Bethesda had ambitious plans to incorporate gore and dismemberment mechanics into Starfield, but these were ultimately scrapped due to technical challenges. Dennis Mejillones, a former character artist who worked on The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, Fallout 4, and Starfield, explained to Kiwi Talkz that the complexity of interactions with space suits was the primary reason for cutting the feature.
"The technical implications with the various suits were overwhelming," Mejillones stated. "You have to consider cutting the helmet in a specific way, ensuring it detaches correctly, and managing the flesh underneath. It all became a tangled mess with the addition of complex hoses and the ability to significantly alter body sizes through the evolved character creator."
While some fans expressed disappointment over the absence of these mechanics, which were a hallmark of Fallout 4, Mejillones noted that such features align more with the "tongue-in-cheek" humor of the Fallout series. "It's part of the fun," he remarked.
Starfield, Bethesda's first full single-player RPG in eight years, was released in September 2023 and has since attracted over 15 million players. IGN's 7/10 review praised the game for its expansive role-playing quests and solid combat, despite various challenges.
In a recent revelation, another former Bethesda developer expressed astonishment at the extensive loading times in Starfield, especially noticeable in the city of Neon. Post-launch, Bethesda has made significant improvements, including the introduction of a 60fps performance mode. The expansion Shattered Space was launched in September, further enhancing the gaming experience.
