Bethesda initially designed gore and dismemberment mechanics for Starfield but ultimately scrapped them due to technical constraints.

Former character artist Dennis Mejillones, known for his work on The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, Fallout 4, and Starfield, explained to Kiwi Talkz that interactions with space suits introduced complications.

Technical Hurdles with Space Suits

"The complexities with different space suits from a technical standpoint were significant," he said. "Each suit required precise damage modeling—helmets needed realistic cuts, flesh required base meshes for dismemberment. We built systems for all of it, but accounting for intricate helmet hoses, body size variations, and our evolved character creator made it unmanageable."

Some players expressed disappointment that Starfield—Bethesda’s first full single-player RPG in eight years—lacked the visceral gore mechanics seen in Fallout 4. Mejillones noted that dismemberment naturally fits Fallout's dark humor, saying, "It's part of the franchise's fun, whereas Starfield has a different tone."

Starfield's Post-Launch Evolution

Since its September 2023 release, Starfield has attracted over 15 million players. IGN's 7/10 review acknowledged its challenges but praised its expansive roleplaying quests and solid combat, stating: "While forces work against it, Starfield’s gravitational pull eventually proves hard to resist."

Last month, another ex-Bethesda developer expressed surprise at the number of loading screens at launch, particularly in Neon City. Post-launch updates have optimized performance, introducing a 60fps mode, while the Shattered Space expansion debuted in September.