Starfield isn’t even out yet, and it’s already been beaten in under 3 hours
Space race
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Starfieldmay not be fully launching until tomorrow (September 6), but that hasn’t stopped one particular speedrunner from completing the game’s main story in an impressively short amount of time.
Despite theimpressive sizeofStarfield’s explorable galaxy, speedrunner Micrologist has managed to complete Bethesda’s latest open-world RPG in just 2 hours, 51 minutes, and 42 seconds - an impressive achievement by any reckoning (via VG247). What’s more, you can see the entire run for yourself onMicrologist’s YouTube channel, should you feel so inclined.
ThoughStarfieldspeedrunning is still very much in its infancy, Micrologist’s ability to surgically cut through dialogue and combat encounters makes for fascinating viewing - if a little heavy on spoilers.
There’s something poetic about speedrunning a game that contains so many hours of content. However, the practice of competing to complete Bethesda RPGs in record time is nothing new. According toSpeedrun.com, Bethesda’s previous single-player offering, fantasy RPGThe Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, has been completed in under 23 minutes. “Waz”, a speedrunner from Northern Ireland, holds the current record at 22 minutes and 58 seconds.
AsSkyrimmatures, we will likely see speedrunners find ways of cutting down on Micrologist’s time. However, in these early days, Micrologist’s efforts will surely blaze a trail for future speedrunners, creating a path for those who wish to race toStarfield’s proverbial finish line.
It’s also likely that, as speedrunners continue to familiarize themselves withStarfield’s systems, we’ll start to see other, more niche forms of speedrunning. For example, Larian Studios’highly successfulfantasy RPGBaldur’s Gate 3has already spawned a speedrunning subgenre dedicated toromancing the game’s companionsas fast as possible. GivenStarfield’s ownromanceable companions, it’s not entirely unlikely that Bethesda’s RPG will spawn a similar form of speedrunning.
ThoughStarfield’s reception has been mixed in some respects, it’s heartening to see fans already sinking their teeth into the game’s systems. Plus, with the game officially releasing onXbox Game Passin a matter of hours, we won’t be waiting long to see a whole new crop of players experimenting with the game for themselves. It’ll be fascinating to see what the community is capable of come launch.
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An editor and freelance journalist, Cat Bussell has been writing about video games for more than four years and, frankly, she’s developed a taste for it. As seen on TechRadar, Technopedia, The Gamer, Wargamer, and SUPERJUMP, Cat’s reviews, features, and guides are lovingly curated for your reading pleasure.
A Cambridge graduate, recovering bartender, and Cloud Strife enjoyer, Cat’s foremost mission is to bring you the best coverage she can, whether that’s through helpful guides, even-handed reviews, or thought-provoking features. She’s interviewed indie darlings, triple-A greats, and legendary voice actors, all to help you get closer to the action. When she’s not writing, Cat can be found sticking her neck into a fresh RPG or running yet another Dungeons & Dragons game.
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