TheGamer - Starfield

Starfield Fans Think They've Already Pieced Together The Entire Skill Tree

Joshua Robertson — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 23:51:48 GMT

The release date of Starfield grows ever closer, and despite getting a lengthy showcase earlier this summer dedicated to all of the game's mechanics and systems, fans are still eagerly combing through trailers and promotional material for whatever morsels of info they can sniff out. One fan has gone above and beyond though, apparently spending over 200 hours putting together a comprehensive table and breakdown of the game's entire skill tree.

Starfield Is Going To Be Lonely In Ways Skyrim Never Could Be

Jade King — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 17:00:21 GMT

Bethesda Game Studios has been honest about the fact that many of Starfield’s thousands of planets will be relatively devoid of life. Larger cities and civilian settlements will be found on specific planets likely pertaining to the main quest and major side missions, while every explorable planet off the beaten path will be down to you to discover. Certain players have expressed dismay about the potential of most planets not being worth a visit, but for me, it’s the opposite. I cannot wait to stand upon daunting plains of extraterrestrial terrain with little idea of what awaits me. To bask in the solitude of an alien world that doesn’t belong to me.

Playing Every New Game Will Only Burn You Out

James Troughton — Sun, 23 Jul 2023 17:30:19 GMT

Those who frequent social media are bound to feel FOMO at some point. If everyone is raving about the newest game, you’ll be inclined to pick it up so you can be a part of the conversation. But another new game just came out last week, and there’s another coming a week from now. All three will leave you on the sidelines if you don’t scramble to play them, but games are growing bigger with each new release—two of the ones I just mentioned are 60-hour RPGs. It’s a horrible cycle that ends only one way—burnout. You’re gonna turn a hobby into a chore and lose all love for it.

We're All Going To Play Stealth Archer Again In Starfield, Aren't We?

James Troughton — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 17:30:18 GMT

Starfield’s character creator looks incredible, with sprinkles of Fallout: New Vegas and Oblivion, making it far more in-depth than Skyrim’s and Fallout 4’s options. That means we can make some truly unique builds to explore the galaxy with, rather than defaulting to safe, tried and tested formulas. But let’s be honest - we’re all gonna make a stealth archer again.

Starfield Special Edition Pre-Orders Are Being Cancelled

Ben Sledge — Thu, 20 Jul 2023 14:30:17 GMT

I’m not much of a special edition guy, but even I was tempted by Starfield’s Constellation Edition. The smartwatch has that ‘60s NASA vibe that is so appealing (even if Bethesda won’t stop trying to make the infuriating phrase NASApunk happen), and it’s actually functional too, unlike most game tat you get in these sorts of things. If there had been a physical artbook included as well, I might have pulled the trigger, but I’ve seen people burned by Bethesda pre-order bonuses before.

Star Wars Outlaws' Lack Of Procedural Generation Is A Win For Gamers

Tessa Kaur — Tue, 18 Jul 2023 15:00:17 GMT

Much ado has been made about Star Wars Outlaws, Ubisoft’s new open-world Star Wars game revealed at this year’s Summer Game Fest. The single-player, third-person game focuses on Kay Vess, an outlaw scoundrel attempting to pull off a huge heist. She’s accompanied by Nix, a cute little guy you can instruct to do things for you, and the game will feature space combat, vehicle combat, stealth and open combat, and branching dialogue. As we’ve also recently found out, each planet in the game will be the size of about two or three zones in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, and each of them will be “hand-crafted” instead of procedurally generated.

Tears Of The Kingdom Does Not Have Game Of The Year Wrapped Up

Josh Coulson — Fri, 14 Jul 2023 17:00:16 GMT

2023 has been one of the best years in recent memory for video games, and we're only halfway done. Just when you thought your backlog couldn't get any deeper, it feels like every studio on the planet has decided that 2023 is the year to throw out its next banger. Or in the case of Square Enix, two bangers. I'm talking about Final Fantasy 16 and Octopath Traveler 2, but hey, if you enjoyed Forspoken, good for you.

The Elder Scrolls 6, Fallout 5, And Games That Don't Need To Exist Yet

Jade King — Fri, 07 Jul 2023 20:00:18 GMT

Gamers are always looking towards the next big thing. Even as a blockbuster like Starfield is destined to take hundreds of hours from us, we still impatiently demand more, asking where our next meal is coming from when this plate is cleaned of all its nutrition. There is always a big reveal or epic trailer waiting around the corner to drum up the hype all over again, and it is this exact cycle of perpetual anticipation that keeps this

I Wish I Could Make An RPG Turducken From Avowed And Starfield

Andrew King — Tue, 04 Jul 2023 18:00:17 GMT

Ah, the turducken, that mythic dish. Made by stuffing a chicken inside of a duck inside of a turkey, this boneless matryoshka doll is the stuff of legend. I know that you can actually make one in real modern life, but for me, it will always be the centerpiece of a fantastical medieval feast. It’s the kind of dish you would help prepare in a side quest in The Witcher.

5 Games To Play While You Wait For Starfield

Sam Hallahan — Tue, 04 Jul 2023 09:45:18 GMT

You might spend some time staring up at the night sky, spotting the stars and wondering how far they reach. Well get back inside and stare at your screen, because Starfield is going to let us travel to each of those stars. 1,000 planets, actually. Oh boy.

Baldur's Gate 3 Is A Game I'm Never Going To Have Time To Play

Jade King — Sun, 02 Jul 2023 18:00:17 GMT

I recently got into Dungeons & Dragons for the first time. I don’t really know what I’m doing as all the skills, feats, and character-building statistics go over my head. But rarely understanding the mechanical sophistication of the game world doesn’t matter when the act of playing is so much fun. Our dungeon master (Editor-in-Chief Stacey Henley) has created a compelling world and all I’m asked to do is sit back, listen, and use my imagination. Every now and then I’ll need to roll a die and moves things forward, but otherwise it’s all about how and why I build my character into the person I want them to be. Which is a badass Sea Elf.

What Even Is Starfield's NASApunk Anyway?

