A dedicated Starfield modder is endeavoring to bridge the gap between the game's planetary surfaces and the vastness of space, aiming to eliminate the loading screens that interrupt the flight experience. The mod, titled Seamless Planet Takeoffs, seeks to create a more fluid transition for players departing a planet's atmosphere.
Since its launch, Starfield has been criticized by some players for its segmented nature, with loading screens separating planetary exploration from space flight. While Bethesda has made improvements, such as enabling flight between planets within the same solar system, the desire for a continuous journey akin to titles like No Man's Sky has persisted. This new mod attempts to address the take-off sequence specifically.
According to the mod's creator, identified as 0xBobby, the mod's objective is to remove the loading screen upon taking off from a planet. It achieves this by spawning the player's ship above the landing site, aiming for a seamless transition. The mod is currently in a beta phase and may contain bugs. The success of the seamlessness is noted to be dependent on planetary atmospheric and weather conditions, with ongoing efforts to refine the process.
Footage of the mod in action demonstrates a shift from the standard third-person view to a first-person cockpit perspective during take-off. While a transition is still present between the planet's environment and orbit, the mod endeavors to disguise it by spawning the ship in the correct location and replicating the visual environment to mask the loading process. The result is an experience that feels less disjointed than the base game.
However, the modder expressed significant doubts about achieving a similar seamlessness for planet landings. 0xBobby stated that replicating such a feature would be considerably more complex than the current take-off mod or seamless grav jumps. While acknowledging potential workarounds like hiding loading through atmospheric effects, the creator indicated that these methods do not align with their vision of a truly seamless landing experience, which would ideally emulate the full immersion of No Man's Sky. The chances of this being attempted, let alone realized, are considered extremely low.
Bethesda is reportedly focusing on The Elder Scrolls 6 and early development for Fallout 5, but has reiterated that Starfield remains a key part of its future. The company recently teased the upcoming Starborn DLC, slated for release in 2027. Despite recent layoffs impacting Bethesda's teams, the company has emphasized Starfield's continued importance, with over 17 million players and nearly a billion hours logged. Future updates are planned to include new stories, gameplay enhancements, and additional content, alongside the Starborn expansion. Bethesda also noted that over 40% of players utilize the Creations suite for customization, indicating ongoing investment in player-driven content.
The prospect of a potential Starfield 2 featuring integrated seamless space flight remains speculative. In the meantime, modders are continuing to explore ways to enhance the existing game's experience.