I thought we already had a thread for this but I couldn’t find it. Anyway, some supposed screens have “leaked”, which is funny given the timing right after the big Microsoft deal.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PmeKGon_Z5M&t=633s

The guys are kinda annoying but the info they present is interesting.

Microsoft is buying Bethesda???

Yes. Announced about a week or so ago.

Maybe I should avoid going in the new forums for awhile. I have a feeling they're really messy right now. Then again, the Xbox has garnered some respect over its past generation, especially since MS allows modding now. Still though. I can already hear the furor!

I was not surprised. I have genuinely been expecting Bethesda to go out of business because of how they have been trying to do too many things at once (which almost drove them out of business once before - but Morrowind saved them at that time). Not to mention doing those things badly (looking at you Fallout 76). I expect selling out to Microsoft was the only way for them to stay around in any shape or form.

Apparently they are buying Obsidian too.

Yeah they bought obsidian last year.

My understanding is that Microsoft is going to use the Bethesda games to make buying a new X-Box more attractive. Plus they will probably put it on their Game Pass, which is a subscription service for games. You pay a monthly fee, and you can play any game on the service. So it is Netflix for games. It sounds like a great way to try out games before you buy them. Especially if you play a lot of different games.

Oh yeah, that’s what most people are thinking it’s all about, considering the timing of this right before the preorders for the new consoles went live. Also Game Pass sounds kinda cool, though I wonder if I would get my money’s worth out of it. Maybe just do it a couple of months at a time?

That really floors me. So all the mistrials and mistakes with 76 is biting Beth in the butt now. And they could be out of business because of this. I do know that before Morrowind, they were in danger of going out of business because they decided to try making Redguard and some other game (more action-y / less freeform type of games) but I had no idea they were about to tank.

I need to finish watching that video. The name of this thread is Starfield and I didn't even make it that far into the video. And I'm curious about Starfield. I am, I am.

First though, I need a drink. I'll be in the next room if anyone needs me.

At this point I think that 76 and the CC were more likely forced on BGS by Zenimax, in a effort to make the company look more appealing on the market. They probably were trying to inflate their value with intent to sell it off.

It’s ok, the Microsoft deal is worth discussing! That said, I don’t think you quite understand the Microsoft buyout. You don’t pay 7.5 Billion dollars to “tank” a company. Beth will still be in business they will simply have to answer to Microsoft. For their part, Microsoft have indicated that they might be pretty “hands off” with Beth as well, which will allow them to just “do their thing”. We’ll find out how true that is. The biggest take away I got from it is that Microsoft wanted Bethesda games exclusive to XBox, so that will make buying the new Xbox more appealing than the new Sony PlayStation. In other words, don’t feel bad for Bethesda, they most likely will benefit tremendously from this.

I really don't know where we all are getting this idea that Bethesda is doing poorly financially, getting stagnant, etc. Not trying to get on anyone's case here, but I see this getting propagated all the time when I don't know where people are getting these ideas from. Let's not mistake any of our personal opinions about the games to be representative of what the overall gaming population thinks--or that gaming forums in general are representative of gamers for that matter. Gaming forums also tend to just make stuff up or believe some unverified or flat-out false info because they want to believe it. Well, that last part goes for the Internet as a whole.

Getting bought out doesn't necessarily mean you are doing poorly financially. Sometimes they get bought out specifically because they rake in profit. That's exactly what's happening here. This isn't pre-Morrowind Bethesda, where there actually was the danger of going out of business and their games were selling poorly (which is ironic, given that the MW fanboys claim Oblivion and Skyrim were the ones that "sold out" to appeal to a wider audience). Skyrim, Fallout 4, and Skyrim: Special Edition all made obscene amounts of cash for Bethesda and made them a real household name for gaming. And for all the [censored] that Fallout 76 gets--some deserved, some undeserved--I'm willing to bet that it's been a reasonable success so far. Not like it's series predecessor or Skyrim by any means, but it's gaming forums that are jumping to the conclusion that 76 has been a flop. That's because most of them don't like or even hate the game.

And that's all well and good, even though I like the game but think it has a serious lack of polish (which is why I recommend it only a big sale), but gaming forums really need to stop propagating things because they want to believe in them, or believe their opinions are facts. For example, how is Bethesda becoming stagnant? Fallout 76 was released in 2018 and is still getting content. Even though it is much more so Zenimax, Bethesda has still had a level of involvement in ESO. Fallout 4 was in 2015. Skyrim was in 2011. That's a pretty normal rate of output for them, maybe a little bit slower. People are also really starved for new Bethesda (the main studio) stuff, regardless of their gripes, so that helps make it seem like Bethesda is slowing down. But Bethesda is also not the juggernaut that, say, EA or Ubisoft are, where they can crank out multiple games in a year like it's nothing. They're more of a medium-sized studio, despite being AAA.

