300°

Starfield’s largest update since launch is coming on May 15

Bethesda has announced the release date for the biggest Starfield update since launch, which will bring map improvements, Xbox graphics options, and more.

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bethesda.net
Zeref15d ago (Edited 15d ago )

40fps and 60fps modes on Xbox is huge! Honestly didn't think it would be possible.
Too bad it wasn't there at launch but this and land vehicles definitely gets me way more excited to jump back in when Shattered Space drops.

darthv7215d ago

Very nice. I will jump back into it at 60fps like I did with Fallout.

helicoptergirl15d ago

The real thing here is... why didn't they have 60 FPS at launch?

I remember so many people defending them saying that it must not be possible to have 60 fps for that game. So many people defending Bethesda. Saying its too hard for 60 fps. I hope a "journalist" goes back and looks at all the excuses made for Bethesda releasing only 30 FPS. Go back and look ath all their excuses and the fans' excuses and do a write up of it all. Bethesda keep messing up and getting a pass imo.

Releasing 60 fps now for this game is simply not good enough

I'll tell you one thing, if I had bought and played Starfield at launch on Xbox SeriesX I would be so damned angry right about now.

Futureshark14d ago (Edited 14d ago )

I remember Phil Spencer announcing that Starfield was to run at 30fps as a 'creative decision'.

https://www.purexbox.com/ne...

This is one of the reasons why I'm no longer a Xbox fan, yet another example of Mr Spencer treating the public and their customers as idiots, feeding them basic marketing bullsh!t that anyone can actually see straight through.

And now their is an update over 6 months later to that game that has since lost all it's momentum it had at launch that not only improves performance but apparently adds all the QoL fixes that should have been there at launch (city maps for example).

What a load of baloney, going to wait until all this customer beta testing is finished and will get it on PS5 when on sale.

LordoftheCritics14d ago

60fps loading screen is still a loading screen.

LOGICWINS15d ago

Same. Very excited to hop in!

obidanshinobi14d ago

"40fps and 60fps modes on Xbox is huge! Honestly didn't think it would be possible."
Really? Have you played Starfield on the Series X ? It's not really a looker, many parts of it look very last gen, there's no doubt a base Xbox One could run it at 30fps if they toned down the resolution and some of the detail.

There are already better looking open world games that run at 60fps like Cyberpunk 2077, on the Series X.

The Series X could easily run Starfield at 60fps, it's just the developers couldn't be arsed to prioritise it.
Seems to be a recurring problem within Xbox Studios, Redfall and the upcoming Hellblade 2 are other examples.
And let's not forget that Aaron Greenberg tweeted in 2020 (around March I think) that 60fps would be the standard for the Series consoles.

Zeref14d ago (Edited 14d ago )

I'm not sure what game you've been playing but the Starfield I've been playing looks amazing. Only the characters don't look that great but everything else looks amazing.

Goosejuice14d ago

I don't think he said starfield looks bad, cyberpunk looks better though and has wayy more going on. There was no reason for starfield to be 30 fps. It was an unfinished game when they released it. You could tell just with the maps..how do u release a game with the maps they had for cities? In was terrible.

Tacoboto15d ago

Way to bury the best news here! Thanks Zeref for already sharing.

"You can now select your own frame rate target for Starfield if you're on a VRR display, allowing you to choose between 30, 40, 60, and Uncapped."

I'm glad I've waited to finish it. The PC version with frame gen feels great but I'll happily play it on my Xbox again away from my desk

darthv7215d ago

I just started fallout 4 for the first time and did so because of the new patch that was released. I play it in performance mode from my SX through my g cloud and it works really well. I plan on doing the same with this one when it drops.

Snookies1215d ago (Edited 15d ago )

What happened to the 30 FPS lock on consoles being a "developer choice"? I refused to touch it on console because of that. I honestly got pretty bored of the game after about 15-20 hours, but maybe I'll go back after a lot of updates. Still sad to see things like the map being fixed, and FPS options that should have been there in the first place. Being added in so much later.

darthv7215d ago

the 30fps lock was the developer choice because they could not get 60 to be consistent (at that time). They could have offered 40fps as a trade off but I guess they were wanting to do more work to get 60. And now they got things working to support both 40 and 60 (on the SX) so you can rest easy now and enjoy it.

helicoptergirl15d ago

That isn't good enough. Other devs work hard and launch with 60 FPS. But it's Bethesda right? They always get a pass

Neonridr14d ago

@helicoptergirl - so either have something available at launch or don't improve a game moving forward.

That's quite the rationale you got going on there.

