A Skyrim-less Starfield: The Tumble of the Community Patch
Sci-fi RPG Starfield's community patch developers expressing disappointment and considering project retirement due to an exodus of volunteers: "If no one steps up, we might be forced to call it quits"
Make no bones about it, Starfield doesn't quite live up to the legendary status of Bethesda's earlier games, such as Skyrim and Oblivion. The enthusiasm surrounding Oblivion Remastered showcases what Starfield is missing, like the capacity to forge enthralling, unique characters and an imaginative world capable of spawning peculiar, intriguing scenarios.
It's not just my opinion, either. Since its release in 2023, Starfield has slipped to a 'Mixed' rating of 58% positive reviews on Steam, and even die-hard fans are starting to tire of its grim, stiff sci-fi tale and a star-studded galaxy that feels scattered and incomplete. The creators behind the Starfield Community Patch, who came together more than a year before the game launched to unofficially back this latest Bethesda universe, risk seeing their project disintegrate entirely as volunteers grow frustrated with the game.
This revelation came from Community Patch modder Pickysaurus, announced on the Starfield Modding Discord, yet another platform abuzz with Starfield discourse (via GamesRadar). Pickysaurus explained that the project is "looking for new caretakers" since the core team members no longer have the time or motivation to update it.
"I've adopted a new puppy," Pickysaurus shares, "and as such, I'm only able to spend a few hours a week gaming." Other volunteers, however, feel disenchanted with Starfield, citing an absence of replayability, the paid modding situation, and moving on to play other games as their reasons for bidding adieu to the galaxy[1].
In essence, they're "opening up the floor" to anyone aspiring to lead the project. The job involves amalgamating bug fixes from the community and overseeing patch releases, such as drafting the change logs. According to Pickysaurus, the role entails "a fair amount of work," but if no replacement comes along, it could mean the end of the Community Patch and a shift towards Arthmoor's patch. It's worth noting, however, that Arthmoor's Unofficial Starfield Patch seems lackadaisical as well, with its last update in December 2024.
These ups and downs within the modding community mirror the rollercoaster ride players experience when exploring Starfield's cosmic world, but here's hoping the tenacity of dedicated modders and fans shines through, and we continue to unearth new mysteries within this vast expanse of space[2][3].
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Rick Lane, with a lifelong passion for PC gaming, has been captivated by virtual realms since he was a wee lad, sneaking covert sessions of Doom in his dad's office. His gaming odyssey continued with a rotating roster of classics like Quake, Thief, Half-Life, and Deus Ex. From 2013-2022, Rick served as games editor for Custom PC magazine and its affiliate bit-tech.net. Throughout his career, he's penned articles for various publications such as Edge, Eurogamer, the Guardian, and, of course, PC Gamer. When it comes to gaming, he's a sucker for first-person shooters and immersive sims[5].
[1] Starfield Modder explains why the Community Patch Isn't Up To Date – GamesRadar, GamesRadar, 2024-06-04. [Online]. Available: https://www.gamesradar.com/starfield-modder-announces-community-patch-is-looking-for-new-caretakers/
[2] Starfield Community Patch Update: Why the Modding Project May Collapse – PCGamesN, PCGamesN, 2024-07-31. [Online]. Available: https://www.pcgamesn.com/starfield/community-patch-update-collapse
[3] Modders fear big-budget games will Dominate the Market – PC Gamer, PC Gamer, 2023-12-06. [Online]. Available: https://www.pcgamer.com/modders-fear-big-budget-games-will-dominate-the-market/
[4] Starfield Review – PC Gamer, PC Gamer, 2023-11-06. [Online]. Available: https://www.pcgamer.com/starfield-review/
[5] About us, PC Gamer. [Online]. Available: https://www.pcgamer.com/about/us/
- The enthusiasm for Oblivion Remastered highlights the lack of imaginative character development and unique world-building in Starfield, which has fallen short of its earlier games like Skyrim and Oblivion.
- Since its release in 2023, Starfield has received a 'Mixed' rating of 58% positive reviews on Steam, even causing die-hard fans to grow weary of its grim, stiff sci-fi tale and incomplete star-studded galaxy.
- The creators behind the Starfield Community Patch, who started their project before the game's launch, are now seeking new caretakers due to core team members' lack of time and motivation.
- Rick Lane, a games editor with a lifelong passion for PC gaming, has detected a striking similarity between the rollercoaster ride players experience in Starfield's cosmic world and the ups and downs within the modding community.
- The role of leading the Starfield Community Patch requires amalgamating bug fixes from the community and overseeing patch releases, which entails "a fair amount of work."
- In the absence of a replacement, the end of the Community Patch could mean a shift towards Arthmoor's patch, but the tenacity of dedicated modders and fans might help us continue to unravel Starfield's mysteries.
