Bethesda’s Todd Howard Compares Starfield’s Ending to Underrated Tom Cruise Film

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The following contains spoilers for Starfield and Edge of Tomorrow starring Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt.

Doug Liman’s Edge of Tomorrow, with Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt, is often called underrated, but it’s not because people dislike it. The movie actually scores very well with both critics (91% on Rotten Tomatoes) and audiences (90%), which is unusual these days. However, it initially underperformed at the box office, earning less than $29 million on its opening weekend – a low number for a $178 million film. Over time, Edge of Tomorrow gained a reputation as a great sci-fi movie that people might have overlooked, which ultimately inspired Todd Howard and Bethesda to base the ending of Starfield on it.

I was so excited to hear TopMob got to go to Bethesda HQ and check out the new Starfield update and DLC! They got to sit in on a Q&A with Todd Howard himself, which is amazing. He actually talked about how the ending of Starfield is designed to feel like Edge of Tomorrow – that kind of lingering feeling you have after the movie ends, and you’re still thinking about everything. It sounds like they really put a lot of thought into the overall experience, and I can’t wait to play it!

Bethesda and Todd Howard Wanted Starfield’s Ending to Feel Like Edge of Tomorrow

New Game Plus is a popular feature in long-playing role-playing games, letting players replay the story and continue developing their character, potentially making different choices each time. However, Starfield‘s New Game Plus is unique. Instead of simply repeating the same game, it throws players into a completely new universe with each playthrough, altering dialogue, story events, and even key characters.

Players aren’t required to start a New Game Plus in Starfield; they can continue in their existing universe if they prefer. The main reason to start a new one is that entering the Unity – a special area at the center of the universe – means leaving behind relationships and possessions. When players emerge in a new universe, characters they previously knew won’t remember them. According to Howard, this design choice was intended to pose a thought-provoking question to players, going beyond just the game’s mechanics.

In Starfield, the Unity system was designed to make players confront some challenging questions. It asked, “Do you prioritize collecting everything, even if it means abandoning your current progress? How do you feel about the choices you’ve made in the game, and in life? Would you be willing to start completely over?” The intention was for the loss of items to evoke a strong emotional response, and we’re currently adjusting things to refine that experience.

Howard mentioned that the new Free Lanes update for Starfield addresses the New Game Plus issues, letting players carry some items into their next playthrough. However, calling it a ‘fix’ might be an overstatement. While many players wanted this change, they still lose the relationships they’ve formed with important characters, and those characters might not even be available in the new universe. Howard likened this feeling of loss to the emotional impact of the movie Edge of Tomorrow.

Have you seen Edge of Tomorrow? It’s easily one of my favorite movies. I recently heard they’re making a sequel, but I’m not sure if the rumors are true. I really hope it is! There’s a powerful moment when the main character walks in and Emily Blunt’s character doesn’t seem to recognize him, and the music swells as the credits start. It creates this feeling of having to let go of everything, which reminded me of being a gamer – it’s like reaching a portal to gain even more strength.

The movie Edge of Tomorrow centers around William Cage (Tom Cruise) who gets caught in a time loop during an alien war. He’s aided by Rita Vrataski (Emily Blunt), who repeatedly helps him try to defeat the alien leader, known as the Omega. Every time Cage dies, the day restarts, he remembers what happened, and becomes a more skilled fighter – it’s like playing a video game where you learn with each attempt. Eventually, Cage loses the ability to reset the day, giving him one final shot at destroying the Omega. Rita sacrifices herself as she always does, but this time, without the time loop, Cage can’t rewind the day to save her.

After being fatally wounded while destroying the Omega, Cage is covered in its energy, granting him one last chance to relive the day. He wakes up to find the war is over – the aliens are all dead thanks to his actions – and, most importantly, Rita is alive. However, because Cage was the only one who remembered each reset, Rita doesn’t recognize him. He smiles, understanding everything that’s happened, as the movie ends. Viewers are likely to share Cage’s feeling of loss – despite everything they experienced together, their connection has been erased.

Bethesda aimed to make Starfield‘s New Game Plus feel fresh and rewarding, not just a simple replay of the same content. The recent Free Lanes update has reinforced this goal, offering more meaningful progression even after completing the main story, as Todd Howard explained.

We want to make sure there’s always something for experienced players to do in the game world, giving them a sense of ongoing progress. When they’re ready to move into the next stage, they should be able to bring their character and some of their achievements with them, as a reward for their efforts.

I think the comparison to Edge of Tomorrow really hits the nail on the head with Starfield. It’s not just about getting better gear or leveling up; it’s about the sacrifices you make to keep playing. That ending in Edge of Tomorrow, where Cage is in a reset world but he remembers everything, is what Starfield seems to be going for with the Unity. You can keep going and going, but it makes you wonder if it’s still your story, or if you’re starting something totally new that doesn’t feel connected to what you’ve already built.

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2026-04-18 13:23