In a year that’s absolutely packed to the brim with exciting, big-name releases, Bethesda’sStarfieldstill manages to stand out from the crowd. The first fully-fledged RPG from Bethesda in years,Starfieldis abandoning the fantasy world of Tamriel and the wasteland in favor of the stars, space, and the countless planets players are going to be able to explore. And when it comes toStarfield’s Sci-Fi setting, Bethesda has clearly been inspired by a plethora of iconic franchises that have come before it, and it should wear those inspirations on its sleeve.
Whenever a new Sci-Fi show, movie, or game releases, fans are quick to point out any similarities between it and every other Sci-Fi series that’s come before it. And while this can get a little facetious, it might be inStarfield’s best interest to get ahead of its inevitable comparisons, instead turning them into loving callbacks to some of the most beloved Sci-Fi franchises ever made - franchises which have surely inspired Bethesda’s work onStarfield. And, of course, one of the biggest comparisons is going to be the galaxy far, far away.
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Starfield Should Reference One of its Biggest Influences
Bethesda’s games have always included a slew of references to the pop-culture world, most of which can be found simply by exploring the game’s open-world. These Easter eggs often directly tie in with the genre of the game itself, such asThe Elder Scrollshaving a plethora of fantasy-themed references, ranging from broken swords that referenceThe Lord of the Rings' Narsilto a series of items on display that reference Simon Belmont’s quest inCastlevania 2. TheFalloutseries is also home to a wide range of references, encompassing a variety of pop-culture topics fromTitanictoJawstoDark Souls.
WithStarfieldrevolving around space exploration and different factions, it seems inevitable that the game will include some sort ofStar Warsreference at least once during its presumably lengthy runtime. And it wouldn’t be the first time in Bethesda’s history. Being one of the biggest and most influential franchises in the world, it seems only natural thatStar Warshas found its way into most of Bethesda’s games in one way or another.Fallout 4features a manual that reads “Not the soldiers you’re looking for,“Skyrimhas an ice cave with a dangling corpse, referencingEmpire Strikes Back’s opening sequence, andFallout New Vegasfeatures two burnt skeletons with the names Owen and Beru.
It seems more than likely that Bethesda’s going to take its penchant forStar Warsto the next level inStarfield, with its setting allowing for seamless integration between its own galaxy, and a galaxy far, far away. Fans might expect to see some references toStar Warsships and vehicles, with the iconic X-Wing and TIE-Fighter being amongst the most likely to appear popping in and out of the atmosphere. SomeStar Warscharacters or aliens might also make it to the game in a subtle way, like Wookies or Jawas. Maybe Bethesda might even go as far as to make an entire questline referencing the beloved Sci-Fi saga, perhaps tasking the player with stealing some plans or rescuing a princess.
It’s also a safe bet to assume thatStar Warsis just the tip of the iceberg when it comes toStarfield’s pop-culture references. Sci-Fi fans can probably expect to see references from a wide range of other popular franchises, with some likely appearances beingStar Trek,Blade Runner,Alien, andDune. Bethesda’s also been no stranger to including references based on other video game franchises as well, so fans may end up discovering someHalo,Metroid, orMass Effectreferences as well.
Starfieldlaunches September 6 for PC and Xbox Series X/S.