Look, I have my issues with Bethesda and Zenimax, too. There's plenty of things I criticize in Skyrim, Fallout 4, Fallout 76, and ESO, even though I have a lot of fun with all of them. No one is above criticism, especially big businesses. And they should be held accountable. But I think people are really taking this too far and spinning stories in their head. Bethesda is doing just fine from a financial standpoint. And that's exactly why Microsoft wanted them and Zenimax.

Okay I see what you're saying, RaderOfTheLostArk, and TheCheshireKhajiit. So it's more like they want to get involved in a situation which they see as mutually beneficial. Not necessarily that they're about to go under.

I do hope MS is hands-off. Of course, there will be all sorts of cries in the future about how they aren't being hands-off, even if they are.


Interesting. Hmm.

Another thing. Beth themselves did not want to release the next Elder Scrolls until the next gen consoles were out. I saw an interview in which Pete or one of the top management informed this. They didn't feel the last generation (PS4 and Xbox 1) were advanced enough for what they want to see in ES6. Everyone in the new forums were wracking their brains what is going on until I found that interview. I'll have to find that link.

So, anyone think we'll get something about Starfield at E3?

I would be very surprised if we did not discover something about Starfiel at E3. The Starfield planet in XBox's E3 image practically confirms it.

Aw yiss.

It's official: 11/11/22.

Whoa... time to look for news, I guess.

Not 22/22/22?

Looks like Bethesda now have a thing about multiples of eleven

At least we can now calculate the release date for TES6

11/11/33 for the main game
with dlc expected 11/11/44

Which will make me…

Dead!

I’m kinda shocked this game isn’t coming out this year.

I was hoping for this year, but alas. I think the best case scenario we can get for TES VI is 11/?/23, if they are working on more than one thing at a time (possible since they have MS resources now).

11/11/22 - Starfield release
2/3/23 - Starfield DLC season begins
6/11/23 - E3 and TES VI trailer11/?/23 - TES VI release

Also wouldn't surprise me if it's 2024 release, but I have to think by this point that they really want to get another TES game out the door.



But I am also the eternal optimist.

Yes, hope for the best, plan for the worst. So now I'm thinking Elder Scrolls VI won't be out until 2026 or 27, because they'll stay with Starfield for awhile.

Anyway, here is the opening trailer for Starfield. Starfield is confirmed to be single player. Cripes, look at those graphics. I want to eat that sandwich on the table.

All new animations supposedly, too. And they announced the Creation Engine 2 at the same time.

Here is Bethesda's new Starfield website, if anyone is interested: https://bethesda.net/en/game/starfield

Hmmm….I don’t know. I am in two minds….Well, yes of course I am Lol,
but no, what I mean is Beth has a poor track record of making polished games that do not need a lot of work from the modding community to make them close to what they should have been hmmm.

It takes a while for all those mod fixes to be made….So IF I take the Starfield plunge it will probably be a good six months after launch.

….and, I will only consider it IF my likeness can be generated in game, if I can’t be “Adella in space” then it won’t be happening in my machine huh! (Probably comes across as an entitled prig…but seriously, I do not want to be in a game where I have to be called Bob…have a ready made family, and have space bandits steal my baby at the start.

Buuuuuut….I suppose if it does come with a good free form char creation screen AND 3rd person pov AND it looks actually playable rather than a glitch and crash fest, then I suppose…..sign me up.

A.

In an interview with UK's Telegraph yesterday Howard confirmed that Starfield will indeed be 1st and 3rd person. He also said this:

“It's also a bit more hardcore of a role playing game than we've done. It's got some really great character systems – choosing your background, things like that. We’re going back to some things that we used to do in games long ago that we felt have really let players express the character they want to be. So I think when you see it being played, you would recognise it as something we made.”

To me, this sounds like the chargen process may be even more in-depth than in previous games. As to bugs, that's anyone's guess. Bethesda hasn't had a particularly good track record with bugs, going all the way back to Daggerfall. But the fact that they are taking their time with this game gives me a bit of hope.

For those who are interested here's two more more snippets from the interview:

“Well, we like to put you in a world where we're not dragging you by the nose and saying you must do X, Y and Z, and that it's okay for you to want to test the [game’s boundaries]. You know, can I read this book? Can I pick this up? Can I do this? What if I do this? What if I do this? And the game is saying ‘yes’ a lot.

“And it has large scale goals and storytelling, but that minute-to-minute feels rewarding for you. And if you just want to pass the time and go watch the sunset and pick flowers it's rewarding in that way too. The quiet moments feel really really good.”

Source: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gaming/features...spent-25-years/

I’m interested, but I need more details before I decide if it’s a must buy, even then it will be purchased well after release unless it is universally lauded as some kind of masterpiece.

Inject this new content into my veins, Godd Howard!

I think I'm going to go for it. Buy & try Starfield, for whatever console I get next, right at midnight or whatever. And then I'll tell you folks my experience. I mean, I still need to see some more videos and read some more documentation, but I'm already liking what I see. Plus the game is confirmed to be single-player.

