Bethesda’s Lead Reflects on Starfield: “A Wild Concept for a Studio New to Space Sims, but We Embrace Ambition”

Starfield’s design director, Emil Pagliarulo, describes the creation of this space RPG as a “wildly ambitious idea,” especially since Bethesda had never ventured into the realm of space simulations before. This bold move is exactly what motivated the team to take the plunge.

In a discussion about the legacy of Fallout 4, Pagliarulo highlights the ambitious nature of Bethesda’s vision for Starfield, which remains impressive even by today’s standards. He emphasizes that taking big risks is part of Bethesda’s core philosophy.

“An ambitious project is what we aim for,” Pagliarulo states. “In many ways, Starfield is a wildly ambitious idea for a studio that said, ‘we’ve never made a space sim, so let’s go for it.'”

Using Fallout 4 as an example, he explains that the developers don’t focus on what the gaming landscape might look like in a decade or how the game will be received. “When you start thinking, ‘oh my god, millions of people are going to play this’ – it can be paralyzing,” he notes. Instead, the key is to “enter your creative headspace” and “just try to create the most enjoyable game possible.”

Pagliarulo also commends the iterative process at Bethesda, pointing out that over the years, the team has improved at integrating content quickly, allowing everyone to playtest and fearlessly explore what comes next.

“I think the toughest challenge for any game developer is to be brutally honest with themselves, to play their own content, and recognize when something isn’t working and needs to change,” he explains. “It’s a lot of effort, and it can feel like you’ve ‘wasted’ work, but it’s also a lot of work that lies ahead.”

While the reception of Starfield has been more mixed compared to Fallout 4, fans are eagerly anticipating what’s next for the game, with some reports suggesting that significant updates may be on the horizon.