Eonjay14d ago

It seems pretty obvious just looking at the game that expecting it to run at 60 should definitely be achievable. We saw a similar thing happen with Redfall and now with Hellblade. The games are being pushed out too early. Its great that they are now getting 60 FPS... I can saw for sure that this makes me a lot more likely to buy the game when it comes out on PS5.

romulus2314d ago

That's not a "developer choice" it's a developer incapability and a parent company not willing to wait eight months for them to become capable. No one should "rest easy" when they have to wait upwards of a year for developers to deliver on promises they made. They had plenty of resources being under Microsoft's umbrella, there's no excuse for them not getting a consistent 60 (at that time).

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Lightning7715d ago (Edited 15d ago )

I agree 100%. These devs need to be up front about why console is 30. In fact I don't believe for a second HB2 was a dev choice but ran out of time. Despite having plenty of time already.

Makes no sense how much dev time does a game need to be in a pipeline in order to be 60 at launch? Even after delays its still 30. MS needs to get this sorted out with their next batch of games but I doubt they will. I think Indy might be 30 despite it being another linear experience and Avowed might be as well going by MS feature incomplete track record.

Tacoboto15d ago

I'm confident with Avowed and Indiana both being 60.

Avowed has the 60fps gameplay footage, after their commitment to do better after Redfall.

Indy's footage is 60fps too and runs on id Tech.

chicken_in_the_corn14d ago

Because it was exactly that. Their choice.

andy8515d ago

Remember all the excuses from 'fans' about why 60 fps wasn't possible on Xbox consoles. It obviously was they just couldn't be bothered.

CobraKai15d ago

Im still hoping for the landing cutscenes for previously visited planets

Show all comments (45)
200°

Insider claims Starfield could come to PS5 in 2025 after more Xbox games 'this holiday season'

Well regarded insider, NateTheHate, has said that more Xbox games could be coming to PS5 'this holiday season' followed by Starfield in 2025.

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videogamer.com
ThinkThink15h ago

The latest rumor is flight simulator 2024 is heading to PS5 this year.

romulus233h ago

That would be a great game to go multiplat. I would definitely pick that one up on PS5.

OtterX43m ago(Edited 43m ago)

That would be an absolutely fantastic score for PSVR2 if they have any VR support plans! MS Flight Simulator (2020) is one of my favorite VR experiences over on PC. Not so much a game, but one hell of a VR experience!

Knightofelemia14h ago

Even if the rumor was true and if that did happen. I still wouldn't play or own a game that is classified as open world just to run into invisible force fields.

Rebel_Scum1h ago

Then what is your solution to open worlds that obviously have to have a point where they must end?

Barlos1h ago

Same here. I won't be buying any Microsoft Games game

isarai14h ago

If it came to ps+ ill try it, but im certainly not spending my money on it. I wanted this game to be awesome and it just seems so incomplete

Barlos1h ago

Exactly. It's fine to rent it on Xbox so why should they expect people to actually buy it on PlayStation? They don't deserve your money.

Destiny108013h ago

send phil, some more dev kits

we need all xbox exclusives games ported before phil shuts them down

neutralgamer19925h ago(Edited 5h ago)

We were often ridiculed by Xbox enthusiasts, but it’s essential to understand that Microsoft's $100 billion investment was aimed at generating profit, not merely pleasing fans with Day 1 Game Pass releases.

Microsoft should consider releasing all its games, including flagship titles like Halo and Gears of War, on PlayStation. This strategy would maximize revenue while still releasing games day one on GP, money which could then be reinvested into the future of Xbox. While a few loyal fans might be upset, this approach makes the most business sense in the long run. Even put forza on PS5 get the sales. On Xbox gamers get these games day on GP while other platforms pay full price. Win win

nzjono4h ago

Huh? "We were often ridiculed by Xbox enthusiasts" Its the other way around, their ship is sinking, and they have known this for some time.

neutralgamer19922h ago

Once these acquisitions were announced, many Xbox fans felt that the primary aim was to take games away from PlayStation. Any suggestion that Microsoft wanted to maximize its return on their $100 billion investment was often dismissed with claims that Microsoft doesn’t need PlayStation or Nintendo to profit from these acquisitions.

Historically, Xbox operated independently within Microsoft, for better or worse. However, with such a significant financial commitment, Microsoft's goal is clearly to maximize revenue. They can still release these games on Game Pass at launch and also sell them at full price on other platforms. While some Xbox fans might react negatively if Xbox games appear on PlayStation, from a business perspective, it makes sense to leverage a platform with a much larger install base.

Phil Spencer and his team are under pressure to grow revenue and profit. It is becoming increasingly clear that achieving this growth solely within the Xbox ecosystem is challenging. Many Xbox gamers now expect Microsoft to cover the costs of games through Game Pass, rather than purchasing them outright. Considering that Xbox, now in its fourth generation, accounts for only 15-20% of overall software sales while its competitors are setting sales records, it is crucial for Microsoft to explore broader strategies to ensure profitability.

