If I’m being really, truly honest with myself, I can’t remember the last time I felt as hyped as I’m feeling now for two bigtime, upcoming releases: Starfield on the Xbox and Baldur’s Gate 3 on the PS5, both due on September 6th. Just how much space these two games are taking up in my brain right now is almost enough to tempt me into watching the growing number of rumor and hype videos, especially concerning Starfield, that invade my feed daily. They are also detracting a little from my efforts simply work through games that I’m trying to complete. Alas, come the end of the first week in September, anything that’s not complete will be set aside…temporarily. As excited I am for these games, I can’t help but harbor at least a little doubt, because it just comes with hype’s territory.
Looking back, the last game that had my attention on edge as much as these two titles was Red Dead Redemption II, and the experience of playing it was…less than optimal. In fact, I flatly implied that the game was “not fun.” I struggled to get through an initial playthrough of it, and I’ve since struggled with wanting to replay it. In short, it was an incredible game that was incredibly difficult to play. I want very much to revisit Arthur Morgan’s journey, making different choices towards the same goal, I can’t get past how much I disliked the game’s controls. My RDRII memories shade the general hype I feel for Baldur’s Gate 3 and Starfield; but closer to “home” are the ones I have of both Fallout 4 and Fallout 76, with the former somewhat paralleling RDRII, and the latter having a memorably disastrous launch.
My first Fallout game was Fallout 4, and it took me some four years to finish a single playthrough. It was like a flash in the pan – I played through its first 25-30 hours in the spring of 2015, and then…stopped. Fast forward to late 2019, and I get stung with the notion that I have to actually finish it; because in the interim, I played both Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas, deeply enjoying both, and figured it was just time. Not that time gaps in completing video games are on the order of global warming-sized problems, but still…will that same thing happen with Starfield? I can’t help it; that little nugget of worry is simply stuck. Though, it’s less stuck than any apprehension I feel about the game’s launch. Unless Bethesda’s not telling us something, Starfield isn’t an online-only, multiplayer game like Fallout 76. But it is a large, ambitious game made by a studio that known for games that contain some astounding if (sometimes) hilarious glitches. Will Starfield’s first day be accompanied by a host of online folks displaying its problems a la Fallout 76? (Or Cyperbunk 2077, or insert overly hyped AAA title of your choice, really.) My stomach sinks at the thought.
Switching over to Baldur’s Gate 3, it’s already proven itself on PC. (Possibly a little too well, what with some people already calling it the best thing since the creation of anything, ever. As well, it’s already the subject of controversy a mere two weeks after fully releasing! Don’t know if that’s a good thing or bad thing, honestly.) But, in its case, all Internet drama aside, I’m very concerned that it will be RDRII all over again thanks entirely to Divinity: Original Sin II. Made by the same studio, I’ve not found any level of comfort playing DOSII after several attempts, and I can only figure that the problem is me…and that I’m playing it on console. Again, it’s all about the controls; as well as the obvious fact that it’s hard to map a zillion keys to just a dozen controller buttons. Ugh. That Baldur’s Gate 3 plays by D&D rules provides a little comfort, because minimal D&D experience though I have, it’s a scheme I understand going in. My ultimate hope is that engaging with the game’s world, story, and characters will override any discomfort I may feel with the controls or gameplay. This attitude helps me through the likes of Mass Effect and Dragon Age: Origins, both of which have awesome stories/characters and rough controls schemes; maybe it will pay off in Baldur’s Gate 3, too.
The overused phrase “cautiously optimistic” is nearly where I’m at with Starfield and Baldur’s Gate 3’s PS5 release, but I’m hedging more towards the cautious side than the optimistic one. And even then, it’s a very anxious caution, no thanks to all the gaming baggage I’m carrying. Ah, but what to do now other than sit and wait? Play other games I guess. Twiddling my thumbs and hoping for the best isn’t going to do anyone any good, myself least of all.
