Bethesda initially aimed for Starfield to be more violent, featuring gruesome elements such as ‘meat caps’ for beheaded characters. However, technical difficulties and thematic inconsistencies led to a significant reduction in gore in the final game.

“It turned into a big Rat’s Nest.”

In a conversation with Kiwitalkz, Senior Artist Dennis Mejillones revealed that many horror elements seen in previous Bethesda titles like Fallout 4 were considered for Starfield but ultimately removed. This decision was influenced both by technical challenges related to various spacesuits and the game’s narrative tone.

Mejillones explained that the gore system required substantial adjustments for each different spacesuit. He mentioned that the complexity of integrating these elements created complications: “From a technical perspective, there’s a lot that has to go with that… You have to cut the helmet in a certain way, and it’s gotta come off.”

Despite the lack of extreme violence, Starfield has still found an audience, partly due to the game’s modding community which has already introduced some modifications to enhance the gore factor. In comparison to previous titles like Fallout 4, Starfield’s tone was designed to be more grounded and serious, drawing inspiration from series like The Expanse and Star Trek.

In summary, while there was an intention to make Starfield a bloodier experience, the developers concluded that a less graphic approach aligned better with the game’s intended style.