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120°

Starfield's new Xbox performance modes are thoughtful and comprehensive

Digital Foundry : Bethesda's Starfield was generally a well-regarded RPG, but the game's 30fps target on consoles was the subject of some controversy. The game's massive scope arguably justified that 30fps refresh rate, with only high-end PCs capable of hitting 60fps and higher, but now Bethesda has changed course and opened the floodgates on Xbox Series X consoles following significant optimisation work. Players can now independently select performance and visuals modes at arbitrary frame-rates. How exactly do these new combinations fare, and is 60fps really a possibility after it was explicitly ruled out before?

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eurogamer.net
darthv721d 5h ago

900p in performance mode for SX.... I'd assume a 5pro would at least hit 1080p if not more.

jwillj2k41d 4h ago

It’s a point, click and load game. Stop with all the massive scale bullshit. Only thing massive is the number of junk items they decided to throw in the game.

Armaggedon23h ago

Its not BS. This games running more systems than virtually any AAA game. Why else do you think it has loading screens? Besides, the clutter has been apart of their DNA for decades at this point. There are other games out there for people that dont care about that kind of stuff.

Mr_cheese19h ago

Probably because it's been created on a very outdated engine that isn't designed to fully utilise current gen abilities.

You've only got to look at what rockstar games achieve with their releases.

Armaggedon11h ago(Edited 11h ago)

@Mr_Cheese People keep saying the engine is outdated, even though other engines have built upon past iterations. I think it would be more accurate to say that the engine does not do what you expect to see from a “current gen” game. Red Dead 2 was cool, but its not packing as many systems and permutations as Starfield. People make flimsy comparisons too often: “Look what this open world game can do with its visuals and presentation. Whats Bethesdas excuse?”

Yes, look at what this open world game can do that has no skills or attributes, no building potential and minimal crafting potential, coupled with all of the other variables packed in a Bethesda game. Not mentioning all of the other systems in place, you already have an unbelievable amount of potential variables to calculate. No wonder starfield has loading screens.lol
Heck, I would say that even Fallout 4 in 2015 had more systemic depth than Red Dead 2. It amazes me how much people underestimate Bethesda. Keep sleeping on them.

Mr_cheese9h ago(Edited 9h ago)

RDR2 is a living, breathing world with dynamic weather, full interiors, changing landscape with unscripted encounters, multiple onscreen npcs, wildlife, all with their own functions, animations, skins.

I wouldn't disregard one for the other.

Bethesda is notorious for operating on an outdated engine.

We could even use cyberpunk as an example of a fully open world game with multiple levels of variants.

Edit

Played the majority of Bethesda titles, not sleeping on them, just noticing a pattern

Armaggedon1h ago(Edited 1h ago)

@Mr Cheese

Rant inbound. Dont blame you for not reading.

I honestly think their notoriety with the engine is here-say sprinkled with a bit of confirmation bias over the years. For example from a typical naysayer: “Bethesda games have lousy performance and their gameplay is outdated, therefore their engine must be outdated.”

There was one journalist/Youtuber that mentioned something interesting. He was breaking down the negativity behind Bethesda, and mentioned that if there is an issue, its not Bethesda’s engine….its Bethesda.

If there is an issue, it is that Bethesda are very ambitious and seek to prioritize testing themselves to see how much stuff they can put into a game and still have it function without crashing. This ambition can cause them to forget their core audience, and pay attention specifically to what they want. I think thats one of the key reasons why BG3 is so beloved by people, its because the game was in a form of early access for years, and is literally built on the feedback of those that were able to access it. People who play Bethesda games are looking mostly for “meaningful” exploration, cool loot, and environmental storytelling, but Bethesda has honestly been shifting gears recently. It seems they want to focus on terraforming the open world rpg further via building and crafting.

I think Starfield is an example of a solid game, alienating the expectations of the core audience. Bethesda wanted to make this game for years, and they sought out to achieve their ambitions, rather than service their audience. The “problem “ with Starfield is that it is a clash of design philosophy, ery similar to Fallout 76. You just dont try to fit a Bethesda game with all of its variables into a multi world, multi landing zone game space. But they tried it anyway, hence the loading screens and othe supposed issues. I admire their ambition, and I love Starfield, ut I can understand where people that dont like the game are coming from. I just wish naysayers understood the true nature of this game.

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120°

Starfield Update 1.11.36 - May 15, 2024

Starfield’s latest update is here and it’s bringing several new features with it!

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bethesda.net
Silly Mammo1d 7h ago

Is that Laszlo Cravensworth aka Jackie Daytona, the human bartender?

CobraKai1d 6h ago

He looks like modern day Jason Lee Scott