Ben Sledge — Sun, 02 Jul 2023 14:00:18 GMT

Another day, another random word has had the -punk suffix crowbarred onto the end of it for no apparent reason. I tried to let it lie, I really did, but it doesn’t escape my notice that everything is punk these days. Cyberpunk 2077 forces you to complete missions that side with cops. Very punk. Dreadpunk is just another word for gothic horror. Whalepunk is a silly name for games like Dishonored which are basically Steampunk but use whale oil instead of steam power. Even Steampunk, one of the most iconic -punk genres, has its issues with the suffix, thanks to its abandonment of the anti-establishment themes of its parent genre, cyberpunk.

Baldur's Gate 3 Release Date Moved Forward To Avoid Starfield

James Troughton — Thu, 29 Jun 2023 15:18:54 GMT

Baldur's Gate 3 will be leaving early access sooner than expected, now launching on August 3 for PC and September 6 for PS5. According to Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier, this is to avoid a clash with Starfield since both games are enormously ambitious RPG timesinks.

Why Won't Starfield Let Me Date Aliens, Damn It

Tessa Kaur — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 14:00:16 GMT

Speaking with Kinda Funny Games, Bethesda’s Todd Howard confirmed that there will only be four romanceable companions in Starfield, down from seven in Fallout 4 and over 60 in Skyrim. According to Howard, the four main Constellation companions will have full quest lines and romance options, so hopefully we’ll be getting fully fleshed-out stories in this area. It’s a big step up from attempts in previous games at least, all of which felt flat and empty.

Emails Reveal Bethesda Frustration Over Xbox Exclusivity For Starfield And TES 6

James Troughton — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 09:37:31 GMT

Bethesda has been roped into the Activision Blizzard acquisition controversy. The FTC has argued that Microsoft's treatment of Bethesda games is a sign of its intentions with Activision's library--for example, Starfield and Redfall are now Xbox exclusives despite original plans to also launch on PlayStation. Xbox has claimed that things will be different with IPs like Call of Duty, but this has sparked frustration among Bethesda executives.

Starfield Still Has A Disc, But In The Future, Most Games Won't

Stacey Henley — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 14:30:19 GMT

Buying a video game is so complicated these days that even the people selling them don't really understand it. Over the weekend, a fan asked one of the official Bethesda accounts if Starfield would have a disc version, only to be told that it would only be available on digital. Some further investigation revealed that the collector's edition comes only with a fake disc, before it emerged that the Bethesda reply is specifically referencing the PC version of the game, a platform where physical releases died out a decade ago. On consoles, the game will still have a disc... kind of. Physical media is dying a slow death, and I'd say things will only get worse before they get better, but I'm not sure they'll ever get better at all.

Starfield Needs To Let Me Stay In One Place

Stacey Henley — Sun, 25 Jun 2023 15:00:18 GMT

Most of Starfield's marketing has been based around its size. It's a scale that's difficult for us to imagine. We understand file size and runtime, but in order to capture the magic, Starfield hasn't leaned on those recognisable terms. Instead Bethesda has talked about having 1,000 planets to explore, a huge universe to build rockets and wander around in, and journeys that will be different for each and every player. Right from the moment the 1,000 planets were mentioned, there have been two schools of thought on the matter: those who can't wait, and those who don't even want to start. The prospect of a game too big to ever really finish doesn't work for me these days, but I have the perfect solution: Starfield needs to let me stay right where I am.

Starfield Won't Have A Physical Disc Release

Rhiannon Bevan — Sun, 25 Jun 2023 14:34:49 GMT

Update 18:30 BST: Another Bethesda support account has clarified that the Starfield: Constellation Edition won't include a game disc, coming with a download code instead. Other Bethesda accounts are yet to comment on the matter, and we will update this report as the story progresses.

Starfield Will Have Four Romance Options

Rhiannon Bevan — Sun, 25 Jun 2023 12:57:15 GMT

After (properly) debuting in Fallout 4, Bethesda is having another go at companion romances. It already seems that the devs have learned a lesson from last time too, as there are significantly fewer options than we got in the wasteland.

Microsoft Bought Bethesda To Stop Starfield Becoming A PS5 Exclusive

Joshua Robertson — Fri, 23 Jun 2023 22:12:30 GMT

It's day two of Microsoft and the FTC's court battle and, just like the first, it's throwing up some pretty massive revelations and bizarre claims. One of the biggest of today's reveals came from Xbox head Phil Spencer, who has claimed that one of the major reasons behind Microsoft's decision to acquire Bethesda parent company ZeniMax Media was to prevent Starfield from becoming a PS5 exclusive.

Starfield Running At 30fps Is The Right Choice

Jade King — Fri, 23 Jun 2023 19:00:17 GMT

Starfield is capped at 30 frames per second on consoles, and the planet is in uproar. Whether you’re playing on Xbox Series X or S, performance won’t go past that threshold. Worse yet, Bethesda has confirmed this was a choice. And you know what? It’s absolutely the right one.

Starfield Pre-Order Guide

Josh Coulson — Fri, 23 Jun 2023 18:00:18 GMT

Xbox showed the world that it really does have big plans for the next few years during its most recent Showcase. Huge plans, in fact, and what will need to be a new era for the console begins with Starfield. Launching on September 6, 2023, Starfield will not only be the game that potentially relaunches Xbox back into the stratosphere, but it will be the biggest undertaking by Bethesda to date. That's certainly saying something considering the scale of some of its previous offerings.

Only 10 Percent Of Starfield's Planet's Will Contain Life

Joshua Robertson — Fri, 23 Jun 2023 01:11:59 GMT

Over the course of development, Bethesda has been making a big deal out of its promise that Starfield will have 1000+ planets that you'll be able to explore in any way you like. Most people will know that it's physcially impossible for developers at Bethesda to handcraft that much content, so a lot of the work will be done by procedural generation. However, Bethesda has been pretty vague as to how much stuff to do will be on these planets, but director Todd Howards has finally revealed more info in a new interview.

