Summary
Another wave of Steam backlash has hitStarfieldafter developer Bethesda Game Studios released its new Trackers Alliance questline, which asks players to purchase subsequent quests as Creation mods.Starfield’s upcoming Shattered Space DLC finally received a reveal trailer at Xbox’s recent games showcase, which confirmed it’ll focus on one of the space RPG’s darker factions, House Va’ruun.
Attached to the Shattered Space trailer was thereveal of a new questline centered around anotherStarfieldfaction, the Trackers Alliance. While not a dedicatedfaction questline like the UC Vanguardor the Freestar Collective, this new series of missions begins with the Starjacker quest, which players are able to start for free. The catch is that in order to continue with the questline after completing Starjacker, players are forced to purchase the second quest, The Vulture, for $7 from the Creations menu, as it’s been implemented by Bethesda as a mod. The paywalling of this Bethesda-made Trackers Alliance questline has led to a new wave of criticism towardsStarfieldand Bethesda Game Studios on Steam, with the RPG’s reviews dipping down into “Mostly Negative” territory.
Todd Howard,Starfield’s director, addressed the Trackers Alliance questline and larger paid mod backlash during arecent interview with MrMattyPlays. In it, Howard explained thatStarfield’s Trackers Alliance questline was an attempt to go the extra mile for players by giving them special in-game gear and rewards embedded within a new questline. He went on to easeplayers' worries about paid Creation Club mods, saying “…that’s not what we want at all in terms of, oh no, this looks like a faction that we’re chopping up and then selling for 700 credits at a time. And so I do think we are going to take a look at that and how we deliver content like that, and whether we’re changing pricing or breaking it up or what we should do there.”
Todd Howard Responds To Trackers Alliance Mod Quest Criticism
It seems that mostStarfieldplayers are taking issue with the fact that Bethesda is monetizing its own official Trackers Alliance quest mods. Many would agree that since players already had to purchaseStarfield,they shouldn’t have to pay for Bethesda’s self-made mods. The fact that Bethesda is offering the first Trackers Alliance quest for free, attempting to upsell fans into having to pay for mods to continue is surely rubbing salt on the wound for fans. Howard mentions that some dedicated modders have taken their craft beyond that of a hobby and are becomingsomething like professionals within theStarfieldcommunity, adding that it’s important that Bethesda ensures they’re paid well for their work.
I do think we are going to take a look at that and how we deliver content like that, and whether we’re changing pricing or breaking it up or what we should do there.
Howard didn’t mention if or when changes to Creation Kit monetization would take hold. WhileStarfield’s Shattered Space DLC has yet to receive a release date, Todd Howard did confirm thatmore major DLC expansions are planned forStarfieldbeyond Shattered Space.
Starfield
WHERE TO PLAY
Starfield is the first new universe in 25 years from Bethesda Game Studios, the award-winning creators of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Fallout 4. In this next generation role-playing game set amongst the stars, create any character you want and explore with unparalleled freedom as you embark on an epic journey to answer humanity’s greatest mystery.The year is 2330. Humanity has ventured beyond our solar system, settling new planets, and living as a spacefaring people. From humble beginnings as a space miner, you will join Constellation – the last group of space explorers seeking rare artifacts throughout the galaxy – and navigate the vast expanse of the Settled Systems in Bethesda Game Studios’ biggest and most ambitious game.
