Bethesda Removes Gore and Dismemberment from Starfield

Bethesda had initially planned to incorporate gore and dismemberment mechanics into Starfield, but these features were ultimately removed due to technical challenges. Dennis Mejillones, a former character artist who worked on The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, Fallout 4, and Starfield, explained to Kiwi Talkz that the complexity of interactions with space suits was the primary reason for this decision.

"The technical implications of handling different suits were significant," Mejillones stated. "There's a lot involved. You need to cut the helmet in a specific way so it can be removed, and you have to manage the flesh underneath with 'meat caps'."

He further elaborated that the system became overly complicated: "We had systems in place for all of this, but it turned into a big rat's nest. With the addition of various hoses on the helmets and the ability to significantly alter body sizes through the evolved character creator, managing all these elements became unfeasible."

Some fans expressed disappointment over the absence of gore and dismemberment mechanics in Starfield, features that were present in Fallout 4. Mejillones noted that these mechanics fit better within the "tongue in cheek" humor of Fallout, adding, "It's part of the fun."

Starfield was released in September 2023 and has since attracted over 15 million players. IGN's review highlighted the game's appeal, stating, "Starfield has a lot of forces working against it, but eventually the allure of its expansive roleplaying quests and respectable combat make its gravitational pull difficult to resist," and awarded it a 7/10.

Recently, another former Bethesda developer expressed surprise at the extensive loading times in Starfield, especially in the city of Neon. Since its launch, Bethesda has made efforts to enhance the game, including introducing a 60fps performance mode. The expansion, Shattered Space, was released in September.