Starfield Overlooked a Chance to Enhance One Feature’s Immersion

When Starfield hit the shelves last year, it aimed to ignite the imaginations of gamers with an epic tale of space exploration. The anticipation was palpable, as Bethesda’s sci-fi epic promised to be one of its most ambitious outings. However, Starfield didn’t quite win hearts like its predecessors, primarily because it sometimes failed to deliver the deep immersion found in classics like Skyrim and Fallout 3.

Starfield’s mixed reputation persists a year on. It’s had its moments, such as introducing the game’s first vehicle, the REV-8, but other updates left players wanting more. Its first expansion, Shattered Space, was hotly awaited but ended up dividing the community possibly even more than the initial release. Recently, a Reddit user, Cleobule, shared an experiment highlighting a significant immersion flaw. The player noted that even when characters from the Crimson Fleet and UC SysDef are supposed to be bitter enemies, wearing a SysDef uniform doesn’t trigger any reaction from the Crimson Fleet.

This oversight points to the fact that immersion in the game doesn’t always hit the mark. The relationship between the Crimson Fleet and UC SysDef presents a golden opportunity for immersion. SysDef is seen as a tough, militarized police force by many in the galaxy, whereas the Crimson Fleet champions freedom, albeit with a fondness for criminal acts like murder. Choosing a side puts players in a moral dilemma, yet the enmity between these factions isn’t fully exploited in gameplay. You’d think wearing a SysDef outfit in Crimson Fleet areas would spark conflict, but as Cleobule demonstrated, that’s not the case. This shortfall in immersion is a valid concern among the game’s critiques.

The game prides itself on its riveting space exploration experience, so it’s curious why encounters with Crimson Fleet members in SysDef gear don’t spark hostility. Such oversights show where Starfield could improve, emphasizing its deviation from the pre-launch expectations.

Despite Shattered Space not receiving glowing reviews, Bethesda can still enhance Starfield with upcoming updates and expansions. Enhancements that bolster world-immersion would add a layer of intrigue, making a negotiation in full SysDef gear with the Crimson Fleet a thrilling challenge.

Players are holding out hope for these improvements in future updates. It’s still unclear if boosting immersion is in the cards, but if so, being a SysDef agent amidst the Crimson Fleet might become a heart-pumping adventure without the current lack of consequences.

Starfield, which launched on September 6, 2023, runs on a proprietary engine and is available on PC and Xbox platforms, with certain optimizations for the Series X|S. Despite its mixed reviews, it still holds potential for growth and improvement in the future.