During the Starfield Direct, Bethesda said they created a brand-new RPG aesthetic for Starfield: NASApunk. That sounds flashy and good for the space game‘s marketing, but in the presentation after the Xbox Showcase, the team also said it’s more than just a look.
The Starfield devs actually worked closely with NASA to create NASApunk, which, in a very Bethesda and Fallout way, hearkens back to the golden age of space exploration – the late 1950s through the early 1970s. It was a rocky period in global politics, and the race to reach the so-called last frontier was inextricably tied to the arms race. However, Bethesda’s goal was to infuse Starfield with a sense of hopeful optimism and the idea that anything is possible.
Your ship, your home, and even some settlements – New Atlantis, for example – have touches of mid-century style scattered around, and the emphasis is squarely on warm colors and bright hues. One of the hubs in New Atlantis even looks like the outside of an airport from the ‘70s.
That style fits neatly into Bethesda’s other goal, which is making Starfield feel lived in. Despite being a sci-fi world, most of what you see in Starfield isn’t shiny and sterile or even based on cutting-edge tech. There’s a sense of homeliness in places, and the library where Constellation meets in one scene looks downright cozy.
Bethesda also used data from NASA to create Starfield‘s galaxy, including the functions and appearances of certain planetary features and atmospheres.
That emphasis on warmth and optimism is a refreshing touch from a publisher whose games so often focus on harsh realities with dark palettes to match.
There’s also a cyberpunk nightclub and a planet that looks like it popped out of Red Dead Redemption 2, so NASApunk apparently has some pretty loose definitions.
Starfield launches on Xbox Series X|S and PC via Windows and Steam on Sep. 6, 2023.
Written by Josh Broadwell on behalf of GLHF
