Bethesda’s upcoming sci-fi RPG, Starfield, has been a topic of discussion among fans, particularly regarding its framerate on consoles. Considering the nature of our previous games, it should come as no surprise that we are going for huge, open worlds that are dynamic and highly detailed. And we do want to do that. It’s 4K in the X. It’s 1440 on the S. Because we want that fidelity, we want all that stuff, so we lock it at 30. He added that the console version of the game sometimes runs at 60 frames per second, but they prefer to keep it at 30 frames per second to ensure consistency, allowing players to focus on the game seamlessly.
Despite the recent trend of emphasizing higher framerates as a selling point for next-gen consoles, some notable titles have struggled to achieve this benchmark. For instance, Gotham Knights was locked at 30fps on consoles, and Redfall, an Xbox first-party console exclusive developed by Arkane Austin, showcased 60fps gameplay footage but won’t have a 60fps mode until a later update. Given Bethesda’s history with sprawling open-world RPGs, fans will likely appreciate the stable 30fps experience that Starfield aims to provide.
Howard also revealed that Starfield runs well on the Xbox Series S, the less powerful console variant, where he spends most of his playtime due to his children occupying the Xbox Series X. Howard also discussed Bethesda’s commitment to post-launch support for not only the upcoming Starfield but all of their future games. He believes that ongoing content updates and expansions give players a reason to keep coming back and make the game more than just a one-time purchase. As well as additional content, Howard emphasized that modding will play an important role in keeping Starfield fresh long after its release. With Bethesda’s track record of providing extensive modding tools for their titles such as Skyrim and Fallout 4, this shouldn’t come as much of a surprise.
While higher framerates have been a coveted feature for PC players with high-end equipment, Bethesda’s decision to prioritize consistency and maintain a locked 30fps on consoles is likely to be well-received by most fans. As the highly anticipated release of Starfield approaches, players can look forward to immersing themselves in a vast, detailed universe without compromising on visual fidelity or the overall gameplay experience.