It’s apparently not going to be available on PlayStation, so definitely get an Xbox or upgrade your PC if need be.

I've been looking for an excuse to build a new PC.

There ya go!

Gives me a reason to tweak mine some more, too. Just added a second screen, so maybe this time I'll double my RAM from 16 to 32.

I am undecided whether to buy a PS5 or whatever the next Xbox is called. I know Xbox is always the safe way to go, that it will include more mods, and so on. I guess it depends what other games might be out there, exclusive to one system or the other.


Me too. I don't want to upgrade or modify my gaming PC anymore! I'd rather keep it the way it is and then eventually buy or build (probably buy though) a new one. By the time 2030 rolls around I'm going to have so many gaming devices in my room...

This looks to be quite the game.

And why do you say so, Kane? New info? I haven't been keeping up.

Gameplay reveal yesterday:
https://youtu.be/zmb2FJGvnAw



Some highlights:

• Open world galaxy exploration? Check
• RPG? Check
• Spaceship flying and combat? Check
• SPACESHIP CUSTOMIZATION? Check
• Settlement outpost creation on any one of a 1000 planets or moons? Check

Non-threatening wildlife? Check. Not every creature attacks us? Check. That's something I like: a gameworld with balanced fauna.

Walking still an option? Check. Third and First person? Check. (I mention these because I heard a rumor we'd only be able to run, and that the game would be First Person only.)

Ha ha "digipicks" instead of lockpicks.

Whoa, the player just ... flew? ... just before 5:50? That must be some sort of jet pack. Very kewl. Whoa, look at New Atlantis. THAT is going to be a blast exploring.

I dunno... I have trouble being critical, I only get psyched about new games. SubRosa?

Definitely saw that jetpack combat, too. Looked like fun!

I will be watching to see how mods are handled. Creation club precedent has me concerned that they will want control of distribution, and possibly restrict the access to the tools.

It looks like Fallout 4, but in space, and with a different color palette. Right down to the jetpacks, which seem to work exactly the same as in FO4.

I also cannot help but to make the comparison to No Man's Sky, just with better graphics.

Finally, as ghastly noted, Bethesda's recent actions with modding has me very skeptical of whether it will even be a thing anymore.

Another thing I learned recently is there will be no Playstation version of Starfield. Even though I enjoyed my PS days playing Oblivion, it's overall a good idea Beth isn't bothering to make the game for PS, which is always the weakest version; the version most folks complain about.

And now they'll get to complain there's no Playstation version, of course.

Anyway, assuming I get this game, I'm already thinking of names for my first character. I think I'll roll a guy or gal named Bill Loney, or Jerri Kerls. and then I'll play dead-is-dead. Silly names. This way I won't get attached to him or her as I fumble about at early attempts at the game!




What recent actions? (I am unaware).

I think it looks very interesting. I’m reserving judgment until I see more though.

Either I missed it in the presentation or their was a separate event, but apparently The Todd said that modders would love this game. So hopefully that means no Creation Club. That honestly would not surprise me, since I think that the CC was forced on them by ZeniMax.


Modders would indeed love this game. Think of the content that could be added in a game like this.

Ah, it was an IGN article. He also said that TES VI is in pre-production, and that Fallout 5 will be the next game after that.


I gotta say...if Starfield is successful and they make it into a third franchise...they're going to need to expand big time. The time gap between sequels will be nuts.

What does the Creation Club mean? Why is this a bad thing? I really don't know the answer. I only shop at Nexus.

They are essentially paid mods distributed directly from Bethesda, but are considered official content like DLCs. The advent of the CC in Fallout 4 and Skyrim Special Edition has folks worried that they were going to push out 3rd party modding in future games. I personally don't believe that to be the case, but ya never know.

I’ll try to sum up Creation Club from my point of view as a creator. Basically Bethesda wanted gig employees to write paid mods for them cheaply. I would have submitted my ideas for their approval, before making anything, and only be allowed to do it if they liked the idea. Then I would do the work, they sell it for money, even if indirected through a token system, and then I would get a small percentage, having done ALL the work. I assume that the ones bundled with AE pay nothing to their authors, as Beth gave them away free.

Mods created outside CC were not eligible for inclusion, as Beth did not have creative control. And that is why the CC mods all suck. They are all Beth’s ideas, with the work done on the cheap. Carry on getting mods from Nexus, or elsewhere when mine find a home, as they will be genuine mods, not cheap DLC.

I don’t want payment for my mods, but I do want full creative control if my name goes on it. CC gives Beth the control, but not the responsibility, for the mods, and the payments come out of the profits from the mods, so it costs them nothing.

Yikes! Well that answers that!

Well I'm with you Kane. I don't think they'd get rid of third-party mods either. They'd be shooting themselves in the feet with longevity of sales.

I wonder if we'll be able to fly a spacecraft? Oh gosh, that's going to be a riot. Renee flying a craft, Renee LANDING a craft. Crashing into buildings and whatnot.