Bethesda Removes Gore and Dismemberment from Starfield

Bethesda had ambitious plans to incorporate gore and dismemberment mechanics into Starfield, but these were ultimately removed due to technical challenges, particularly related to the complexity of interactions with space suits. Dennis Mejillones, a former character artist who worked on The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, Fallout 4, and Starfield, explained to Kiwi Talkz that the decision to cut these features stemmed from the intricate technical demands posed by the game's various suits.

"The technical aspects of handling different suits were incredibly complex," Mejillones stated. "There were numerous considerations, such as cutting the helmet in a specific way, ensuring the flesh beneath was properly rendered, and managing all the hoses and equipment on the helmets. It became a tangled mess with the evolving character creator, which allowed for significant changes in body size."

While some fans expressed disappointment over the absence of these mechanics in Starfield, which marked Bethesda's first full single-player RPG in eight years, Mejillones noted that such elements were more fitting for the Fallout series due to its humorous tone. "It's part of the fun," he remarked.

Despite these omissions, Starfield has been a commercial success, reaching over 15 million players since its September 2023 release. IGN's review praised the game's expansive role-playing quests and solid combat, awarding it a 7/10 and noting its compelling gravitational pull despite various challenges.

Recent revelations from another former Bethesda developer highlighted the unexpectedly high number of loading screens in Starfield, especially in the city of Neon. Post-launch, Bethesda has addressed some of these issues, introducing a performance mode that supports 60fps gameplay. Additionally, the expansion Shattered Space was released in September, further enhancing the Starfield experience.