Starfield reportedly features a completely new animation system

What you need to know

• Starfield is the next big game from Bethesda Game Studios.
• One of the senior programmers reportedly rewrote the animation system in Starfield from scratch.
• Starfield does not currently have a release window.

Starfield is the next Bethesda Game Studios title and while it may still be a ways off, it looks like it'll feature completely new animation work. As spotted on ResetEra, senior programmer at Bethesda Game Studios Eric Braun wrote on his LinkedIn account that he rewrote the animation system for Starfield from scratch.

More specifically, Braun has replaced the Havok-based animation systems previously used for something custom that'll be in Starfield and "all future BGS console games," presumably referring to The Elder Scrolls 6. This lines up with statements Todd Howard recently made about how the partnership with Microsoft has helped bring the studio's "largest engine overhaul since Oblivion."

Microsoft is acquiring ZeniMax Media, meaning Bethesda Softworks is joining Xbox, bringing Xbox to a total of 23 different game development studios. When Starfield does eventually release, it will at least be available on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and PC, as well as launching into Xbox Game Pass. The entire Bethesda Softworks library is also being added to Xbox Game Pass over time.

Xbox Series X/S

Main

• Xbox Series X: Everything we know
• Best games coming to Xbox Series X/S
• List of Xbox Series X specs
• What is the Xbox Series X release date?
• How much does Xbox Series X cost?
• Why you can't preorder Xbox Series X yet
• Best Xbox Series X Headsets