There’s No Hope For Anyone Who Plays Starfield As A Cop

Ben Sledge — Tue, 20 Jun 2023 17:31:16 GMT

You can be anything that you want to be. Believe in yourself, follow your dreams, and don’t let anyone stop you. Write that novel. Launch that singing career at your local’s karaoke night in front of a load of old men. Cook the best mushroom risotto that your friends have ever tasted. I get it, sometimes real life gets in the way of these platitudes, but I have full confidence that you can achieve every goal you set your mind to. That goes double for anything you want to do in Starfield.

Starfield Should Be More Skyrim, Less Fallout

Tessa Kaur — Tue, 20 Jun 2023 16:00:17 GMT

I regret to say this, but I bounced off Fallout 4 almost immediately. A friend insisted I play it, going so far as to lend me her disc so I wouldn’t have to buy it, and I still never finished it. I tried twice. The first time, the VATS system was incomprehensible to me, and I didn’t realise how tough combat would be without it. I tried, didn’t get very far, and gave up. I was overwhelmed with the number of things to do, and in usual form for me, I was terrified of having to fight zombies, which is kind of the point of Fallout.

Hundreds Of PlayStation Fans Sign Petition To Make Starfield PS5 Exclusive

Rhiannon Bevan — Mon, 19 Jun 2023 12:06:10 GMT

We've known for a while that Starfield will be an Xbox console exclusive, skipping PlayStation. It will also launch on PC, but for anyone who sticks to playing on consoles, there's only one choice of platform. This is pretty unsurprising - Xbox owns Bethesda, after all, so why wouldn't it nab this as an exclusive to compete with Sony's impressive first-party lineup?

Starfield Will Live Or Die On Its Sense Of Humour

Ben Sledge — Sat, 17 Jun 2023 15:30:18 GMT

I don’t know how I’m going to play Starfield. My go-to with Bethesda RPGs is to pick a class and roleplay in that role, for want of a better word. I’ve done aggressive Orc warrior playthroughs of Skyrim, energy sniper runs of Fallout, and everything in between. Yes, I did the stealthy archer once. No, I didn't play as a mudcrab, that was my former colleague Andy Kelly.

2023 Is Not The Year To Be Releasing Broken Games

Tessa Kaur — Sat, 17 Jun 2023 14:31:18 GMT

If any of this year’s upcoming releases launch the way Redfall did, they’ll be gone. Poof, kaput. Nobody will play them at launch, and then nobody will play them at all. There are simply too many games already being released this year, more than any human could reasonably play, for a game to have a bad launch and still have anybody want to play it after it’s been patched. We’ve seen this happen with Redfall already. After a rocky release, mixed to negative reviews, and massive player backlash, Arkane has just released their first big patch, and nobody cares.

Starfield Has "More Handcrafted Content Than Skyrim And Fallout 4 Combined"

Rhiannon Bevan — Sat, 17 Jun 2023 12:47:46 GMT

When it was revealed that Starfield would have more than 1,000 planets to explore, many of us were apprehensive rather than excited. More doesn't always mean better, and in fact, sometimes less is more. Especially when dealing with a studio like Bethesda, who is best remembered for its handwritten content, not its procedural generation.

Todd Howard Compares Starfield To Red Dead Redemption 2

Josh Coulson — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 17:37:21 GMT

With less than three months to go until Starfield's launch and the sprawling space RPG getting its own Direct last weekend, we now know more about the game than ever before. Bethesda's Todd Howard continues to tell us more though, including that Starfield pulled inspiration from an unexpected game in Red Dead Redemption 2.

Analysts Expect Current-Gen Games To Stick With 30fps In The Future

Joshua Robertson — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 01:07:49 GMT

Starfield was shown off during the Xbox Games Showcase that took place last week, giving us a good look at some of the game's systems, the world, character creator, and all that good stuff. It's shaping up to be a pretty impressive title, and one that's going to test the limits of the Xbox Series X/S consoles. Maybe a little too much though, as Todd Howard confirmed after the show that Starfield will be capped at 30fps on consoles, angering gamers far and wide who began bringing into question the power of the system.

Where Does Bethesda Go After Starfield?

Andrew King — Wed, 14 Jun 2023 17:30:17 GMT

The answer to the headline is obvious, right? At E3 back in 2018, Bethesda offered a road map for their next three games (and, when all is said and done, likely its next 10 years). First, Fallout 76, which launched that year. Then Starfield, which is finally set to release this September. And then, far off in the future, The Elder Scrolls 6. No developer has been as clear about what comes next as Bethesda Game Studios.

I Hope Starfield Has Intelligent Alien Life

Ben Sledge — Wed, 14 Jun 2023 16:30:19 GMT

That Starfield Direct was big, huh? I don’t know why I always start with these pithy one liners, but I like to think it helps ease you in. Let me know if it doesn’t and you hate them, I guess. It was though, right? If there’s one word that we can all unanimously agree describes the Starfield Direct, Xbots and Sony Ponies alike, from hardcore gamers to filthy casuals, that word would be big.

Details In The Starfield Direct And Gameplay Trailer

Dennis Moiseyev — Tue, 13 Jun 2023 17:30:18 GMT

Xbox's Summer 2023 Showcase brought lots of exciting game announcements and collaborations, but Starfield was rightfully the main event. It's one of the most highly-anticipated Xbox exclusives in a long time, and its in-depth gameplay reveal during the lengthy Starfield Direct certainly didn't disappoint.

It Took A Cruise Ship To Bring Home The Scale Of Starfield

Andrew King — Tue, 13 Jun 2023 17:00:17 GMT

Microsoft and Bethesda showed off Starfield on Sunday, and its defining feature was its overwhelming scale. That sheer size extended to its 46-minute presentation, tacked onto the end of the already hour-long Xbox Games Showcase, which Phil Spencer humorously referred to as “one more thing.” But that supersized direct seemed necessary to convey the hugeness of the game.

Beware The Starfield Watch

Ben Sledge — Tue, 13 Jun 2023 15:30:15 GMT

I’m not really into special editions, he writes a month after receiving the special edition of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. That was different, though. I’m a lifelong Zelda fan and a sucker for an artbook. No, I haven’t opened the artbook yet because it’s got spoilers and I’m taking my time with the game. No, I don’t know what I’m going to do with the pin badges and steel poster. What’s wrong with paper anyway?

