Bethesda's Starfield initially featured planned gore and dismemberment mechanics, but technical hurdles forced their removal. Dennis Mejillones, a former character artist who worked on Skyrim, Fallout 4, and Starfield, explained to Kiwi Talkz that the complexity of integrating these mechanics with the game's spacesuits proved insurmountable.
The interaction between dismemberment and the various suit designs presented significant technical challenges. Mejillones detailed the intricate processes involved, including realistic helmet removal, flesh simulation beneath the suits, and the complications introduced by the game's diverse suit designs and customizable character models. The resulting complexity, he stated, became unwieldy.
While some fans expressed disappointment over the absence of gore and dismemberment, a feature present in Fallout 4, Mejillones argued that these mechanics fit better within Fallout's humorous tone. He noted that the over-the-top violence contributed to the game's overall playful aesthetic.
Despite this omission, Starfield, Bethesda's first major single-player RPG in eight years, has still achieved remarkable success, attracting over 15 million players since its September 2023 release. IGN's 7/10 review highlighted the game's compelling RPG elements and combat as key strengths, outweighing its shortcomings.
Recent revelations from other former Bethesda developers have shed light on further technical challenges during development, including unexpected loading screen issues, particularly within the city of Neon. Bethesda has since addressed some of these issues, including implementing a 60fps performance mode, and released the Shattered Space expansion.
