After Starfield’s ESRB rating appeared in header image on the game’s Twitter, its explicit content has been revealed. Rated M for Mature due to “Blood, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Drugs and Violence,” it sees players as a “miner” venturing the galaxy to locate Artifacts.
As players complete quests, they’ll encounter human, robot and alien enemies. There are futuristic firearms and lasers, but you can also explode foes and chop them up with an axe. Combat is described as “fast-paced” with “frequent gunfire, cries of pain, and explosions.” Attacks can cause blood-splatter effects, and you’ll find plenty of blood stains around corpses.
Much of the suggestive material seems to be from the dialogue, while the use of drugs applies to Aurora. Described as “prominent,” players can buy or steal it from vendors and gain a “distortion effect” when consuming it. One section also sees the protagonist working in an “illicit drug lab,” perhaps as a side quest. This probably explains the R18+ rating in Australia.
Starfield releases on September 6th for Xbox Series X/S and PC while launching on day one for Game Pass. New gameplay will be revealed at the Starfield Direct on June 11th following the Xbox Games Showcase. Stay tuned for more details in the meantime.