Bethesda Modifies Gore Content in Starfield for Wide Appeal

Bethesda's Starfield initially incorporated plans for visceral gore and dismemberment effects, but these were ultimately scrapped due to unforeseen technical complexities.

Former Bethesda character artist, Dennis Mejillones (who contributed to Skyrim, Fallout 4, and Starfield), revealed to Kiwi Talkz that integrating these mechanics with the game's diverse spacesuit designs proved overwhelmingly challenging. The intricate details required – precise helmet removal, realistic flesh simulations beneath the suits, and accounting for various suit configurations and hose placements – created an unwieldy and complex system. This complexity was further compounded by the game's evolved character creator, allowing for significant body size variations.

While some fans expressed disappointment at the absence of gore and dismemberment, features present in Fallout 4, Mejillones argued that these mechanics align better with Fallout's lighthearted, satirical tone. He stated that the gore in Fallout 4 is "part of the fun."

Despite this omission, Starfield, Bethesda's first major single-player RPG in eight years, has still achieved remarkable success, attracting over 15 million players since its September 2023 release. IGN's 7/10 review highlighted the game's compelling RPG elements and satisfying combat as key strengths, outweighing some of its shortcomings.

Recent revelations from another former Bethesda developer shed light on the extensive loading times, particularly noticeable in Neon, at launch. Bethesda has since implemented improvements, including a 60fps performance mode, and released the Shattered Space expansion in September.