Starfield Developers Explain Decision to Cut Gore Features

Former Bethesda artist cites technical challenges and thematic mismatch as reasons for removing graphic violence from the game.

Overview

Starfield originally included plans for gore features like dismemberment and decapitation, but these were removed before release.
Dennis Mejillones, a former senior artist at Bethesda, revealed that technical complications with suits, helmets, and character customization made implementing gore overly complex.
The game's realistic and low-key tone, inspired by works like The Expanse and Star Trek, was deemed incompatible with graphic violence.
In contrast, Fallout's gore is tied to its stylized, tongue-in-cheek humor, which does not align with Starfield’s thematic goals.
Mejillones noted that while ID Software assisted with some aspects of development, the technical and thematic challenges outweighed the potential benefits of including gore.