The debate between fans of Cyberpunk 2077 and Bethesda’s Starfield continues as a CD Projekt Red developer defends the animations, character behaviors, and dialogue sequences in Starfield. The comparison between the two highly anticipated RPG games has sparked criticisms of Starfield’s outdated animations and the use of the Creation Engine. However, the CDPR dev explains that the differences in game-making ambition and player freedom contribute to the contrasting player experiences.
Cyberpunk 2077 has recently seen a resurgence in popularity with the release of the Phantom Liberty DLC and the CP2077 2.0 update. Players have been enjoying the improvements and enhancements made to the game since its troubled release in 2020. As players return to Night City, comparisons have been drawn between Cyberpunk 2077 and Starfield, which was released around the same time. One Cyberpunk player pointed out their issues with Starfield, criticizing the dialogue animations and the use of the outdated Creation Engine.
The CDPR dev, Patrick K. Mills, who has worked on both Cyberpunk 2077 and The Witcher 3, provides a response to the criticisms. Mills suggests that Bethesda’s focus lies elsewhere in the game and that the differences in design and tools contribute to the perceived outdated animations. He explains that the high level of player freedom in Starfield, along with the numerous possible locations and characters, presents challenges in scene design. Mills further emphasizes that every major scene in Cyberpunk 2077 took years to create, whereas Starfield offers a wider range of options to the player.
Mills mentions that not every game can excel in every aspect and acknowledges that Bethesda is known for its approach of providing maximum player freedom. He emphasizes that the limitations in scene design have little to do with the game engine and more to do with the choices made by the developers. According to Mills, Bethesda is doing what they are known for and excelling at it.
While Cyberpunk 2077 experiences a resurgence in popularity on platforms like Steam, Starfield currently lags behind. Despite the criticisms, Bethesda’s focus on offering player freedom and creating a vast universe in Starfield has its own merits.
As players explore Night City once again, they can enhance their experience with the best Cyberpunk 2077 mods. Additional builds can also be explored with the Cyberpunk 2077 2.0 update. For a comprehensive analysis of the Phantom Liberty DLC, players can check out the full Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty review to make an informed decision before purchasing.