Gamers, We Are Not Catching A Break Till November

Tessa Kaur — Tue, 13 Jun 2023 14:30:16 GMT

The year has already been so full of games that I can barely catch my breath. April was stuffed with indies, Horizon Forbidden West’s DLC, Dead Island 2, and of course, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. June is already smashing us with Diablo 4 and Street Fighter 6, just weeks after the release of Tears of the Kingdom, and we still have Final Fantasy 16 to deal with. Out of all of these, I’ve only had time to play Jedi: Survivor and Diablo 4, and it’s literally my job to play and write about video games. The average person, who doesn’t sink hundreds of hours a month into gaming, will already have plenty of games to delve into for the rest of the year. But wait! We haven’t even talked about the second half of the year.

The Most Interesting Thing About Starfield Is The Roleplay

Stacey Henley — Mon, 12 Jun 2023 16:00:18 GMT

There's always a lot of talk about what the biggest surprise of any given gaming event is, but overall we seem to be in unanimous agreement this time - the big surprise was that Xbox stole the show. With some major titles, some fresh surprises, and a whole lotta Starfield, Xbox kicked ass without even needing a major reveal like a new Gears or new Halo, although the third-party Star Wars: Outlaws was a fairly significant feather in the space helmet. Mostly, it just had a lot of games that looked pretty good. My one real criticism was that when I say 'a lot of Starfield', hoo boy, do I mean a lot of Starfield.

Gamers Are Mad That Starfield Is Capped At 30fps

Josh Coulson — Mon, 12 Jun 2023 15:36:58 GMT

Starfield had a pretty promising showing at Sunday's Xbox Showcase, but notable in its absence was whether it will be capped at 30fps. Phil Spencer and Todd Howard have now confirmed that will be the case and Xbox owners aren't too happy about it.

Xbox’s Games Showcase Blew PlayStation’s Out Of The Water

Tessa Kaur — Mon, 12 Jun 2023 15:30:16 GMT

I watched the Xbox Games Showcase in bed first thing in the morning and found myself sitting up a little straighter with every trailer. I remember watching PlayStation’s showcase late last month and not having nearly as strong a reaction – I was excited about the indie games being released, and pleased to see gameplay for Spider-Man 2, but overall, I had a lukewarm response to it. It was a stream, and it did its job informing me what PlayStation has next on the roster. Xbox, however, had me practically vibrating with excitement from the jump.

Starfield Sure Looks A Lot Like No Man's Sky, Right?

Ben Sledge — Mon, 12 Jun 2023 14:30:17 GMT

Xbox revealed an impressive slew of games at its not-E3 showcase this weekend, understandably spending the longest on Starfield, which it hopes will be a new jewel wrought into its bright green crown after a long period in the shadow of Sony’s superior PlayStation lineup. After the flop that was Redfall earlier this year, Microsoft needs to get its exclusives back on track, and Mr. Spencer has put all his eggs in this space basket. Xbox is betting on a huge launch, but it seems to have taken inspiration from a game with a disastrous one: No Man's Sky.

Starfield's Collector's Edition Comes With A Working Watch

George Foster — Sun, 11 Jun 2023 19:00:16 GMT

Bethesda has confirmed that Starfield's Constellation Edition will come with a working replica of the Constellation Explorer's watch, along with a steelbook and early access to the game.

Starfield Shows Off Character Creator

James Troughton — Sun, 11 Jun 2023 18:24:56 GMT

Following the Xbox Games Showcase, Bethesda dove into Starfield like never before, showing off gameplay, the different planets, its biggest city yet, and the new character creator, which Bethesda describes as its simplest and most in-depth one yet.

I’d Buy The Starfield Controller If I Wasn’t So Worried I’d Be Embarrassed By It Later

Tessa Kaur — Fri, 09 Jun 2023 15:00:17 GMT

I’ve wanted to buy a new Xbox controller since Diablo 4 launched. I’ve currently only got one, and I’m dying to get my partner to sit down with me so we can whack out a few hours of gameplay in couch co-op mode. Like a sign from God, a tweet popped up on my home page just as I was about to navigate to the official Xbox website to check on prices for the third time this week. Wait, I thought. Is this real? Are the rumours true?

Starfield Direct Is Coming To Cinemas For Some Reason

James Troughton — Fri, 26 May 2023 11:17:09 GMT

Starfield is getting its own dedicated Direct as part of the Xbox Games Showcase next month. Ordinarily, you'd watch it on Twitch or YouTube, but if you fancy a trip to the cinema so you can sit down with some popcorn and coke, it'll be playing in select screenings thanks to a collaboration with events company Fathom.

Starfield Fans Are Campaigning For An In-Game Tribute To A Fan That Passed Away

Joshua Robertson — Wed, 24 May 2023 01:26:17 GMT

Video games take so long to make these days that it's a sad inevitability that some people excited for a title won't get to experience it for themselves. This was the case for Alex Hay, a Starfield fan and writer that announced earlier this year on the game's subreddit that they probably weren't going to make it to release date due to them being diagnosed with lung cancer. Alex was looking forward to using the title as a distraction after stopping treatment, but its delay to September this year meant that they wouldn't be able to play.

Xbox Just Needs One Great Game

Stacey Henley — Fri, 12 May 2023 15:30:15 GMT

There’s been a lot of talk about Xbox's future lately, and I can understand why. By Phil Spencer's own admission, Microsoft "lost" the last generation, ceding the ground it had built up in the 360 era as the Xbox One's gimmicks and games misfired while Sony solidified the PlayStation as the dominant console in pop culture and the destination for premium, exclusive experiences you won't find anywhere else. With this new generation, Xbox sharply changed tactics. The introduction of Game Pass and the cheaper Series S model saw it make a play as the people's console, while it has been biding its time on exclusives with major acquisitions. Sony has mostly stood still so far this gen, yet somehow it has opened up a wider cultural lead.

