Ex-Starfield Artist Explains Graphic Violence Removal

Summary

• Starfield's lack of graphic violence was an intentional choice largely due to technical issues.
• It also wouldn't fit Starfield's tone, said Dennis Mejillones, a character artist who worked at Bethesda on Starfield and Fallout 4.

Starfield was originally envisioned to feature much more graphic violence, a former Bethesda artist has revealed. While Bethesda's first-person shooters are known for their gore, the visceral blood and guts seen in Fallout did not translate into the studio's latest sci-fi adventure. It's now evident that the toned-down violence in Starfield was a deliberate decision, despite initial plans to include more intense scenes.

Bethesda did not completely steer away from violence in Starfield. The game prominently features gunplay and melee combat, which many players consider a significant improvement over Fallout 4. The shooting and slicing mechanics have been thoughtfully crafted, and the game almost leaned into even more violent territory. However, the studio ultimately chose to dial back the graphic elements.

Dennis Mejillones, a character artist who worked on both Starfield and Fallout 4 at Bethesda, discussed the game's approach to violence in a recent interview with the Kiwi Talkz podcast on YouTube. Mejillones revealed that the game was initially planned to include decapitations and other detailed kill animations. However, technical challenges posed by the variety of suits and helmets in the game made these animations difficult to execute without appearing unrealistic or buggy. Given Starfield's persistent technical issues even after several major updates, this decision to avoid further graphical complications seems justified.

Starfield Cut Decapitations for Technical and Tonal Reasons

The decision to remove graphic violence from Starfield was not solely based on technical limitations. Mejillones also noted that the gore in Fallout contributes to its humor, a tone that doesn't align well with Starfield's more serious and realistic sci-fi narrative. While Starfield occasionally nods to Bethesda's more humorous and violent titles—such as the recent addition of Doom-inspired content—it generally maintains a more subdued and grounded approach to the genre. Over-the-top executions, though potentially thrilling, might have disrupted the game's immersion.

Fans have voiced their desire for increased realism in Starfield, particularly criticizing the game's nightclubs as feeling tame and unconvincing when compared to other gritty sci-fi titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Mass Effect. Including more humorous violence could have exacerbated these concerns, making the game feel even less authentic. Considering all these factors, Bethesda made a strategic choice to reduce the gore in Starfield, breaking from the trend set by its previous shooters.