Starfield's Revolutionary Universe Exploration: Unveiling the Secrets of Procedurally Generated Planets
Discover the secrets behind Starfield's captivating procedural generation! Unveiling the balance between handcrafted planets and procedurally generated ones, the article explores the potential limitations, life-supporting possibilities, and downsides of this groundbreaking feature
Starfield, Bethesda's highly ambitious RPG, is poised to redefine the standard for open-world games with unrivaled freedom on a galactic scale. With the extraordinary offering of more than 1,000 explorable planets scattered across numerous star systems, it boasts one of the largest and most expansive world maps ever seen in gaming history.
To achieve this immense scale, Starfield employs an advanced procedural generation technique, utilizing RNG-based terrains that dynamically create diverse biomes as players explore the planets. For those who wish to gain a deeper understanding of this groundbreaking feature, the following guide presents a comprehensive overview of Starfield's procedural generation, addressing frequently asked questions and illuminating its mechanics.
How the Procedural Generation Works in Starfield
As players approach, the game generates planets using procedural generation, incorporating randomized terrains based on RNG. However, in addition to this algorithmic creation, each planet will also contain carefully crafted points of interest reflecting the biogeographic units.
In contrast to games such as No Man's Sky, Starfield's procedural generation takes into account biome metrics to create diverse environments. For example, a planet with a past of intelligent life will probably display artificial ruins, while uninhabited worlds will lack any signs of life.
How Much of Starfield Planets Are Handcrafted?
According to the developers,
Are All Planets in Starfield Procedurally Generated?
, the game will offer an array of meticulously crafted designs. Prominent worlds like Jemison, the residence of New Atlantis, will be entirely created by hand. Even on planets generated procedurally, players will have the opportunity to stumble upon precisely crafted landmarks or points of interest.
With the exception of the main planets that drive Starfield's narrative, the majority of planets are created through algorithms. While the exact count of randomly generated star systems remains uncertain, considering the game boasts more than 1,000 planets, it is reasonably estimated that approximately 900 of them are procedurally generated.
Will All Procedurally Generated Planets Support Life?
Of all the 1,000 planets in Starfield, only one in ten will possess active ecosystems, leading to a one in ten chance of encountering extraterrestrial life. On a more positive note, the implementation of procedural generation will also extend its influence to the organisms residing on these planets, thereby introducing indigenous wildlife to the habitable terrains.
Will the Procedural Generation Limit Exploration?
According to Bethesda's Starfield Direct, it appears that procedural generation will not impact the extent of exploration in the game. The random number generator (RNG) mechanics will generate new biomes as players progress, allowing for the exploration of a large portion of the planet. Nevertheless, the player's reliance on their spaceships may limit their ability to embark on extensive space journeys.
Outposts will remain unaffected by the game’s procedural generation, and players will be able to keep their bases even after leaving a planet.
The Downside of Procedurally Generated Planets
Although algorithmic creation brings excitement to gameplay, it limits the speed at which players can explore. Due to the additional time needed to develop and generate new biomes in Starfield, the game regrettably won't feature any planetary vehicles or mounts—an unfortunate disappointment.
Starfield will be available for Xbox Series X|S and PC on September 6, 2023.
