Starfield, a highly anticipated title, launched with a mix of excitement and criticism, particularly around its PC version. The game faced issues with CPU performance, graphical settings, and overall user experience, especially for Nvidia and Intel GPU users. However, the latest beta patch on Steam has introduced significant improvements, which I will thoroughly analyze to understand what they mean for you, the player.
Navigating the Updates
Menu and User Experience Enhancements
While the menu design remains largely unchanged, with still some room for improvement in option descriptions, Bethesda has added several features aimed at enhancing user experience. Notably:
- Field of View (FOV) Adjustment: This crucial feature for a first-person PC experience, previously absent, is now accessible in the accessibility menu. The ability to increase FOV offers a broader perspective of the game world.
- HDR Controls: Unfortunately, the HDR implementation in its current form is lackluster, especially on modern displays like OLEDs. The game in HDR resembles the SDR version, with issues like banding in the opening scene. A community mod, Luma, provides a superior HDR experience, suggesting Bethesda could draw inspiration from it for future updates.
Graphics and Performance
The patch notably improves graphical settings and performance:
- Nvidia’s DLSS Support: The addition of Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) for Nvidia RTX 4000 series GPUs enhances image stability and anti-aliasing, a significant improvement over the previous FSR 2 implementation. DLSS offers presets like performance, ultra performance, and quality, while FSR 2 still uses a percentage slider, potentially confusing for casual users.
- FSR 2 Adjustments: There’s a reduction in ghosting issues, though not entirely eliminated. The official DLSS implementation does not exhibit these ghosting issues, making it a more stable option.
CPU Performance Gains
The CPU performance has seen a remarkable improvement:
- Increased CPU Utilization: The beta patch demonstrates a more efficient use of CPU threads and cores, resulting in substantial performance gains. For instance, the Ryzen 7800X 3D shows a 20% performance uplift. This enhanced utilization means modern CPU owners can expect better performance from Starfield.
- Reduced CPU Burden: The game scales better across multiple threads, addressing previous concerns about CPU load in areas like Aila. Although there are still occasional frame time spikes, overall performance is smoother.
GPU Performance Overhaul
The patch significantly optimizes GPU performance, especially for Nvidia GPUs:
- AMD and Nvidia Gains: While AMD GPUs like the RX 6800 XT see modest improvements, Nvidia GPUs experience a remarkable performance increase. The RTX 3080, for example, enjoys a 30% boost at ultra settings.
- Intel GPUs Still Lagging: Unfortunately, Intel GPUs like the Arc A770 don’t show much improvement, indicating a need for further optimization for these chips.
Conclusion: A Step in the Right Direction
This beta patch for Starfield is a testament to Bethesda’s commitment to enhancing the game’s performance post-launch. The CPU and GPU performance gains, along with the introduction of features like DLSS and FOV adjustments, significantly improve the gaming experience on PC. However, there’s still room for improvement, particularly in HDR implementation and optimizing performance for all GPU types. Despite these areas needing attention, the strides made in this update are commendable, offering a more enjoyable and optimized experience for Starfield players.
