Highlights
Bethesda's approach to Starfield shows that it has learned from past mistakes, particularly with Fallout 76's disastrous collector's edition.
Bethesda faced a significant public relations crisis due to the fallout surrounding the collector's edition of Fallout 76, which involved a deceitful canvas bag and insufficient compensation. However, Bethesda has made amends with the release of Starfield's Constellation Edition, which offers an array of top-notch physical and digital items, including a Chronomark smartwatch.
Bethesda, known for creating some of the greatest RPGs in history, has had its fair share of imperfections. During the late 2000s and early 2010s, Bethesda seemed unstoppable. Their game, The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind, put Bethesda Game Studios on the map in 2002, and Oblivion solidified their position as industry stars. Fallout 3 demonstrated their ability to develop exceptional games beyond the realm of fantasy, and Skyrim catapulted Bethesda to international acclaim. However, in recent years, Bethesda has faced challenges, and now all eyes are on their upcoming release, Starfield.
With the launch of Starfield just a few days away, anticipation has reached unprecedented levels. Unfortunately, this has also sparked tedious debates over console wars. Nevertheless, soon gamers will be able to experience the game firsthand and judge for themselves if it lives up to expectations. Although expectations are sky-high, Bethesda's approach to Starfield has been well-received by fans. Starfield's Constellation Edition is a prime example of Bethesda learning from past mistakes and making positive changes.
Bethesda Has Clearly Learned From Fallout 76's Disastrous Collector's Edition
Fallout 76 faced a disastrous launch, with numerous criticisms and controversies. One of the most infamous shortcomings was related to its collector's edition, known as the Power Armor Special Edition. Priced at $250, this edition was supposed to include various physical items. Alongside the usual premium edition content like a steelbook case and digital in-game cosmetics, the Power Armor Special Edition boasted a glow-in-the-dark map, collectible figurines, and a full-size wearable Power Armor helmet.
However, the real controversy arose from Fallout 76's special edition canvas duffel bag. When players received their expensive collector's editions, they discovered that the bag was actually made of nylon, not canvas as originally advertised on Bethesda's website. Despite the promotional description being quickly changed to reflect the material change, numerous media outlets and fans called attention to this evident alteration. Eventually, Bethesda acknowledged that the modification was due to a lack of available resources.
However, the controversy did not stop there. In an attempt to make amends, Bethesda offered 500 Atoms, Fallout 76's in-game currency, to buyers of the special edition. This was equivalent to around $5 at the time, which only highlighted the exorbitant prices of items in Fallout 76's in-game store. Players were unable to even afford the notorious postman outfit, which came with a canvas bag. To make matters worse, it was discovered that influencers had received canvas versions of the bag. Although Bethesda eventually sent canvas bags to those who were supposed to receive them, this incident caused a major public relations disaster and has not been forgotten by fans.
Fortunately, it appears that Bethesda has learned from their mistakes. Starfield's Constellation Edition is now being released to consumers, and early indications suggest that it is a highly desirable collector's edition. The edition includes an array of physical and digital extras, but the standout items are the Chronomark smartwatch and its Sci-Fi case. According to early reviews, Starfield's Constellation Edition delivers everything fans were expecting and the quality of the included items is top-notch. It appears that Bethesda has taken the lessons learned from Fallout 76 to heart, and this will likely be reflected in the upcoming Starfield game.
Starfield early access kicks off on September 1. The standard version launches on September 6 for PC and Xbox Series X/S.
