A Starfield mod developer is dedicated to improving one of the game’s most criticized features: the spaceship takeoff and flight sequences that lack fluidity.
Despite having an engaged fan base, the highly anticipated space RPG Starfield has often been criticized for its gameplay fragmented by multiple loading screens. This problem is particularly evident during the liftoff transitions of planets and the entry or exit of their atmospheres.
There are technical justifications for this structure, with the gaming community pointing to studio Bethesda’s existing game engine as the root cause. The company itself has already made some improvements to the space flight experience, such as introducing the ability to fly between planets within the same solar system.
Since launch, however, players have always wanted a more fluid experience, comparable to that offered by titles like No Man’s Sky, where it is possible to take off from a planet, head into space and travel throughout the galaxy without interruptions by loading screens. Now, the “Seamless Planet Takeoffs” mod presents itself as an alternative that comes closer to this ideal.
What the mod offers for Starfield
According to its creator, identified as 0xBobby, the objective of “Seamless Planet Takeoffs” is to eliminate the loading screen when exiting planets, positioning the ship directly above the landing site for a seamless transition. The developer warned that the mod is still in beta and may have glitches, with the smoothness of the change varying depending on the atmosphere and climate of each planet.
Videos demonstrating how the tool works show that the traditional third-person view of takeoff has been replaced by a first-person camera angle inside the ship’s cabin. Although there is still a brief moment of transition between Starfield’s planetary environment and orbit, the mod manages to disguise it effectively, positioning the ship strategically and simulating the view to minimize the perception of the change.
Although the solution is seen as a quick adjustment, it provides a much more cohesive experience than the original version of the game. However, implementing a similar fix for landings without loading screens appears to be much more complex and, in 0xBobby’s opinion, something he probably won’t be able to accomplish.
The challenge of uninterrupted landings
“That will probably never happen, at least not by me,” 0xBobby stated. He acknowledges the existence of tricks, such as hiding payloads with clouds or reentry flares, but considers these techniques to be overly complex compared to modding takeoffs or gravity jumps. The creator explained that, if he seeks continuous landings, he aims for the complete experience, in the style of No Man’s Sky, but the chances of achieving this are minimal.
Bethesda’s vision for the future of gaming
While most of Bethesda is focused on developing The Elder Scrolls 6 and early work on Fallout 5, the company reiterated last week that Starfield “remains an important part of our future.” The statement was made at the same time that the highly anticipated DLC “Starborn” was scheduled for release in 2027.
After the recent announcement of layoffs at Xbox, which also affected teams at Bethesda, fans quickly noticed the absence of Starfield from the developer’s new list of priorities. The game, which did not fully meet expectations at its launch in 2023, has been receiving updates and expansions more slowly than expected by the community.
“Starfield continues,” Bethesda chief Todd Howard declared last week, in an apparent response to fan concerns about the franchise’s possible abandonment. He highlighted that, with more than 17 million players and almost a billion hours logged, the title remains crucial to the company’s future. Howard also promised to expand “Colonized Systems” with new stories, gameplay enhancements and additional updates in year three, as well as preparing the release of “Starborn” content for next year. The company also mentioned that more than 40% of players already personalize their experiences through “Creations”, reinforcing the investment in creators.
The possibility of a Starfield 2 coming into existence, with fully integrated gameplay from ground to space, remains unknown. Meanwhile, the modding community remains committed to optimizing the current experience for players.
