Controversy Surrounding Starfield's Main Menu Addressed by Dev in Response to Viral Criticism

Starfield's initial screen has unexpectedly become a topic of debate among developers, with some expressing dissatisfaction over its straightforward design. While many consider this a minor aspect, a Bethesda employee has stepped in to defend the team's choices.

Credit: Bethesda

The eagerly anticipated launch of Starfield is just around the corner, with players gearing up to embark on their space-faring adventures starting September 6th (or August 31st for those who have preordered the Premium Edition). This upcoming RPG from Bethesda is anticipated to be a standout release in the bustling gaming landscape of 2023.

The game boasts a sprawling world filled with a plethora of activities, ranging from shipbuilding and smuggling to sandwich piracy and settlement crafting. Starfield has garnered so much attention and anticipation that some enthusiasts humorously attribute the game with single-handedly restoring Pluto's status as a planet.

Given the immense scope of the game, why is it that a relatively simple detail like the start screen has stirred up controversy? Well, a former developer from Blizzard, Mark Kern, took to Twitter to pass judgment on Starfield's main menu, suggesting that it indicated either a rushed development or a lack of care. Kern remarked, "Starfield's start screen either shows hasty shipping deadlines by a passionate team overworked, or a team that didn't care."

Tweet by Blizzard developer
Credit: Twitter

However, Kern's viewpoint found little agreement, as gamers swiftly chimed in with examples of other well-crafted games that feature minimalist title screens. Mentioned examples included titles like Ghost of Tsushima and Elden Ring, as well as other creations from Bethesda such as Skyrim and Fallout 3.

Kern responded to those who cited Skyrim and Fallout as counterarguments to his point, noting, "I seem to recall they were passionate teams that shipped fast and buggy. Seems to fit my point!"

Tweet by bethesda publisher
Credit: Twitter

Pete Hines, Bethesda's Head of Publishing, was tagged in the original tweet and expressed his frustration that a fellow developer would criticize another team in this manner. Hines commented, "Having an opinion is one thing. Questioning a developer's 'care' because you would have done it differently is highly unprofessional coming from another 'dev'."