Bethesda has one particular look in mind when it comes to its next space RPG, starfieldand that look is “NASA-Punk”.
As depicted by the game’s lead artist Istvan Pely in a recent Xbox news post, NASA-Punk is a term coined by the Starfield development team “to describe a science fiction universe that is a little more grounded and relatable”. Pely explains that the team “wanted a very realistic view,” adding, “You can draw a line from current space technology and extrapolate from there into the future so it’s believable and relatable.”
The game’s lead animator Rick Vicens explains that the term has proven to be incredibly useful in creating an aesthetically consistent world. “What’s really interesting is how much we all cling to this concept,” says Vicens.
“When you said NASA-Punk, the art team could instantly take those two words and make them work. It was the perfect term for our art direction and keeping everyone in the same flow and working with a consistent style. For me, it’s over. At the beginning of the project, I think this term was fundamental for us.”
The interview was accompanied by a short video titled “Painting a Journey Through Space” which offers a behind-the-scenes look at artist Mike Butkus creating Starfield’s “Journey Through Space” artwork.
Through the Xbox Wire post, Microsoft is offering two fans a chance to win one of the graphics seen in the video, signed by Mike Butkus and game director Todd Howard. According to the post, all you need to do to enter is enter the game. constellation community until March 31, 2022. Those who are already in the group are already registered, with the rules declaring the winner will be drawn after this period.
Analysis: Seeing the line through
If the brief video that accompanied this interview wasn’t enough to take a look at Starfield’s art so you get a full sense of what Bethesda’s NASA-Punk aesthetic is all about, there are already a few previously released concept art videos to choose from.
Before now, we were took a look in an overview of the game’s overall setting, known as ‘The Settled Systems’, as well as art for three of the game’s main cities, all with quite contrasting appearances. Knowing that NASA-Punk is a style that unites the game, it’s worth revisiting the art to choose elements and get a better sense of Bethesda’s “vision of a reality-based future”. A believable future and, although not always the most welcoming, at least familiar.”
Starfield’s release date is still slated for November 11, 2022, so we expect to learn a lot more about the game in the remainder of this year, with Todd Howard highlighting summer as a key time in a year. AMA on Reddit. When Starfield is released, it will be playable on PC and Xbox Series Xwith one day Xbox Game Pass release.
