Highlights
A fan proposed a redesigned user interface for Starfield's inventory, which received widespread approval from the fandom.
The proposed update includes a grid-based system that provides greater information on a single screen, addressing common grievances about the current inventory system. Despite concerns raised by some players regarding controller navigation, other games with similar user interfaces have achieved success, leading to a debate among fans about streamlined user interfaces in Bethesda games.
A Starfield fan has created a thoughtful redesign of the game's inventory interface, which is a significant improvement over the current version. However, there are some limitations to their proposal. The fan's idea has been widely accepted by the Starfield community during the game's early access period, which lasted for five days.
Despite being one of the highest-rated games of the year, Starfield still faces criticism for certain flaws that have been persistent in Bethesda titles for years. One major point of contention is the inventory system, which closely resembles the one seen in The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim. Players are presented with long lists of items to scroll through, with limited sorting options and a lack of other convenient features. The only notable feature is the ability to rename weapons and armor.
Reddit user turbokacperel recently created a highly praised design for an inventory overhaul in Starfield. This redesign uses a grid-based system to display more information on one screen, reducing the need for scrolling through long lists. Although some players expressed concerns about controller navigation and visibility on TVs, examples from games like Cyberpunk 2077, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and the Resident Evil 4 remake show that grid-based inventories can be effective on consoles.
The ongoing debate surrounding this redesign proposal highlights the fact that while the interface of Bethesda games has evolved over time, the studio's repeated efforts to simplify them continue to divide their growing fan base. Consequently, it is highly likely that UI revamps will be one of the most popular types of Starfield modifications in the future, as has been the case with the company's previous RPGs.
However, it may take some time before the modding community produces comprehensive inventory redesigns for Bethesda's latest game. Despite the developer's promise to create a haven for modders in Starfield, the official modding toolkit is still awaiting a release date, which will inevitably hamper any serious endeavors towards third-party customization and content creation.
Starfield launches September 6 for PC and Xbox Series X/S.
