Starfield is the latest role-playing game from Bethesda and is set to be released in September 2023 on Xbox Series X|S and PC. It features some gameplay elements reminiscent of an MMO. However, many fans are glad that the sci-fi epic is a single-player game.
What MMO elements does Starfield have? Starfield has several features that make sense in single-player role-playing games as well, but especially emphasize player individuality in MMOs.
These include:
- the most extensive character editor that a Bethesda game has ever had and the ability to completely customize your spaceship.
- Space dogfights, where players could fight each other like in EVE Online or Star Wars Squadrons.
- a crafting system that allows you to build bases on various planets or modify weapons and resources that you need to collect to maximize the crafting system – typical for many MMORPGs and survival games.
Additionally, Starfield comes with a city called New Atlantis, where peace reigns and you can take on quests. In New Atlantis, trading between players could be possible. Players would exchange resources or embark on various adventures together.
In MMOs, places like New Atlantis are often referred to as a social hub, but in Starfield, the social aspect is missing. In No Man’s Sky, which shares many similarities with Starfield but offers multiplayer, the space anomaly (a massive space station) serves as the social hub.
Overall, it’s easy to envision groups of players exploring the individual planets of Starfield, completing quests together, trading in an auction house, or building a base for their guild. MeinMMO author Benedict Grothaus even believes that Starfield will be the best MMO that isn’t one.
Starfield fans do not want an MMO
In the Starfield subreddit, there is a post where fans of the sci-fi RPGs explain why they are glad that Starfield is not an MMO (via Reddit).
The post appeared on July 1, 2023, and received over 2,400 upvotes and nearly 500 comments within four days (as of July 5).
Why don’t Starfield fans want an MMO? Players give various reasons why they think it is good that Starfield is not an MMO. Some describe themselves as curmudgeons and say they simply are not social gamers and want peace while playing.
Some players also say they have no interest in people who scream or are toxic and would ruin their gaming enjoyment. Some share bad experiences they had with other players in MMOs.
- “I am extremely glad that this game is a single-player. I am not a sociable player; I am an old curmudgeon and like my peace and quiet.”
- “I don’t like relying on other people to progress my game.”
- “I have never been particularly interested in multiplayer. A lot of people scream and take the game too seriously. I just want to walk around the planets in peace.”
- “It doesn’t help that social gaming is an incredibly toxic environment […].”
However, some players added that they would find a kind of “drop in, drop out” co-op mode acceptable. This way, they could experience the game with their friends and complete the story together without encountering random players.
If you are looking for a game where you can explore space together with other players, you should check out a nearly 7-year-old survival game:
A strong alternative to Starfield offers 60 FPS, multiplayer, and you can play it now, even on PS5