Bethesda Dev Has To Hide Their New Starfield Tattoo Because It's A Spoiler

Josh Coulson — Fri, 12 May 2023 10:24:07 GMT

Many of you will be hoping Starfield's release date isn't pushed back again, but none more so than one of the devs who worked on the game. Not just because they naturally want their work to be out in the world so everyone can enjoy it, but because they've recently gotten a Starfield tattoo they will need to keep hidden since it's technically a spoiler.

Turns Out Starfield Has Sex, And You Can Do It With A Jetpack On

James Troughton — Tue, 09 May 2023 10:42:55 GMT

In March, we reported that Starfield has no sex, a major blow to all the sci-fi fans out there who wanted to earn their space-high miles. This came courtesy of Australia's rating board, but a new ESRB rating says otherwise, and even goes into detail about what you can do while you're ploughing among the stars.

Starfield Fans Want Everyone To Shut Up About Redfall

Rhiannon Bevan — Sat, 06 May 2023 13:57:33 GMT

Redfall went from one of the most hyped games of the year to the biggest disappointment of 2023 so far. While it had admittedly burned through a lot of goodwill in the run-up to its release, few could have anticipated the performance issues plaguing Redfall at launch, particularly on PC. Releasing when it did was clearly a mistake - and one that has left Xbox open to a lot of criticism.

Why Did Phil Spencer Say Great Games Won't Shift Xbox Sales When They Obviously Would?

Eric Switzer — Sat, 06 May 2023 13:00:15 GMT

I’m fairly impressed by Phil Spencer’s recent interview appearance on the Kinda Funny Xcast. His candor when faced with hard questions about Redfall’s failure was refreshing. He didn’t try to make excuses for Redfall or obfuscate the situation at all, and he took personal responsibility for not being involved enough in the development process and providing Arkane with the resources it clearly needed. I don’t want to pat Spencer on the back too much - Microsoft still charged $70 for a dud game, and I don’t believe the poor reception is as shocking to Spencer as he claimed it was - But CEO’s of game companies don’t usually get in front of influencers and take their lumps for bad games, and I think that’s worth acknowledging.

Game Pass Is Designed To Get New Subscribers, Not Keep Old Ones

Tessa Kaur — Fri, 05 May 2023 16:30:15 GMT

The internet has been very angry at Xbox this week, since Redfall launched to mixed reviews. The game is Arkane’s lowest-rated ever, has terrible AI, is filled to the brim with a shocking number of bugs, and was received so poorly that even Xbox CEO Phil Spencer said he was disappointed. Fellow Features Editor Eric Switzer has written extensive coverage of Redfall as well as a comprehensive review, all of which you should check out.

It's Time To Start Worrying About Starfield

Jade King — Thu, 04 May 2023 16:15:15 GMT

Starfield is coming in September. After years of development and countless delays, the next big project from the minds behind The Elder Scrolls and Fallout is finally (almost) ready. Not only is it Bethesda Game Studios’ first new IP in decades, it’s also a flagship release for the Xbox brand and a means to salvage a rocky few years that have been spent lurching miles behind the competition. It needs to come out swinging, but what happens if it screws up?

Phil Spencer Says Starfield Won't Be So Good That People Sell Their PS5s

Sean Murray — Thu, 04 May 2023 16:15:12 GMT

Phil Spencer had some harsh truths to share on a recent episode of the Kinda Funny Games podcast, noting that Xbox lost the worst generation of the console war and that there's no amount of good games that will help it defeat Sony or Nintendo.

Redfall's Rough Launch Has Xbox Fans Worried About Starfield

Joshua Robertson — Wed, 03 May 2023 00:07:59 GMT

Redfall's launch has been disastrous. Not only did it release to an overwhelming number of negative reviews on Steam, but it's also the lowest-rated game that developer Arkane Studios has ever made. You can't scroll down social media for two minutes without someone making fun of the game's shockingly bad AI or fans angry at the baffling lack of online matchmaking, and Arkane will likely want to ride out the storm and take the hard lessons it's learned into it's next project as quickly as possible.

2023 Is The Year Of The RPG

Andrew King — Mon, 01 May 2023 17:30:30 GMT

You can judge how good a year in games is by how much it has to offer for everyone. If a year was great for fighting games and nothing else, it wouldn't be great for me, because the only fighter I've spent significant time with is Super Smash Bros. Last year was a weak year if you're a fan of big triple-A games, with Elden Ring at the beginning, God of War Ragnarok at the end, and little in the middle. When we think of the great years in gaming, there tends to be something for everyone.

Xbox Is In A Rough Spot Right Now

Jade King — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 16:15:14 GMT

A few years ago, it felt like Xbox was poised to take over the gaming world. It acquired major studios, announced several blockbuster games, and seemed to understand the future of service-based offerings like few companies in the medium did. The not-so-green-machine was ahead of the competition in some ways, but floundered helplessly in others.

Microsoft Is Reportedly "Upset" With Xbox's Lack Of First-Party Games

Josh Coulson — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 13:32:48 GMT

Xbox had a very quiet year in 2022, too quiet according to Phil Spencer. Not great when you have consoles less than three years old to sell with relatively few in-house games to choose from released since their arrival as it is. Xbox not only has its player base to answer to when it comes to this sort of thing, but also Microsoft, and apparently the corporation isn't happy with the lack of first-party activity from its gaming arm.

Fallout: New Vegas Player Gets Every Achievement In A Single Sitting

Justin Reeve — Sat, 15 Apr 2023 23:40:06 GMT

In an impressive display of skill and dedication, a Fallout: New Vegas player has managed to achieve the practically impossible by earning every achievement in the game while playing for only a single sitting. This particular feat was pulled off by the popular YouTuber ItsJabo during an extended 11 hour and 4 minute long livestream.

Starfield Removes Russian Language Support From Steam

Josh Coulson — Wed, 12 Apr 2023 12:56:33 GMT

Starfield's launch is nearly here. Well, sort of. The most recent push of its release date now has it arriving on September 6. Hopefully a date that won't be altered again, even if Spider-Man does choose the same month to swing onto PS5. More big updates about Starfield will be revealed during its showcase this summer, but one interesting piece of new information has been spotted ahead of time. The removal of Russian language support from the space RPG's Steam page.