Lede image features art from Starfield (@Bethesda Softworks LLC) and Baldur’s Gate 3 (©Larian Studios).
VIRTUAL BASTION 
I really hope Starfield delivers – Xbox certainly needs it as an ecosystem. I’m confident it’ll be good just because they must KNOW it has to knock it out of the park.
Personally I’m really looking forward to Sea of Stars on August 29th, and then Spider-Man 2 in October!
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Xbox certainly needs something since Halo Infinite didn’t work out as well as we’d all hoped it would. I’m just wondering how much it’ll actually help though. Even if it is the fantastic game we all hope it’ll be, I’m not so sure it’ll be enough to move hardware at this point in the cycle. I also wonder if an influx of Game Pass subscriptions is going to be enough to for Microsoft to call it a success.
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Going by the Bethesda fans I have met in the past, I actually reckon lots of people will want to own Starfield, and will end up buying it regardless of it being on Game Pass (as long as it is good, anyway!). I imagine Microsoft are counting on it being a long-term draw to keep people subscribed, maybe? I am still not convinced on Game Pass as a viable business model, but Microsoft appear committed to it.
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They are apparently making money from it if their reports are to be believed. I don’t fully understand it myself, but long-term subscriptions might be making up for lower overall sales. Most of those subscription fees are probably pure profit by now since the system’s been in place for so long. Still, I can’t help but think full retail sales would net them more money on a game-by-game basis. It’s a head-scratcher to be sure.
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The new Spider-Man game does look good! I’m pretty sure we’ll be getting it, but I don’t know if I’ll be playing it. I tried to get into the first one to no avail; I liked watching it better than playing. Sea of Stars is coming out soon – hope it’s a good time!
I’m leaning more into the “Starfield will be good” camp, but it’s so hard not to be wary. The anticipation is really tangible at this point!
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I’m kind of just waiting now too. I’m passing the time with Prey: Mooncrash, but yeah it’s just as hard to wait as always. As for launch worries, I’m thinking Starfield is going to be a toss-up. Bethesda games have always had issues at launch, even as far back as Oblivion. They weren’t always game-breaking, but the state Fallout 4 and especially Fallout 76 launched in don’t exactly have me feeling optimistic. Starfield is apparently Bethesda Softworks most ambitious game yet, so I feel as though lots of really bad bugs are almost a certainty. I still want to play it and am really hoping it’ll be good, but I’m probably going to hold off for a few months and play other stuff like Baldur’s Gate 3 and the Super Mario RPG remake.
As for Baldur’s Gate 3, it’s probably going to be mostly fine at launch. It’s already had 3 years of early access to work the kinks out, and PC players are largely reporting that the bugs that are left aren’t major. Will that be the same on PS5? Hopefully, but who knows. I’m feeling confident about it. If you do play it, are going to play solo or co-op? I’m hearing co-op is pretty fun!
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Our BG3 situation is undecided. From what we’ve heard about co-op, it’s not all that “cooperative,” so, it’s hard to know if playing together or separately first is the best way to go. We’re both going to be playing Starfield first, so, we’ll have some time to think about it. 🙂
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Looking forward to hearing about Starfield, then! 😀
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After loving Daggerfall almost 30 years ago, Starfield is on the top of my pumped-up hype digital play list.
If there are good random encounters and beautiful vistas powered by computer-made data on the 1000 planets that will make me want to explore rather than just shoot for the end of the main story, I’ll be happy.
Premium Edition downloaded and ready to go on Steam!
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Couldn’t agree more, and hope you are having a great time in it! I’m waiting for the Game Pass release and still can’t wait, even with the mixed early access reviews.
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I’m going in cold and have not read any reviews and am enjoying it very much!
The graphics have a cinematic film-grain-in-fog quality to them, and the sound design is excellent.
Only disappointment thus far is the apparent lack of atmospheric flight in the ships.
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