In a surprising turn of events, the Starfield speedrunning community has been revolutionized by a simple YouTube comment that uncovered a previously unknown timesaving technique. Since its release in September, speedrunners have been striving for the fastest completion times in the sci-fi RPGs, with the current ‘Glitchless’ record standing at 115 minutes and 53 seconds.
The game-changing revelation comes from a YouTube comment by Foxtrot_67, who stumbled upon a method to skip the cutscene associated with the public transit system in New Atlantis. The comment suggested that skipping the train leaving the station animation could significantly reduce completion times. Foxtrot_67 expressed surprise that this skip wasn’t already known within the speedrunning community and emphasized its potential impact on improving completion times.
The impact on speedrunning
Following the discovery, speedrunners wasted no time implementing Foxtrot_67’s skip into their runs. YouTuber dmrzl demonstrated the effectiveness of the skip, showcasing how easily it can be replicated. This newfound technique has the potential to shave precious seconds off completion times, adding a new layer of strategy to Starfield speedruns.
Community response and acknowledgments
Foxtrot_67, the originator of the skip, expressed joy at contributing to the Starfield speedrunning community. In a tweet, she shared her surprise at sharing knowledge about a previously unknown skip, initially hesitant as she believed it was common knowledge. The collaborative nature of the gaming community, where even casual players can make significant contributions, highlights the dynamic and evolving nature of speedrunning strategies.
Starfield’s reception and ongoing challenges
Starfield, developed by Bethesda, has received a generally positive reception for its expansive exploration opportunities, deep skill system, and engaging starship combat. However, critiques have emerged regarding the lack of character depth and impact in the game’s storyline. The portrayal of non-player characters (NPCs) with what some have described as “fake smiles” and the inclusion of questionable Irish accents have drawn negative responses from players.
Bethesda’s direct responses to negative reviews on Steam demonstrate the studio’s commitment to addressing player concerns and maintaining open communication with the community. Despite these criticisms, Starfield has become Europe’s largest current-gen Xbox launch, indicating its popularity among gamers.
The Starfield speedrunning community’s unexpected discovery of a skip has injected new excitement into the pursuit of faster completion times. The collaboration between players, both dedicated speedrunners and casual gamers, showcases the power of community engagement in uncovering hidden facets of a game. As speedrunning strategies continue to evolve, Starfield remains a noteworthy entry in the sci-fi RPG genre, capturing the attention of players worldwide. Whether these discoveries will prompt further updates from Bethesda or inspire new speedrunning categories remains to be seen, but one thing is certain – the journey through the cosmos in Starfield just got a whole lot faster.
