Bethesda had ambitious plans to incorporate gore and dismemberment mechanics into Starfield, but these were ultimately scrapped due to technical challenges. Dennis Mejillones, a former character artist who worked on The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, Fallout 4, and Starfield, explained to Kiwi Talkz that the complexity of integrating these mechanics with space suits proved too difficult. "There were numerous technical implications with the different suits," he noted. "You have to cut the helmet in a specific way for it to come off, and then there's the flesh underneath to consider."

Mejillones elaborated on the intricacies involved: "We developed systems for all of this, but it became a complex mess. With all the hoses on the helmets and the ability to significantly change the body size through the character creator, it just became unmanageable."

Some fans expressed disappointment over the absence of these mechanics in Starfield, Bethesda's first full single-player RPG in eight years, especially since they were featured in Fallout 4. However, Mejillones pointed out that such mechanics fit better within the humorous tone of Fallout. "It's part of the fun," he remarked.

Starfield was released in September 2023 and has since attracted over 15 million players. IGN's 7/10 review praised the game's "expansive roleplaying quests and respectable combat," despite acknowledging the challenges it faced.

Recently, another former Bethesda developer highlighted the unexpectedly high number of loading screens in Starfield, particularly in the city of Neon. Since its launch, Bethesda has made efforts to enhance the game, including the introduction of a 60fps performance mode. The expansion, Shattered Space, was released in September, further expanding the Starfield universe.