Ex Starfield developer criticises loading screens
Former 'Starfield' developer Nate Purkeypile has criticised the amount of loading screens.
Former 'Starfield' developer Nate Purkeypile has criticised the amount of loading screens.
The developer - who left Bethesda in 2021 after 14 years with the studio - insisted many of the loading screens weren't present when he was working on the game.
Players have been critical of the amount of loading screens, including entering and exiting ships, buildings, and even areas within some of those buildings.
Speaking on the 'VideoGamer Podcast', he said: "Some of those were not there when I had been working on it, and so it was a surprise to me that there was as many as there were."
He noted that some of them - such as the amount in the self-contained city of Neon - was a shock, and they all seem to have their different reasons for being there.
However, he argued: "It could have existed without those [loading screens].
"A lot of it is gating stuff off for performance in Neon. For New Atlantis, I think it's just to make it so you don't have to sit there for the entire train ride."
Nate put some blame on "the Creation Engine and the way it works", with some people arguing the engine is outdated.
The sci-fi RPG has been the subject of criticism since its rocky 2023 launch, and then again recently after the ‘Shattered Space’ DLC disappointed some fans.
In October, design director Emil Pagliarulo insisted the studio is listening to players’ feedback in order to improve the title.
On X, Pagliarulo wrote: “Maybe it's a game of expectations. Fans want a lot, and we do all we can to accommodate them. Here's what I can tell you - nobody, and I mean nobody, at Bethesda is patting themselves on the back while ignoring our players.”
The developer faced backlash after he said ‘Starfield’ was one of Bethesda’s most ambitious projects to date during a recent interview with GamesRadar+, as many complained the title was full of glitches and had underwhelming gameplay when it released last year.
While Pagliarulo acknowledged his “optimism is in no way meant to be mud in the eye of any dissatisfied fan”, the design lead emphasised he was still “very proud” of the ‘Shattered Space’ expansion.