Why Can't Starfield And Spider-Man 2 Launch At The Same Time?

Josh Coulson — Sun, 02 Apr 2023 14:30:14 GMT

Video game release dates have become pretty fluid over the past decade or so. They're more rough estimates than fixed points in time these days, and that's absolutely fine. In fact, it's better than fine. I welcome it. As a few heavy hitters have proved recently, it's better to push a game's launch multiple times than offer it up to the world in an unfinished state. Cyberpunk 2077 shows how badly things can go if you stick to a date in the calendar (even after multiple delays), and the decision to launch the game in the state it was should serve as a warning to not only CD Projekt Red but every other developer with something in the pipeline.

Gamers Are Already Asking Modders To Add Sex To Starfield

Josh Coulson — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 14:29:08 GMT

There are quite a few games still to come in 2023 that may well warrant the title of this year's most-anticipated. Right up there with the best of them is Starfield, although the reveal that the game will include absolutely no sex whatsoever appears to have put some of you off. The more industrious among those of you to have been knocked by the news have already been tapping up modders to help them get some virtual space nookie when Starfield launches.

Bethesda Is Doing What It Normally Does For The Marketing Of Starfield

Andrew King — Tue, 21 Mar 2023 18:01:10 GMT

Bethesda keeps showing a little bit more of Starfield instead of showing a lot more of Starfield, and each time it inspires plenty of worry about whether the game will actually be ready in time for release. Recently Bethesda announced a new launch date of September 6, with its first big gameplay showcase arriving on June 11. If it’s coming so soon, shouldn’t we have seen more of it by now? Not necessarily.

Zack Snyder's Rebel Moon RPG Tie-In Has No Guarantee Of Success

Tessa Kaur — Tue, 21 Mar 2023 16:00:16 GMT

Zack Snyder’s newest project, Rebel Moon, is a big-budget space opera made for Netflix. Snyder has just revealed that the movie, planned to be released end 2023, will be kicking off a franchise – a follow-up has already been scheduled, and an animated series and video game have been planned as well.

Starfield's Lack Of Love Making Is A Major Loss

Stacey Henley — Mon, 20 Mar 2023 14:33:31 GMT

The time between a game having its release date announced and actually coming out is always a strange period. Studios are wary of overhyping expectations, so they tend to sit on their hands until just before launch. There’s a trailer with the release date, then very little else until a couple of weeks before it finally comes out, or a dedicated showcase. That’s what’s happening with Starfield. But fans don’t play ball - they’re desperate to know every inch of a game before they’ve even got their hands on it, and have all sorts of methods to help. That’s how we know there’s no sex in Starfield.

Sorry Gamers, Looks Like There's No Skin In Starfield

Justin Reeve — Sun, 19 Mar 2023 21:13:32 GMT

The highly anticipated video game Starfield has just been rated R18+ in Australia. Despite the restrictive rating suggesting at least some sex, according to the country's Classification Board, Starfield won't be featuring any sex at all. The agency is responsible for rating video games and other entertainment media in Australia. Starfield will be “restricted to adults as it contains content that is considered high in impact for viewers."

Starfield Gets A "Restricted" Rating In Australia For "Interactive Drug Use"

Joshua Robertson — Thu, 16 Mar 2023 22:41:16 GMT

Starfield has been slapped with a "Restricted" rating in Australia, meaning the game has been deemed unsuitable for anyone under the age of 18. There are several reasons listed for the rating including moderate language and strong violence, though the primary reason appears to be "interactive drug use", though it's worth noting that Australia is infamous for being extremely strict with its ratings system

Starfield's Release Date Was Reportedly Chosen By Bethesda, Not Microsoft

Joshua Robertson — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 02:03:32 GMT

Earlier this week, we got to see the long-awaited reveal of Starfield's release date, as we'll be able to traverse the stars later this year on September 6. Questions were raised about a potential release date earlier this year, as the same insider that leaked the existence of Hi-Fi Rush claimed that both Starfield and Arkane's upcoming title Redfall could be in rough shape depending on their release dates.

Starfield Can’t Just Be Another Fallout Or Skyrim

Jade King — Thu, 09 Mar 2023 17:00:15 GMT

Starfield finally has a release date. Bethesda’s long awaited open world (open galaxy?) RPG is set to launch on September 6, with magical gamer wizard Todd Howard confirming in a new trailer that the company is almost ready to unleash its latest project onto the masses.

I Don’t Want To See Any More Of Starfield

Ben Sledge — Thu, 09 Mar 2023 16:37:06 GMT

I’m very excited for Starfield. I’m trying not to be, because we’ve all seen what high expectations can do to a game. I expect Starfield to fall somewhere between Cyberpunk 2077 and Elden Ring on the living-up-to-the-hype metre, but I don’t want my own expectations getting too high.

Starfield's Latest Trailer Makes It Seem Small, And That's A Good Thing

Stacey Henley — Wed, 08 Mar 2023 17:45:14 GMT

Starfield has long been touting itself as a huge game. Not only as a tentpole release in the year that will challenge for all the major awards, but also in sheer scope. When Bethesda gets everything right, it creates the most replayable games on the planet - we'll never see another game quite like Skyrim - and some of this replayability comes from the size itself; you can always go a new direction, wander to a new land, meet a new character. Starfield's promise of 1,000 planets seemed to be an attempt to repeat this, but felt like a bridge too far, and an ethos of quantity over quality. The latest trailer, which reveals the September 6 release date, makes the game feel small, and that's a major positive.

Starfield Direct And Xbox Games Showcase Confirmed For June 11

Sean Murray — Wed, 08 Mar 2023 15:16:07 GMT

Bethesda just made two big Starfield announcements this morning. The first is the game will launch on Xbox and PC on September 6, and the second is we'll get to see more gameplay and look behind the scenes with a Starfield Direct presentation on June 11. On top of that, we'll also get to see what the rest of Xbox Game Studios are up to with a presentation just before the big Starfield reveals.

