Starfield's Space Simulation Shines in One Essential Aspect


# Starfield: Is It Technically Outdated? Far From It, It’s a Space Simulation Wonder

Bethesda’s *Starfield* has emerged as one of the most controversial games in the last few years, marked by a blend of soaring expectations, unmet promises, and unrealized aspirations. Although the game has encountered ample critique, particularly about its gameplay dynamics and technical flaws, there is one dimension where *Starfield* truly stands out: its space simulation and object physics. Even months post-launch, this often-ignored virtue continues to leave a lasting impression, particularly within the game’s space settings.

## A Game of Paradoxes

It’s widely acknowledged that *Starfield* has sparked divided opinions. Numerous players have expressed dissatisfaction with the game’s procedurally generated planets, underwhelming spaceship mechanics, and dependency on fast travel, which detracts from the exploration that space-themed games commonly strive to offer. For example, the game’s water effects have faced widespread mockery, and the overall visual quality has been criticized for failing to meet contemporary standards.

Nonetheless, in spite of these issues, *Starfield* excels in one significant area: its capacity to simulate thousands of tiny objects in real time, fostering a degree of persistence and immersion that few titles can replicate. This is a technical accomplishment that, while perhaps not immediately noticeable, warrants acknowledgment.

## The Physics of Potatoes: A Viral Sensation

Shortly following *Starfield*’s launch, a Reddit post went viral, capturing the attention of the online community. A player unleashed 20,000 potatoes from an airlock, and the game’s physics engine managed the chaotic downpour of potatoes with surprising elegance. For a fleeting moment, the gaming world was awestruck by the inherent complexity of the simulation.

Though this potato flood was a playful and somewhat ridiculous showcase, it underscored a fundamental strength of *Starfield*: its capability to monitor and simulate thousands of distinct objects in real time. This feature is a hallmark of Bethesda’s Creation Engine, which has been employed since *Skyrim*. The engine keeps track of every object’s position, crafting a persistent world where even minute details are acknowledged.

## The Creation Engine: A Double-Edged Sword

Bethesda’s Creation Engine has been a cornerstone of their open-world RPGs since *Skyrim*, and it continues to underpin *Starfield*. While the engine has received criticism for appearing outdated, especially regarding visual quality and character animations, it remains one of the most effective engines for simulating persistent worlds. The capacity to remember the position of every object, regardless of size, is a feature that few other titles can boast.

In *Starfield*, this persistence reaches new dimensions, notably in space. The game’s weightless settings permit some truly remarkable physics interactions. Objects drift and collide in a credible fashion, and the game’s execution of zero-gravity conditions is one of its most remarkable aspects. This level of intricacy is something that only a select few games, like *Star Citizen*, are striving to emulate.

## The Wrong Emphasis?

Yet, this begs an important question: was this focus on detailed object physics the right priority for *Starfield*? Critics have pointed out the game’s procedurally generated planets, often perceived as barren and uninspired. The spaceship mechanics have also stirred debate, with many players bemoaning the lack of substantial space exploration and combat. Instead of seamlessly navigating between planets, players frequently depend on fast travel, which disrupts immersion and diminishes the grandeur that a space game should embody.

Considering these drawbacks, it raises the question of whether the development time devoted to object physics could have been better allocated. Could Bethesda have designed more dynamic and captivating planets? Might they have enhanced the spaceship mechanics to render space travel more significant? These inquiries are valid, and it’s hard not to sense that *Starfield*’s full potential was not fully harnessed in several aspects.

## A Template for Future Titles

Despite these critiques, *Starfield*’s object physics and space simulation are undeniably remarkable. The game’s ability to simulate thousands of objects in real-time, especially in zero-gravity settings, constitutes a technical triumph that other developers ought to consider. Even though *Starfield* may not have completely realized its potential, it has established a new standard for what is achievable regarding object persistence and physics simulation in open-world gaming.

Other creators would benefit from taking cues from *Starfield*’s strengths in this realm. The ability to craft a persistent world where every object possesses weight and significance contributes an immersion level often absent from modern games. This is particularly relevant in space-themed games, where the sensation of weightlessness and object behavior in zero gravity can significantly impact the overall experience.

## Inconsistent Physics: A Missed Chance

However, *Starfield* does not escape its inconsistencies. While