTactics' map covers over 12 states, it clocks in at around 300,000 square miles over the entire space. Unsurprisingly, the starfields mentioned above absolutely dwarf even the largest map sizes above. For example, Messier 107 spans 20.9 kilo-light years, or 1000 light years. One light year alone is 5.88 trillion miles in length. So, to sayStarfieldcould be set on an impossibly huge scale would be a massive understatement.
What Starfield’s Name Says About The Game
Bethesda’s games are famous for their massive maps, and especially for how they develop during play. The open-worldmaps inFalloutgames are incredibly important elements of the series. As players advance across the sprawling post-apocalyptic landscape, markers appear for the places they visit. By the end of most newFallouttitles, the daunting, empty landscapes on a Pip-Boy light up with markers and symbols, showing the huge adventure the protagonist has completed.
Perhaps Bethesda will use the starfield in a similar way, allowing the gargantuan images of starry space to become fully labelled maps of the cosmos as the game progresses.No Man’s Skyis another popular title employing this method, so the tools are very much available. Additionally, using this vague astronomical term gives fans an inkling as the enormousscale ofStarfield. Todd Howard has remarked upon the importance of accurate and meticulous space travel in the upcoming space RPG, saying it is as dangerous as “flight in the 40s.” The emphasis on space travel inStarfieldalso implies that interstellar distance will also be important.
Starfieldwill release on PC and Xbox Series X/S on the 11th of November 2022.
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