Starfield Is Launching September 6

James Troughton — Wed, 08 Mar 2023 15:06:10 GMT

After numerous delays and a lot of speculation, Starfield finally has a concrete release date - September 6, 2023.

Starfield Showcase Will Reportedly Be Announced Next Week

Rhiannon Bevan — Sun, 26 Feb 2023 13:11:04 GMT

Starfield's next big showcase could be sooner than we thought, with an announcement said to be coming this week. This comes after it was reported yesterday that we can expect more Starfield news "soon", suggesting Bethesda is finally ready to give us a firm release date.

Starfield Showcase Annoucement Is Reportedly "Imminent"

Rhiannon Bevan — Sat, 25 Feb 2023 13:03:16 GMT

We could be about to get another Starfield release date, as a new showcase is said to be "imminent". This comes as we still only have the vague "first half of 2023" launch window to go by, with no word on when we can expect to play Bethesda's latest RPG.

Bethesda Is "Still Sorting Stuff Out" For The Starfield Showcase

George Foster — Thu, 16 Feb 2023 15:55:24 GMT

It looks like the Starfield showcase is still some time away, as Bethesda's community manager has said that the team is "still sorting stuff out for it" on the game's official Discord server.

Starfield Has Pickpocketing, Players Discuss How To Use It To Kill Enemies

Joshua Henry — Sat, 04 Feb 2023 19:01:22 GMT

It’s 2023, and that means Bethesda’s Starfield is finally ready to make landfall on Xbox and PC. While we know the game will be with us sometime this year, the developer is keeping tight-lipped on when exactly we will get the spacefaring RPG. So, fans are keeping themselves busy by dissecting last year’s gameplay reveal trailer to seek out any new details or clues. As it turns out, there is one feature that everyone overlooked, and it involves some sleight of hand.

Xbox Head Phil Spencer Admits 2022 Was "Too Light On Games"

Akshay Patel — Fri, 27 Jan 2023 22:28:34 GMT

The year 2022 wasn’t the best for Xbox, as it barely saw any big triple-A releases. It was also missing from The Game Awards held in December 2022, which painted a worrying picture considering it has a lot of projects in development. Now, Xbox's CEO, Phil Spencer, has gone ahead and admitted there was a lack of games in the previous year and has taken full responsibility for it.

The Biggest Gaming News For January 26, 2023

Joshua Robertson — Fri, 27 Jan 2023 05:00:42 GMT

Happy Thursday, gamers! I hope you're fan of PlayStation because we've got a few stories regarding some of the platform's biggest titles for you today, including the revelation that Naughty Dog is officially done with the Uncharted series.

Hi-Fi Rush Leaker Claims Starfield And Redfall's Development Is In "Rough Shape"

Joshua Robertson — Fri, 27 Jan 2023 03:03:20 GMT

Earlier this week, Ghostwire: Tokyo and The Evil Within developer Tango Gameworks managed to surprise everyone that tuned into the joint Xbox + Bethesda Developer Direct showcase. Not only did it announce Hi-Fi Rush, a game unlike anything it's ever made before, it also shadow dropped the title, making it available to play as soon as the show ended. It was a shock to pretty much everyone, apart from an insider going by the name of Horns that called the announcement and surprise release before the show even started.

Friendly Fantasy Critic Got Me Hoping 2023 Is Full Of Bad Games

Eric Switzer — Sun, 22 Jan 2023 23:12:17 GMT

While every other outlet seems to be pivoting to AI-generated, algorithm-driven content, here at TheGamer we still employ real people to write all of the articles. The TG crew is a lively bunch of salt of the earth types who live and breathe video games. We’re so committed, in fact, that when we’re done playing and writing about games during the day, we get together at night to play a game about games. This year, as a team-building activity, TG is running a fantasy critic league.

The Biggest Gaming News For January 19, 2023

Joshua Robertson — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 04:27:57 GMT

Now that the dust has settled, I'm sure many of you reading have had the chance to check out the first episode of HBO's The Last of Us. Not everyone is happy about the show's debut though, including the game's co-director who has called for unionisation after not being credited.

Bethesda Says Starfield Release Date Is Coming "Very Soon"

George Foster — Thu, 19 Jan 2023 13:53:59 GMT

Bethesda's Latin America Instagram account has confirmed that Starfield's release date will be revealed "very soon", likely during the upcoming showcase for the game that was revealed last week.

Microsoft Layoffs Affect Bethesda, 343 Industries, and The Coalition

Akshay Patel — Thu, 19 Jan 2023 11:56:07 GMT

Microsoft recently confirmed reports that it was laying off 10,000 employees by March 2023, citing the global economic slowdown as the major reason. Now, further reports suggest that some Xbox studios have been affected by these job cuts as well.

Starfield Won't Feature Seamless Space To Planet Landing

Josh Coulson — Wed, 18 Jan 2023 12:56:59 GMT

Starfield is Bethesda's most ambitious project so far which might explain why its release date on Steam was quietly changed from early 2023 to coming soon recently. However, despite its ambition, the studio has confirmed players won't be able to travel seamlessly from space to the surfaces of the hundreds of planets you'll be able to explore.

Starfield Changes Steam Release Date From 2023 To "Coming Soon"

Sean Murray — Fri, 13 Jan 2023 17:55:29 GMT

As far as we know, Starfield is still coming sometime in the first half of 2023. Microsoft confirmed last year that Starfield will launch after Redfall, and a recent leak has Redfall launching on May 2. That would give Starfield a release window of sometime between May 3 and June 30. But Starfield has been delayed before, and the most recent change to the game’s release date on Steam has some fans concerned.

Gamers Debate Awards Chances For PlayStation, Nintendo, And Xbox This Year

Joshua Robertson — Sat, 07 Jan 2023 14:00:13 GMT

Now that we're a few days deep into 2023, we can look forward to some of the biggest titles coming in the next 12 months, especially since it's the first time in a while that all three of the big publishers are releasing what they hope will be a GOTY contender. Marvel's Spider-Man 2, Starfield, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom are all expected to launch this year, but only one can come away with the title of GOTY at this year's Game Awards showcase.

