Any Future Starfield DLC May Need to Learn the Same Lesson as Minecraft

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As a seasoned veteran of the gaming world who has witnessed the rise and fall of countless digital empires, I must say that Starfield, much like a rebellious teenager, has left me both exasperated and intrigued. The game, despite its initial missteps, has shown signs of growth and maturity with each passing update.

It’s no overstatement to point out that Starfield is among the most debated AAA games in recent memory, much like how opinions were divided on the highly anticipated The Last of Us 2. Remarkably, reactions towards Starfield appear to swing between adoration and disdain, with very few opinions landing squarely in the middle. This division has sparked questions about Bethesda Game Studios’ development skills, as well as the merit of certain game design decisions more broadly.

Starfield might not have been initially flawless, but it has definitely improved thanks to post-release updates. One of the most significant content additions was REV-8, which effectively tackled issues related to slow and challenging planetary exploration; this update being free for the game certainly helped its cause. Additionally, the 60FPS patch on Xbox Series X made the gameplay smoother, addressing criticisms about suboptimal performance that often accompany Bethesda Game Studios titles. Unfortunately, the pricier Shattered Space DLC did not receive the same level of acclaim. Analyzing this contrast could be instrumental in Starfield’s ongoing development and possibly earning it favor among its critics.

Starfield May Want to Grow Incrementally, Like Minecraft

Shattered Space Didn’t Shatter Starfield’s Bad Reputation

In essence, many gamers compared Shattered Space to expansion packs like Phantom Liberty for Cyberpunk 2077 or major updates for No Man’s Sky, implying that they expected Shattered Space to significantly reshape the legacy of Starfield. They anticipated it to smooth out the game’s flaws, introduce new and distinct gameplay mechanics, enhance overall quality-of-life features, and essentially align the game more closely with gamers’ preconceived notions prior to its release.

Fundamentally, Shattered Space didn’t bring about a groundbreaking change as one might expect. While it’s certainly open for discussion about its qualities, the fact remains that it wasn’t a game-altering expansion like Phantom Liberty or a massive overhaul akin to No Man’s Sky’s free DLCs. Instead, it resembled additional mission content more than anything, offering some new equipment and sprinkling in a bit of fresh side content. However, it didn’t tackle or rectify the issues that many considered significant problems, much like Starfield didn’t fully deliver on expectations.

Speaking about the optics, it’s fair to say that pricing Shattered Space as a premium add-on, while releasing more intense content such as REV-8 for free, may not have effectively set player expectations high regarding the expansion’s content.

Smaller, Steadier Updates Could Be a Better Fit for Starfield

Starfield’s routine maintenance patches are primarily for fixing specific issues, but its significant updates are often portrayed as major events. While some updates, such as REV-8, meet this high standard, others, like Shattered Space, fall short. Instead of releasing these updates as grand events, it might be more beneficial for the game and its community if they were rolled out more frequently in smaller, consistent patches.

In terms of continuous development, Minecraft could provide an excellent model. Often referred to as a game that’s “always in progress,” Minecraft frequently receives updates introducing fresh elements such as biomes, creatures, and resources, significantly altering the gaming experience. While the pace of these updates has decreased somewhat over the past few years, during the mid-2010s, the game could see up to three updates per year. Starfield is unlikely to be as consistently evolving as Minecraft, but regularly releasing smaller updates instead of a handful of highly anticipated ones might contribute to its long-term success by gradually improving aspects and appropriately managing expectations.

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2024-12-26 23:13