Mind-Blowing Starfield Graphics: Journey through a Year of Stunning Visual Evolution

Highlights

Bethesda appears to have improved Starfield's graphics since its initial gameplay reveal, as shown in a fan-made comparison video.

The revised footage of the game has addressed concerns regarding graphical downgrades, presenting more distinct visuals and intricate textures. Given that Bethesda's RPGs are renowned for their gameplay and expansive open-world elements, the significance of graphics for the game's triumph is relatively diminished.

Bethesda has successfully enhanced the graphics of Starfield over the past 14 months, as demonstrated by a recent video that compares the original gameplay reveal with footage shared by the developer at the 2023 Gamescom event. This fan-made clip should help allay concerns that Bethesda has downgraded Starfield's graphics, which arose after the studio's June showcase.

Graphic downgrades are not uncommon in the gaming industry, particularly for projects with lengthy development periods like Starfield. Combined with the fact that Bethesda is not typically known for groundbreaking graphical advancements, some fans were concerned that the upcoming RPG would have noticeably inferior visuals compared to its initial unveiling.

The game, according to a newly emerged video by Reddit user MartinTheTrue, seems to contradict expectations. The short video compares the elevator scene from Starfield's June 2022 gameplay reveal with a revised version shown at the latest Gamescom event. The 2023 scene appears significantly improved, with sharper visuals, more detailed textures, and enhanced backgrounds. Notably, the wire hooks hanging from the ceiling now have realistic physics and sway as the elevator descends into a cave.

Moreover, the 2023 revision of the elevator cutscene boasts better lighting, featuring brighter and more plentiful light sources that illuminate the player's surroundings more effectively. Although the scene still seems to have been rendered using traditional methods that replicate lighting and reflections through textures and shaders, it does not appear to support advanced ray tracing technologies. Unlike games like Cyberpunk 2077, Bethesda has not indicated that Starfield will incorporate these realistic lighting effects.

Many fans interpreted the newly shared comparison video as confirmation that Starfield will look better at launch than its 2022 gameplay reveal. Visual fidelity is unlikely to greatly impact the game's success, as Bethesda's RPGs are renowned for their freedom and complex systems rather than graphics. Fallout 4 and The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, for example, are iconic due to the players' level of freedom and the unique features of their vast open worlds. Starfield will be released on September 6 for PC and Xbox Series X/S.