Title: Bethesda’s Starfield Receives Positive Technical Review for Xbox Series X and S
After years of anticipation, Bethesda’s highly anticipated game, Starfield, is yet to be released. However, the embargo on reviews has been lifted, revealing the first technical review of the game. Surprisingly, Starfield seems to be running smoothly on both the high-powered Xbox Series X and the comparatively less powerful Series S. This is a pleasant surprise considering Bethesda’s track record and great news for those planning to play the game on Microsoft’s more affordable next-gen machine.
Starfield, first teased alongside The Elder Scrolls VI at E3 2018, has since generated immense hype and excitement with each new trailer, teaser, and interview. The exclusive console release for Xbox Series X/S has been confirmed to go live on August 31 for those who have paid for early access, while Game Pass subscribers and others will have access to the game on September 6. So, what can players expect?
Although reviews are not universally glowing, the game appears to be technically more sound and stable than previous console releases from Bethesda. Digital Foundry, a tech-focused outlet, recently published a video providing insights into Starfield’s performance on Xbox consoles. The outlet reported that the game runs at a locked 30fps on both the Series X and S consoles, with performance remaining solid throughout. Digital Foundry stated that Starfield “basically hits a locked 30fps for just about everything you do in the game” on both machines.
However, the larger cities within the game seem to be the exception. Reports suggest that these areas experience occasional drops in framerate, causing some hitches in performance. Nonetheless, Digital Foundry emphasizes that these issues are not significant and nowhere near as severe as those encountered in Fallout 4’s large city when played on Xbox One. Overall, Starfield remains highly playable.
What surprised reviewers the most was how well the Series S version of the game compares to the Series X. Although some graphical concessions were made, such as lower-quality reflections and shadows, as well as missing distant details, these compromises allowed the Series S version to maintain a solid 30fps while utilizing an upscaled 1440p resolution. This is an impressive feat for the smaller, more affordable console. It seems that Bethesda and Microsoft have invested extra effort in ensuring that the limited hardware of the Series S can handle the vast world of Starfield.
One aspect that some players may find disappointing is the number of loading screens encountered throughout the game. Exploring planets and cities involves frequent loading screens on both consoles, although thanks to the consoles’ high-speed SSDs, these loading times are short. It is worth noting that Starfield is not a seamless open-world experience, given its massive scale and the amount of activity within it at any given moment. Additionally, some planets may feel empty and barren, but the stable 30fps framerate compensates for this drawback.
Overall, Starfield’s performance on consoles has exceeded expectations. According to Digital Foundry, the game appears to be relatively bug-free, which is a significant improvement compared to Bethesda’s previous titles such as Fallout 76, Fallout 4, and Skyrim. This suggests that players will not have to wait for months for Bethesda to fix major issues, as has been the case in the past.
In conclusion, Starfield’s technical review for Xbox Series X and S showcases solid performance and stability, surprising fans and raising anticipation for its upcoming release. With the game set to arrive soon, players can hope for a more polished experience from Bethesda, providing a welcome change from the past.