Before its launch, Starfield was set to be Bethesda’s magnum opus, as it seemed like one of the most ambitious games ever created. Naturally, the anticipation from the developer’s fanbase was high, as its track record was enough proof of what the studio was capable of. Then came September 6, and after getting a hands-on experience, players realized that it wasn’t that great and didn’t live up to the developer’s legacy.
The dip in quality in the space RPG was clear, and a former Starfield developer has shed light on why the end product wasn’t that amazing.
Former Starfield Developer Nate Purkeypile Discusses Why the Game Was Underwhelming
Speaking to FandomWire about his upcoming game, The Axis Unseen, Nate Purkeypile looked back at how effective the development for titles like Fallout 3 and Skyrim used to be, stating that although “an overarching vision” was there, the team was “given a lot of freedom to do what” it wanted. Bethesda didn’t take the top-down approach with its development, so the individuals working there were free to implement fresh aspects in their games.
Purkeypile has also worked on the studio’s space RPG, so the absence of Starfield from the aforementioned titles stood out, and the Just Purkey founder revealed why he didn’t mention it.
“The team was so huge at that point there were a lot more checks and balances and meetings,” stated Purkeypile about how the space RPG’s development was handled. As the number of people involved increased, the freedom that was given to the team decreased, and with “the massive tech changes” that were taking place, it became a challenge to add more elements to the game.
That’s what differentiated the studio’s space title from the rest of its catalog, as there was more time to make additions to games like Skyrim, resulting in a polished final product.
Purkeypile Blames Development Changes for the RPG’s Mediocrity
“Absolutely,” answered Purkeypile when asked if the development changes played a part in hurting Starfield, as he called it “sterile” since one major criticism was that the open world, which was supposed to be extraordinary, felt empty and repetitive. The developer believes that the RPG was missing the element of “surprise and wonder” that used to come with the studio’s previous titles.
Purkeypile revealed that he’s always thought that the studio was overstepping its bounds with the ambitions of “a thousand planets,” which don’t matter if they do not come with enough substance to explore and discover.
Fortunately, Nate Purkeypile has tons of freedom in the development of his upcoming game, The Axis Unseen, which he says is most definitely not another Skyrim clone, so it has the potential to bring back the magic that Bethesda seems to have lost.
Where does the space RPG rank for you in the developer’s catalog? Let us know in the comments!
