Bethesda appears to have made significant enhancements to Starfield’s graphics in the 14 months since the game’s initial gameplay reveal. This conclusion is drawn from a recently surfaced fan-made comparison video that juxtaposes the RPG’s original gameplay presentation with footage shared by the developer at Gamescom 2023. The video serves to allay concerns raised by fans who speculated about potential graphical downgrades following Bethesda’s showcase in June.
Graphical downgrades are a common topic in the gaming industry, especially for titles with lengthy development cycles like Starfield. Given Bethesda’s reputation for not prioritizing cutting-edge graphical fidelity, there were apprehensions that the upcoming RPG might fall short of its initial visual promise.
However, the new comparison video, created by Reddit user MartinTheTrue, provides reassurance to fans. The 18-second clip contrasts a scene from Starfield’s June 2022 gameplay reveal—an elevator sequence—with a revised version of the same footage shown at Gamescom 2023. The 2023 iteration of the scene exhibits noticeable improvements, featuring sharper visuals, more intricate textures, and richer background details. Additionally, it demonstrates enhanced attention to detail, evident in the physics-driven behavior of wire hooks hanging from the ceiling, which now sway realistically as the elevator descends into a cave.
The 2023 version of the elevator cutscene also benefits from improved lighting, featuring brighter and more abundant light sources that provide a clearer view of the player’s immediate environment. While the scene still employs conventional rasterization techniques, converting 3D geometry into 2D pixels using textures and shaders to mimic lighting and reflections, it does not appear to incorporate ray tracing technologies found in some modern AAA games. Ray tracing simulates individual rays of light, producing realistic reflections, caustics, and shadows. Bethesda has not indicated that Starfield will incorporate ray tracing technology.
While the comparison video suggests that Starfield’s visual quality will surpass its 2022 reveal, it is essential to note that graphics fidelity is not the primary factor contributing to the success of Bethesda’s RPGs. The studio’s titles, such as Fallout 4 and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, have garnered acclaim due to their extensive player freedom, complex systems, and expansive open worlds featuring unique elements like absolute object permanence.
