To really hook gamers, the outposts will need to incentivize players to build them and use them frequently, or else they run the risk of being a forgotten feature. This can be done by focusing on the resource acquisition abilities of outposts, which can be used to encourage players to use outposts and explore more of The Settled Systems. It can be pulled off, as other games have managed to make safe houses and outposts that gave players adequate reason to use them.
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Starfield and Its Outposts
Bethesda’s Starfield is an upcoming sci-fi game that will have gamers exploring the cosmos. It takes place in the 2300s, in a corner of the universe known as The Settled Systems. This location has suffered war, with the primary battling parties being the United Colonies and the Freestar Collective. However, by the time the game begins, a period of uneasy peace has begun, allowing players to embark on some exploration. Players have endless choice regarding what they wish to do, whether it be exploring distant constellations, joining their local faction, or discovering what life forms dwell on the planets.
As trailers have revealed, The Settled Systems is a mind-bogglingly vast place. Fortunately, players will be able to commandeer spaceships to navigate the enormous stretches of outer space. When they touch down on a new planet, it will be possible to set up an outpost. Bethesda gamers will not be completely lost with these, as they share several similarities with the camps in Fallout 76. However, there are enough additions to make it feel like a unique feature.
Because Starfield has yet to hit shelves, there is still plenty that is unknown about the outposts. For example, it is still a mystery whether factors like gravity and weather will affect outposts. Nevertheless, trailers have shown enough to get players intrigued. Players will require resources to build outposts, and outposts that are big enough will be able to passively generate resources for players. Known resources include Iron, Aluminum, Sealant, and Nickel. This is incredibly useful, as the resources can be used for crafting, sold for money, or used to build more outposts. Additionally, players will be able to use outposts to store items.
Once an outpost has been constructed, it will require local power generation to keep running. How much power it needs will depend on what kind of structures have been built. Known structures in Starfield include the Science Hab, Military Hab, Small Hex Hab, and Watchtower. Some outposts will also require a crew to maintain them, though not much is currently known about crew acquisition. It appears that outposts will be quite useful, and players will likely find themselves building and using them quite frequently. However, Starfield isn’t the first game to feature safe houses. If it wants to stand out, the outposts need to give players meaningful incentives to use them.
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The Safe Houses of Other Games
Many other games have implemented safe houses and outposts, with varying levels of success. Those that were most effective gave players a reason to use them while complementing the game’s theme and story. This was the case with the Private Rooms of Death Stranding, which provide a welcome moment of solitude for Sam Bridges to recuperate after a long delivery. Here, he can shower, manage his weapons and outfits, listen to music, and check his emails.
Also directed by Hideo Kojima, Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain features Mother Base. It’s a great place for Snake to shower, practice his CQC on his staff, play with D-Dog, and complete a few challenges. Mother Base worked because, in addition to allowing players to plan their next move and sharpen their skills, it provided incentives for players to visit by giving them a place to shower. If Snake doesn’t shower for long enough, it reduces his reaction time and maximum health. Starfield can implement its outposts similarly, enhancing gameplay while motivating players to build more outposts.
How Starfield’s Outposts Can Offer Meaningful Incentives
One of the biggest problems that Starfield will have to overcome is also its biggest asset - its map. The Settled Systems is huge, and according to Bethesda, gamers can expect more than 1,000 planets to explore in Starfield. Though this is an exciting thought, it presents the very real possibility that players will quickly run out of motivation to continue exploring, especially if the various planets aren’t sufficiently varied, or there aren’t enough reasons to venture beyond the main missions.
This issue can be partially mitigated through the outposts. Different outposts on different planets should produce varied resources, with outposts on the more exotic planets producing the rarest resources. This would give gamers incentive to visit the various planets and set up their outposts to begin the resource acquisition process, especially if resources have many uses within Starfield. This would also motivate players to upgrade their outposts to increase their resource production abilities.
In addition to being able to construct outposts, players will be able to build and customize spaceships in Starfield. These ships can also be used to engage in battles, which should make for some pretty exhilarating moments. The level of customization that has been demonstrated is impressive, and if both outposts and spaceships are given adequate importance in Starfield, they could become elements that players spend hours on.
Starfield is scheduled to release in 2023 on PC and Xbox Series X/S.
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