Summary
A new update toStarfield’s Steam Beta showcased big lighting improvements coming to the main game soon. Some fans think thatStarfieldlags behind its competitors when it comes to atmosphere and lighting, but it seems that Bethesda is intent on changing that.
As one of the most anticipated games in recent memory,Starfieldhad a lot riding on its shoulders come release day. Following its release, many fans felt that it didn’t live up to the hype due to issues like loading screens, a lack of city maps, graphics, and more. However, Bethesda made it clear that it has long-term plans forStarfieldand intends to continue updating it well into the future. Recently,Starfield’s new 1.9.47 updatewas made available to Steam Beta participants, which introduced a plethora of improvements including graphical upgrades, bug fixes, and more. OneStarfieldSteam Beta user put together some screenshots that highlighted one of the update’s major improvements.
Reddit user DinDisco uploaded a collection of before-and-after screenshots that display how drasticStarfield’s new lighting improvements are. The user compared locations like Madame Sauvage’s Place, Jemison Mercantile Storeroom, Nova Galactic Staryard, and more between their old and new versions, and the difference is extremely noticeable. The update adds plenty of shadows and lighting upgrades that make previously sterile-feeling locations seem much more real. DinDisco explained that the update does not implement a total lighting makeover; only certain areas and certain kinds of lights have been updated. This update is still only available to Steam Beta participants, butStarfield’s development team previously stated that it will be available “about two weeks” after its Steam Beta release. This would put the update’s full release around February 1. However, this is not confirmed.
Recently, anotherStarfieldfan posted a video that showcased the update’s lightingimprovements. The post shows a before-and-after comparison of a user interacting with a shopkeeper, and similar to DinDisco’s post, the difference is drastic.
Based onStarfield’s previously revealed 2024 roadmap, fans can hope for additional improvements this year. Bethesda confirmed that features like city maps, difficulty options, and more are being worked on. The studio explained that fans can expect new updates roughly every six weeks, and also confirmed thatStarfield’s Shattered Space expansion is coming in 2024.
Starfield’s first DLC is still shrouded in mystery, but some fans hope thatShattered Space will expand on the game’s multiverse mechanic.Starfield’s unique approach to its New Game Plus mode earned praise from many who unlocked the feature, but it’s still unclear whether Bethesda plans to expand on it.
Starfield
WHERE TO PLAY
Starfield is the first new universe in 25 years from Bethesda Game Studios, the award-winning creators of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Fallout 4. In this next generation role-playing game set amongst the stars, create any character you want and explore with unparalleled freedom as you embark on an epic journey to answer humanity’s greatest mystery.The year is 2330. Humanity has ventured beyond our solar system, settling new planets, and living as a spacefaring people. From humble beginnings as a space miner, you will join Constellation – the last group of space explorers seeking rare artifacts throughout the galaxy – and navigate the vast expanse of the Settled Systems in Bethesda Game Studios’ biggest and most ambitious game.
