Former Starfield Artist Reveals Reason Graphic Violence Was Cut

Summary

• Starfield's toned-down violence was a deliberate decision, primarily due to technical limitations.
• The style also didn't align with Starfield's overall tone, according to former Bethesda artist Dennis Mejillones.

Starfield, Bethesda's ambitious space RPG, initially planned for significantly more graphic violence than what ultimately shipped. While Bethesda's history includes titles brimming with gore, Starfield opted for a more restrained approach. This wasn't a last-minute decision; the shift away from excessive violence was intentional, though not the original vision.

The game certainly isn't devoid of violence; gunplay and melee combat are core mechanics, often praised as improvements over Fallout 4. However, the studio apparently scaled back some of the more visceral details.

Dennis Mejillones, a character artist who worked on both Starfield and Fallout 4, shed light on this in a recent interview with Kiwi Talkz. He confirmed that initial plans included decapitations and other brutal kill animations. However, technical hurdles proved insurmountable. The sheer variety of suits and helmets made animating realistic, bug-free violence exceptionally challenging. Given Starfield's persistent technical issues even after several major updates, this decision appears prudent.

Starfield's Reduced Violence: A Technical and Thematic Choice

Technical limitations weren't the sole reason for the reduced gore. Mejillones also highlighted the tonal differences between Starfield and the Fallout series. Fallout's often humorous depiction of violence doesn't translate seamlessly to Starfield's more serious, realistic sci-fi setting. While the game includes nods to Bethesda's more over-the-top titles (like the recent Doom-inspired content), its overall tone leans towards grounded realism. Exaggerated executions, while potentially thrilling, might have clashed with the game's immersive atmosphere.

Despite this, some fans continue to call for more realism. Criticisms have focused on areas like the relatively tame nightclubs, contrasting them with the grittier depictions found in games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Mass Effect. Adding tongue-in-cheek violence might have only amplified these concerns, making the game feel less grounded. Ultimately, Bethesda's decision to temper the gore, while deviating from past shooter trends, seems strategically sound.