Development for Starfield Together, the ambitious Starfield multiplayer mod designed for Starfield, has come to an end as the mod author has decided to take an indefinite break from the game. Created by Cosideci, Together aimed to introduce Starfield multiplayer co-op to the Settled Systems, serving as the spiritual successor to the highly popular Skyrim Together project that cosideci collaborated on for several years with the rest of the team. Initially, the mod garnered excitement from the community, envisioning Starfield transformed into the ultimate Bethesda sandbox through modding. However, as the initial enthusiasm waned, Starfield enthusiasts began reassessing the game with a more critical perspective.
A significant setback that gave modders pause was the altered method through which Starfield managed FormIDs. Even vanilla save games started encountering stack overflow errors, leading to crashes that could only be rectified by initiating a “reset” of the world through New Game Plus. This complication resulted in Starfield players losing more than 600 hours of progress, as they had to bid farewell to their outposts and starships to prevent crashing after a specific amount of playtime. Combined with the tepid reception to its procedural generation, some modders began questioning whether investing effort into Starfield was worth it.
Starfield Multiplayer Mod Halts Development
Cosideci’s decision to halt development on Starfield Together is ultimately attributed to burnout, a sentiment conveyed through a straightforward announcement on the mod’s official Discord. Lyefyre shared this information on the primary Starfield subreddit. Cosideci’s message, delivered with frankness, declares his unwillingness to invest deeply in a mod for what he perceives as a mediocre game, reflecting the overall mixed reception Starfield has encountered.
Although cosideci stands by his statement, he emphasizes that it should not be regarded as a comprehensive review of Starfield but rather an expression of his personal sentiments about the game. Within the thread, he nuances his opinion, praising Starfield’s emphasis on roleplay elements compared to Fallout 4 and expressing continued enthusiasm for the upcoming Elder Scrolls game. However, he critiques Starfield’s lackluster exploration, considering it a significant drawback, as Bethesda’s forte has traditionally been exploration-centric gameplay.
An important aspect highlighted in cosideci’s announcement is the decision to make the code for Starfield Together open-source. This move allows modders who appreciate Starfield to utilize it and potentially complete the project independently. While Starfield does have its fanbase and commendable features, such as its engaging ship builder, it’s crucial to recognize that the passion and commitment of modders should not be taken for granted. The concept of modders enhancing a Bethesda game only thrives when it involves a game they genuinely want to improve, considering that, for most, modding is seen as a hobby rather than a professional obligation.
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