Starfield's Initial Concept Included a Voiced Protagonist

Article Key Points

Starfield initially had a voiced protagonist but switched to a silent protagonist due to criticism of Fallout 4's dialogue choices.

Players greatly appreciated the inclusion of background and traits during character creation, as it provided more opportunities for diversity and unlocked additional dialogue options.

Initially hired to voice the player characters, voice actors Elias Toufexis and Cissy Jones later took on roles as companions, effectively expanding the game's setting and factions.

During its development, Starfield apparently had a main character with a voice, as the voice actor for Sam Coe initially had the role of voicing the protagonist. This was a departure from Bethesda's previous silent protagonists, as seen in Fallout 4 where the Sole Survivor was given a voice. However, the implementation of a voiced protagonist in Fallout 4 received criticism for its misleading dialogue choices and lack of role-playing elements. As a result, Bethesda opted for a silent protagonist in Starfield.

In addition to the change in protagonist voice, Starfield also introduced background and traits to character creation, which was well received by the community. Players now had the ability to further customize their playthrough by choosing to be a United Colonies citizen, having parents, or even being on the wanted list. The player's background in Starfield also had an impact on dialogue options throughout the game, providing a more advanced system compared to the simpler choices of Fallout 4's dialogue wheel.

According to a recent statement by Elias Toufexis on Twitter, it appears that Bethesda initially considered having a voiced protagonist for Starfield but later decided to stick to their original approach. Toufexis, who voiced Sam Coe, revealed that both he and Cissy Jones were initially hired to portray the male and female protagonists respectively. However, Bethesda ultimately cast them as Sam and Andreja, members of Constellation originating from outside the United Colonies.

Although the Constellation companions in Starfield have received mixed feedback from the community, Toufexis and Jones have been praised by many players for their performances. If Bethesda had chosen a different direction, they undoubtedly would have been excellent choices to voice the Spacefarer in Starfield. Additionally, the inclusion of sarcastic dialogue options delivered by Adam Jensen's voice would have added a particularly amusing element.

Ultimately, Bethesda's decision to rehire Jones and Toufexis for the roles of Andreja and Sam added depth to the Starfield universe. These two companions provided players with valuable insights into the enigmatic House Va'ruun and the Freestar Collective, expanding on the game's setting. While the impact of Shattered Space on Starfield is yet to be determined, fans are eager to see Andreja's homeworld make its debut. House Va'ruun, as one of the three major powers in the Settled Systems, remains largely unexplored as a faction.

Starfield

Platform(s) PC, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series SReleased September 6, 2023Developer(s) BethesdaPublisher(s) Bethesda See at Xbox Games Store

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z fan, I have mixed feelings about the switch from a voiced protagonist to a silent one in Starfield. On the one hand, I understand the criticism that was leveled at Fallout 4's dialogue choices, and I appreciate Bethesda's willingness to listen to feedback and make changes. On the other hand, I feel like a voiced protagonist can add a lot to a game, and I'm disappointed that we won't get to experience that in Starfield.

I think the addition of background and traits to character creation is a great way to give players more agency and make their characters feel more unique. I'm also excited about the prospect of having more advanced dialogue options, which will hopefully make conversations more interesting and engaging.

Overall, I'm cautiously optimistic about Starfield. I think Bethesda has made some good changes based on the feedback they received from Fallout 4, and I'm excited to see how the game turns out.