A recent datamine suggests that Starfield used to be a far more complex and hardcore game during development, and that many of its space travel mechanics were cut prior to launch. While Starfield has undoubtedly been a commercial success for Microsoft, numerous players have expressed disappointment with the latest Bethesda sandbox, especially when compared to the company's previous titles such as Skyrim or Fallout 4. Starfield's recent rating on Steam sits at an uncomfortable 28%, and its player count keeps dwindling by the day.
Though Bethesda should be commended for taking a bold swing by adding procedural generation to Starfield, it's safe to say that public reception to the game's exploration loop has been lukewarm. While many fans have praised the ship builder feature in Starfield, an equal number have critiqued how repetitive it feels to wander the barren planets of the Settled Systems, connected by un-immersive loading screens and a user interface that leaves a lot to be desired.
However, it appears that Starfield used to lean much more into its survival aspects during development, which Todd Howard confirmed in an earlier interview. A fan named redsaltyborger uncovered the remains of Starfield's old star map tucked away in the game's files, and what makes the discovery so interesting, is the fact that star systems seemingly had traits and hazards for players to contend with. This suggests that space travel in Starfield played a bigger role prior to launch, with the datamined map confirming discarded mechanics such as fuel consumption and interstellar trade.
The map shows Leviathan IV with a brief lore blurb, stating that it's a mineral-rich system that pirates use for stashing valuables. This feature is missing from the current user interface in Starfield, and it could be argued that its inclusion would have given plenty of atmosphere to the Settled Systems and its lore. Moreover, Leviathan IV used to have Solar Radiation and Micrometeoroids, two hazards that could have made space travel difficult – with the former causing minor hull damage, while the latter having a chance to cause a catastrophic stop to a player's ship.
According to Bethesda, it took seven years of development for Starfield to become fun to play, so there's a very good chance that these mechanics were removed for a good reason. The economy in Starfield is static, players jump from one planet to the next using fast travel, they don't have to worry about running out of fuel, and there are no hazards in space. While this makes for a stable gameplay loop, some players in the Reddit thread have argued that the final iteration feels watered down.
With a big Starfield update slated for release in February 2024, Bethesda's post-launch
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In a recent interview, game director Jerk Gustafsson discussed the upcoming Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. He explained the meaning behind the game’s title, MachineGame’s inspiration for its story, and what the studio hopes to accomplish with gameplay.
Koji Kondo, the Nintendo composer and sound director best known for his work on The Legend of Zelda and Super Mario Bros. series, will be inducted into the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences’ (AIAS) Hall of Fame during the 27th D.I.C.E. Awards.
The Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences (AIAS) has announced that legendary Nintendo composer Koji Kondo will be inducted into the 27th Annual D.I.C.E Awards Hall of Fame on February 15. Kondo rose to icon status with his music production for The Legend of Zelda and Super Mario Bros. franchises and will receive a major honor for his beloved work.
By far, the biggest reveal at the second Xbox Developer Direct was Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. The new first-person action/adventure game in development at MachineGames looked great in its first presentation and isn't too far off, either, since it is slated to launch later this year on PC and Xbox Series S|X.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle uses first-person camera angles to create a "unique experience" that you won't find in other action-adventure games like Uncharted or Tomb Raider.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, a new whip-cracking adventure coming from Wolfenstein studio MachineGames and avowed Indy fanboy Todd Howard, was revealed on Thursday to be a first-person game. Well, mostly. Players will see through the eyes of Indiana Jones on a globe-trotting story where they’ll explore ancient temples, recover mysterious artifacts, and punch, shoot, and whip Nazis.
To celebrate the first trailer of Bethesda's upcoming Indiana Jones game, executive producer Todd Howard stole a Golden Idol from the developer working on it.
The Hollywood Reporter have revealed that a movie based on the PlayStation 4 and PC game Until Dawn is being prepared. The screenwriter of It, Annabelle and The Nun, Gary Dauberman, is doing a pass on the script while Shazam! director David F. Sandberg will be sitting in the big chair.
Barely containing his inner nerd as he lifted the curtain on the gameplay reveal for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Todd Howard explains that he's had almost everything about the game, down to granular plot points, planned out for years.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, the now-confirmed name of the adventure game in the works at Wolfenstein studio MachineGames under the watchful eye of Bethesda and executive producer Todd Howard, is set between the plots of the first and third films.
Back in 2024 Microsoft and Bethesda announced a new Indiana Jones game was coming our way courtesy of producer Todd Howard and Wolfenstein developer MachineGames, but since then, very little else has been revealed. Rumors that the game may be launching this year have been making the rounds, but it’s been radio silence from Microsoft and Bethesda themselves.