Starfield: Bethesda Tames Gore for Wider Appeal

Bethesda's Starfield initially planned to feature graphic gore and dismemberment, but technical hurdles forced its removal. Dennis Mejillones, a character artist who worked on Skyrim, Fallout 4, and Starfield, explained to Kiwi Talkz that the complexity of integrating these mechanics with the game's space suits proved insurmountable.

The intricate details of suit interaction, including helmet removal and realistic flesh depiction beneath, created significant technical challenges. Mejillones described the resulting system as overly complex, citing the numerous variables introduced by customizable suits, hoses, and body sizes. The advanced character creator further amplified these difficulties.

While some fans expressed disappointment over the absence of gore and dismemberment, a feature present in Fallout 4, Mejillones argued that the mechanics fit Fallout's humorous tone better than Starfield's. He noted that the gore was "part of the fun" in Fallout's context.

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 combat as key strengths.

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