Summary
Starfieldis switching up some of its lighting effects, as evidenced in a new video showing overall improvements to the game’s graphics. The changes are a part of the recent Steam Beta, where developer Bethesda Game Studios is working on over100 improvements for update 1.9.47.0 ofStarfield.
Bethesda’s Creation Engine 2 powersStarfieldand has implemented various features to make the game run on current-generation hardware. While it is an improvement to the original engine that powered titles such asFallout 4andSkyrim, Creation Engine 2 has seen its fair share of criticism from players and critics. Updates have addressed some issues, yetStarfield’s graphics continue to be a point of criticism among some players. However, the newest update aims to further improve the game’s graphics, as shown in a recent video.
With gratitude for all the player feedback, Bethesda unveiled update 1.9.47.0 forStarfieldvia the Steam Beta. It focuses on quality-of-life improvements, quest fixes, and several more changes stretching across a few areas, including its graphics. With about 40 fixes directed toward the graphics, Reddit user TERAB1T demonstrated a comparison ofStarfieldin its current version (left) to the 1.9.47.0 beta (right). The video showcases tremendous results, with the right side exhibiting improved lighting compared to the 1.8.88 version ofStarfield. The video only shows the player character interacting with Franchesca “Frankie” Moore, anNPC inStarfieldwho resides on planet Neon. However, the video shows just how much has changed since December 2023.
One of the issues that users pointed to in the comments was the spotlight lighting effect inStarfield. In essence, the spotlight effect is lighting that brightly shines over a character, illuminating specific areas like their head and shoulders. The video shows the changes in the effect to the point where it’s non-existent in version 1.9.47.0 ofStarfield. Other comments lauded the graphical updates, though some users shared their complaints about the game’s filter. “It’s that dang muddy-brown desaturation filter [Neon] has. It just makes the whole planet feel washed out and murky, and not the good kind of murky,” wrote one user.
The above video shows only a fraction of the changes available forStarfieldupdate 1.9.47.0 in the Steam Beta. Moreover, Bethesda will continue to administer updates every six weeks as part of theStarfieldroadmap for 2024.
Starfield
WHERE TO PLAY
Starfield is the first new universe in 25 years from Bethesda Game Studios, the award-winning creators of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Fallout 4. In this next generation role-playing game set amongst the stars, create any character you want and explore with unparalleled freedom as you embark on an epic journey to answer humanity’s greatest mystery.The year is 2330. Humanity has ventured beyond our solar system, settling new planets, and living as a spacefaring people. From humble beginnings as a space miner, you will join Constellation – the last group of space explorers seeking rare artifacts throughout the galaxy – and navigate the vast expanse of the Settled Systems in Bethesda Game Studios’ biggest and most ambitious game.
