Starfield's Cut Violence: Artist Explains

Summary

• Starfield's toned-down violence was a deliberate decision, primarily due to technical limitations.
• The style also wouldn't align with Starfield's overall tone, according to Dennis Mejillones, a character artist who worked on both Starfield and Fallout 4 at Bethesda.

Initial plans for Starfield involved significantly more graphic violence than what ultimately shipped. While Bethesda's previous first-person shooters are known for their gore, Fallout's signature blood and guts were absent from this sci-fi adventure. The reduced violence wasn't an oversight; it was a conscious choice.

Bethesda didn't shy away from violence entirely. Gunplay and melee combat are central to Starfield's gameplay, often cited as improvements over Fallout 4. While initially considering more intense violence, the studio ultimately opted for a less graphic approach.

Dennis Mejillones, a character artist who worked on both Starfield and Fallout 4 at Bethesda, revealed in a Kiwi Talkz podcast interview that decapitations and other violent animations were initially planned. However, technical challenges proved insurmountable. The sheer variety of suits and helmets made animating realistic and bug-free violence incredibly difficult. Given Starfield's persistent technical issues even after several major updates, avoiding further graphical complications seems a prudent decision.

Starfield's Reduced Gore: A Technical and Thematic Choice

Technical limitations weren't the sole reason for the reduced gore. Mejillones also highlighted the incongruity between Fallout's darkly humorous violence and Starfield's intended tone. Although Starfield includes references to Bethesda's more violent titles (like the recent Doom-inspired content), it generally aims for a more grounded and realistic sci-fi experience. Over-the-top executions, while potentially exciting, might have disrupted the game's immersive atmosphere.

Despite this, some fans continue to advocate for greater realism. Criticisms have focused on aspects like the relatively tame nightclubs, contrasting them with grittier sci-fi titles such as Cyberpunk 2077 and Mass Effect. Adding tongue-in-cheek violence might have exacerbated these concerns, further undermining the game's grounded feel. Considering all factors, Bethesda's decision to reduce the game's gore appears to have been a sound one, even if it deviates from the trend established in their previous shooters.