Welcome to Starfield Procedurally Generated Planets Article!
Adventure is out there!
The scale and scope of Starfield is unlike anything Bethesda fans have seen the studio do before. Players spent hundreds of hours in Skyrim, walking, riding, climbing or even swimming every square inch of the world available to them. How much more will there be to do in a game like Starfield? Is it even possible for one player to see and explore all the planets the game offers? How many Procedurally Generated Planets will Starfield have?
Procedural Planets
In my previous video on the game’s length, I also talked a bit about the technology behind the creation of this vast array of planets. According to Game Director Todd Howard, while there is plenty of handcrafting that will go into Starfield – over 200,000 lines of unique dialogue for starters – creating over 1,000 planets wouldn’t be possible for human developers alone. Or at least it wouldn’t be possible if they were trying to release the game this decade.
That’s where procedural generation comes in – using technology to create some of the planets which players will be exploring. Bethesda has been using such automation since Skyrim and the technology has only gotten better since. It gives the developers more time to create meaningful character moments, engaging story, or well balanced combat, while the technology is taking care of a lot of the busy work.
Planetary Resources
So, we know that there are hundreds of planets to explore, and we know that many are procedurally generated. What does that mean for gameplay? For those players who come to Starfield for the wonder of search and discovery, what is there to be found?
So, we know that there are hundreds of planets to explore, and we know that many are procedurally generated. What does that mean for gameplay? For those players who come to Starfield for the wonder of search and discovery, what is there to be found?
Different materials will likely be found only on certain planets or in certain environments, and you’ll have to keep searching to find exactly what you need.
Another exciting discovery could be life on other planets! And not just the unique flora and fauna the gameplay reveal lets us get a quick glimpse of. Bethesda has been very coy so far on the question of whether or not there is any other intelligent life in Starfield beyond humanity. We see a variety of human faces, but not so much as a hint of an alien one.
Something as dramatic as making first contact might be part of the main story quest, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t something out there for players to find. Hidden ruins of alien civilizations or clues to a thriving but reclusive culture could provide the player with additional knowledge and give them an advantage in the main story or against other factions. Perhaps you can discover alien technology which can be reverse engineered through research and thus give your outposts and/or ships a more powerful advantage.
Looking for more about Starfield?
- Starfield: 10 Things You Must Know!
- Character Creation Explained
- Starfield Gameplay Breakdown
- Starfield Exploration
I’ll be doing more deep dives into Starfield and covering the game here on deltiasgaming.com. Keep an eye out for more coverage as we anxiously wait for the game to release! Additionally, I’ll also be streaming the game on Twitch.
