The new Starfield patch includes updates like an improved minimap and new gameplay options, but fails to address the core issue. Zero gravity was fun, and the emergent stories that cropped up as you plundered the galaxy were brilliant, if infrequent. The minimap was inconvenient, and inventory management was a chore. However, one major issue that stopped the author from enjoying the game was the lack of excitement and discovery while traveling through space.
Space travel and piloting the ship were fun in dogfights, but the experience of traveling from one point to another felt incomplete and boring. Planetary exploration also posed its own set of challenges. Most planets felt barren, with a few outposts and buildings at predetermined landing spots and a lack of meaningful interactions between fauna, flora, and inhabitants. Comparisons to other RPGs like Baldur’s Gate 3 and Cyberpunk 2077 made Starfield’s planets and cities feel lagging behind the industry.
The next patch is explained to fix minor problems and introduce new gameplay options, such as an overhauled minimap and customizable settings. The overhaul of the minimap and the introduction of new gameplay options are seen as positive steps, but they do not address the core issues of the game. There is excitement around the introduction of the first vehicle in a Bethesda game, but the author doubts its impact if the planets still lack meaningful content. The lack of meaningful content on the planets and the focus on quality of life updates without making the universe exploration exciting is seen as a misdirection from the developers.
Creating a more exciting universe for exploration is deemed essential for Starfield to reach the level of success Bethesda aspires for.