The Biggest Gaming News For January 3, 2023

Joshua Robertson — Wed, 04 Jan 2023 02:04:04 GMT

The industry is picking back up again now that we're three days deep into 2023, so let the big gaming news commence once again. Today we finally saw The Last of Us Part 2 dethroned, as Elden Ring is now the game with the most GOTY awards.

Shame Of The Year - Playing A Game A Week

Andrew King — Tue, 03 Jan 2023 22:00:14 GMT

I’ve long thought that one of my biggest strengths as a critic was the sheer number of games I played and the colossal amount of books about games I read and the silly number of hours podcasts about games I listened to and the eye-watering number of YouTube video essays about games I watched. I still read books on games in 2022 — I even reviewed a few of them — but I beat less games last year (29) than in any year since I got back into the hobby in earnest back in 2016.

Starfield Fans Think It Will Launch April 12, International Day Of Human Space Flight

Josh Coulson — Tue, 03 Jan 2023 13:17:58 GMT

It's 2023 which means hype for some of the massive games that will (almost) definitely launch in the next 12 months can be cranked up a notch. That includes Starfield, and as Bethesda reconfirms it will be here soon, players eagerly awaiting the sprawling space RPG reckon its release date might be April 12.

What I’d Like To See From The Video Game Industry In 2023

Mike Drucker — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 17:32:21 GMT

So it’s 2023. We made it. Viewtiful Joe is now officially 20 years old, and we have yet to receive a recent sequel. In fact, a lot of video games are now 20 years old. Apparently, that’s how the ceaseless march of time works: Everything gets older after time, and we weep into the well of nothingness that we’ll never get around to finishing The Simpsons: Hit & Run (also 20 this year!).

Five Triple-A Blockbusters That Will Definitely Meet Our Expectations In 2023

Jade King — Sat, 31 Dec 2022 16:00:14 GMT

2022 is almost over! None of the games that came out this year matter anymore, so it’s time to gather our hype and look toward the future. What products can we pre-order and swear our undying loyalty to before crashing into a pile of bitter disappointment the second we get our hands on them? Luckily for you, I’ve conjured up five essential picks for 2023.

Predicting TheGamer’s Game of the Year 2023

Stacey Henley — Wed, 28 Dec 2022 17:00:14 GMT

At TheGamer, we do GOTY picks a little differently. Rather than debating about our collective list endlessly and sanding off our unique opinions to try to slot in with the general critical consensus, every editor here picks their own, and then using the magic of mathematics and a spreadsheet, we tally up the votes and see what the top ten shakes out as. My vote counts the same as everyone else, even though I’m the boss and I have the best taste.

Okay, This Time I Mean It. 2023 Will Be A Great Year For Video Games

Stacey Henley — Tue, 27 Dec 2022 16:00:14 GMT

2022 has been an odd year for video games. At this point last year, I had a lot of faith that we'd finally see the new generation arrive in style, and that the delays caused by the pandemic would catch up to and crash into the planned releases for this year, resulting in a bumper crop that we'd be unable to reap even after toiling night and day, so bountiful would our fruits be! That wasn't really the case. Instead, we saw many more delays, only three major triple-A affairs (one of which, Horizon Forbidden West, was a minor disappointment), and plenty more delays. Indies were a slightly different story (as you can read about here), but for the most part 2022 was another year that fell short of its potential. Next year, more than any other year, it's going to be our year.

Xbox Says Three Upcoming Bethesda Games Will Be Exclusives, Doesn't Say Which Ones

George Foster — Fri, 23 Dec 2022 15:14:25 GMT

In its response to the FTC over its acquisition of Bethesda, Microsoft has confirmed that it expects three future Bethesda games to be Xbox exclusives, although it stops short of saying which.

Skyrim Mod Introduces Starfield Connection And Teleportation

Vaspaan Dastoor — Sun, 18 Dec 2022 08:32:55 GMT

By now, almost everyone has completed multiple playthroughs of Skyrim. Whether it was to try out a new class, join another faction, choose another side during the Civil War, or to check out some new mods, we've all woken up in that damned cart on multiple occasions. Speaking of that cart, you may have, at times, found yourself wanting to rush through Skyrim's long intro to get to the fun parts; or wishing you could skip ahead to a particular point in the main quest. Well – say it with me – there's a mod for that.

Starfield Won't Let You Become The Boss Of Every Faction Like Skyrim

James Troughton — Thu, 15 Dec 2022 12:55:08 GMT

Being Dragonborn just ain't enough for some Skyrim players - you gotta be the head of the Dark Brotherhood, the Archmage of the College of Winterhold, the Harbinger of the Companions, and the leader of the Thieves Guild. All at once! But not in Starfield, because Bethesda is changing its approach a little.

Starfield Players Will Be Able To Explore Why Humanity Left Earth

Lu-Hai Liang — Thu, 15 Dec 2022 11:48:25 GMT

Xbox players and Game Pass subscribers have been scanning horizons for news of Starfield. Microsoft's killer app, the game is hotly anticipated. Developed by Bethesda, the makers of The Elder Scrolls, the sci-fi epic promises to be a huge release and the studio is steadily dripping out more information on the title.

Starfield's Random Encounters Will Feature Procedurally Generated Quests

Joshua Robertson — Wed, 14 Dec 2022 22:40:35 GMT

Skyrim is considered one of the best RPGs out there by many and a large part of that is because of its world. It seems like every time you set off in the direction of your chosen destination, there's endless distrations and events that threaten to take you on a massive detour. Even on short journeys, there's usually a random encounter with a bandit, travelling merchant, or Daedra hunter to keep things interesting.

Xbox Games On Series X Will Cost $70 Starting In 2023

Joshua Robertson — Mon, 05 Dec 2022 18:39:54 GMT

Microsoft has finally joined the growing number of publishers increasing the prices of their titles, as it's now been confirmed that Xbox games built for the Xbox Series X will cost $70 from the start of 2023.