Bethesda Removes Gore and Dismemberment from Starfield

Bethesda had ambitious plans to incorporate gore and dismemberment mechanics into Starfield, but these were ultimately scrapped due to technical challenges. Dennis Mejillones, a former character artist who worked on The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, Fallout 4, and Starfield, explained to Kiwi Talkz that the complexity of integrating these features with the game's space suits was the primary reason for their removal.

"The technical implications of dealing with various suits were overwhelming," Mejillones stated. "You have to consider how to cut the helmet and ensure it detaches properly, manage the flesh underneath, and handle all the additional elements like hoses and significant changes in body size due to the advanced character creator."

While some fans expressed disappointment over the absence of these mechanics, which were a staple in Fallout 4, Mejillones noted that such features align more with the "tongue-in-cheek" humor of the Fallout series. "It's part of the fun," he remarked, suggesting that the more serious tone of Starfield might not have been the best fit for such elements.

Starfield, Bethesda's first full single-player RPG in eight years, launched in September 2023 and has since attracted over 15 million players. IGN's review praised the game's expansive role-playing quests and solid combat, awarding it a 7/10 despite noting some challenges. "Starfield has a lot of forces working against it, but eventually the allure of its expansive roleplaying quests and respectable combat make its gravitational pull difficult to resist," the review stated.

In recent developments, another former Bethesda developer expressed surprise at the extensive loading times in Starfield, particularly in the city of Neon. Since its release, Bethesda has been actively improving the game, introducing a 60fps performance mode and launching the Shattered Space expansion in September.