Summary
It looks likeStarfieldhas an exciting new update on the way, thanks to confirmation from a recent Bethesda development video. The video offered an inside look of what’s next forStarfield, and a land vehicle is finally on the list. The long-awaited feature has been requested since the game launched last year, and it looks like it will finally become a reality sometime in the future.
However, the addition of a land vehicle also needs to be approached with a healthy amount of caution, as there are serious questions to consider when it comes to the movement and control of these vehicles. Land vehicles will likely be a lot different from controlling ships inStarfield, and Bethesda needs to ensure it doesn’t make the same mistake that BioWare did withMass Effect’s notorious Mako.
Starfield Learning From Mass Effect’s Mistakes
There have been plenty of vehicles in gaming that have given players heavy doses of frustration, butMass Effect’s Mako may be one of the most well known. Notorious for its horrible handling and tendency to get stuck on rough terrain,the Mako is a vehicle many would like to avoiddriving again. It’s a shame, because the design of the Mako is incredibly unique, but the control can be so bothersome that it sometimes sours the experience of a franchise as great asMass Effect.
Starfield’s Land Vehicle Needs to be Game Changers
The recent May update video from Bethesda showcased development of a rover that is expected to arrive inStarfield. As of now, there is no indication when the little vehicle will be coming toStarfieldto help explore planets, but Bethesda would be smart to avoid launching the feature too soon.Starfieldmay not be perfect, but it has still proven to be a successful game, and land vehicles could really add something special to the overall gameplay.
Land vehicles are a major upgrade, and their mechanics are essential for the feature to succeed, especially after such a long wait. The Mako fromMass Effectisn’t just frustrating, it feels downright bad to drive, and it would be such a letdown ifStarfieldfell into the same fate when it’s an important upgrade for taking exploration to the next level. However, there is hope, becauseStarfield’s ship flying mechanics feel really smooth and fairly easy, overall. AlthoughStarfield’s ship building can feel dauntingat times, actually flying and engaging in space combat can be quite fun, which is hopefully a good omen of how the land vehicles will feel.
Bethesda’s Todd Howard has recently stated thatbig updates are on the way forStarfield, and it looks like land vehicles, at least in the form of rovers, are definitely going to be part of those improvements. Despite the fears of repeating another Mako incident, Bethesda’s developer update video did make it seem like the driving mechanics, at least based on the rover footage, could be well into development. For the feature to be so highly requested, it wouldn’t make sense for Bethesda to confirm its existence unless it was somewhat close to finished.
There may not be a launch date set forStarfield’s land vehicles yet, but there is the potential for this update to be included in the upcomingShattered SpaceDLC. TheShattered SpaceDLC isexpected to arrive in Fall 2024, and there will hopefully be some great land vehicles included that are far more fun to drive than the dreaded Mako.
