“It would have been a technical nightmare,” Bethesda developers reveal. Starfield could have carried over the brutality and gore of Fallout, but it was dropped to preserve the RPG’s focus. A gore system was considered, but Bethesda aimed to maintain the “NASA-punk” aesthetic.
Video game development involves countless decisions about what to include, modify, or eliminate to enhance the overall experience. In the case of Starfield, the game’s intricate world systems and artistic direction—described by Todd Howard as “NASA-punk” to emphasize its semi-realistic aesthetic—meant that a gore system reminiscent of Fallout was ultimately abandoned. The reason? It didn’t align with the RPG’s visual style.
The absence of dismemberment and gore elements, unlike what players have seen in Fallout, sparked mixed reactions within the gaming community. Dennis Mejillones, a veteran Bethesda artist who contributed to Fallout 4, explained in a Kiwi Talkz interview that this decision was driven by both technical challenges and the game’s thematic direction. Mejillones noted that implementing such a feature would have been too complicated due to the intricate details of the spacesuits and their components.
“A Technical Nightmare”
“Helmets, backpacks, and accessories create a logistical nightmare when you add dismemberment and expect it to look good. You’d need to account for cuts in the helmet and the internal structure of the suits, which is a massive challenge given current resources,” Mejillones explained. While Bethesda has successfully implemented similar systems in games like Fallout, they opted to avoid the technical cost and potential strain on other areas of development this time.
Prioritizing Thematic and Artistic Coherence
Beyond technical hurdles, the game’s tone also played a key role in the decision. Mejillones pointed out that Fallout relies on an ironic, exaggerated style that justifies its chaotic gore systems. In contrast, Starfield aims for a more grounded universe, inspired by shows like The Expanse and Star Trek, where excessive bloodshed would clash with its serious and humanistic narrative.
While the stark contrast between the game’s clean, white aesthetic and potential gore might have been visually striking, Bethesda ultimately chose thematic consistency. Some fans feel this omission wouldn’t have hurt the game, while others argue it would detract from the overall experience. For now, many speculate that the modding community might step in to fill the gap, as they’ve done for other Bethesda titles in the past.
Source: 3djuegos
