The exploration inStarfieldwill be a lot more randomized than players have come to expect from Bethesda titles, as a recent video reveals that procedurally generated quests will make their way to the game. It’s no secret that procedural generation is a concept that Todd Howard has been chasing for decades, as theNPCs ofThe Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivionwere Bethesda’s first real foray into creating procedurally generated content. While the results of this Radiant AI have often been the subject of memes,Oblivionplanted roots that truly began to sprout inSkyrimwhen it implemented Radiant Quests into the game.
Radiant Quests inSkyrimallowed players to continue their adventures indefinitely by generating quests with randomized rewards and sending them off to a location they haven’t yet discovered. While the system could not generate particularly complex or interesting quests, it managed to keep players engaged with a continuous stream of new discoveries.
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In the latest Constellation Questions video, Lead Quest Designer Will Shen reveals thatStarfieldwill have procedurally generated quests of its own, but compared to the Radiant Quests ofSkyrim, it would seem that the system has much improved since 2011.Starfield’s take doesn’t appear to be as shallow as settlements needing the player’s help either, as Will Shen explains that the game is now capable of generating entire settlements on the fly, such as bandit camps or friendly outposts.
These dynamically designed locations and NPCs will allowStarfield’s enormous planetsto feel tailor-made for the player, no matter how and where they choose to explore. While the actual complexity of the new Radiant system remains to be seen, the best case scenario would be that it accompanies the more traditional handmade questlines which dot the landscapes and cities of past Bethesda titles. Places such as Windhelm and Bravil exude their atmosphere not just because of their visual identity, but for the unique characters, events, and quests that populate the space.
Though thechoice to delayStarfieldwas a no-brainer for Bethesda and Microsoft, fans hope that the game will be worth the extra wait. Its release date remains unknown, with most rumors placingStarfield’s launch within the first half of 2023. Given the disastrous state ofFallout 76on release, one can argue that Bethesda is ultimately doing the right thing withStarfield. DespiteStarfield’s absence at The Game Awards, fans are expecting to hear more about the game very soon.
Starfieldreleases in 2023 for PC and Xbox Series X/S.
