A group of devoted Starfield enthusiasts has taken to social media to express their disappointment about their characters' fingers intersecting with every pistol model in the game. Their concerns join a growing list of complaints raised by the fan base since the release of Starfield.
Clipping issues have irked gamers for nearly as long as video games have been around, particularly becoming more common with the advent of 3D graphics in the '90s. Various forms of clipping share the common aspect of improperly rendering overlapping object geometries, resulting in multiple assets intersecting or passing through each other.
Similar to many other expansive games, Starfield encounters graphical glitches, including clipping issues. However, the prevalence of clipping problems, particularly concerning pistols, has sparked a heated discussion within the fandom. This conversation gained momentum when a Reddit user named kronograf labeled the handgun design in the game as "lazy." Supporting the critique with screenshots of their character wielding several pistols, the user highlighted how their fingers intersected with every single one to different degrees.
The posted image quickly gained thousands of upvotes, reflecting a consensus among a portion of the Starfield fandom aligned with kronograf's sentiments. The discussion extended beyond just handgun clipping issues, as highlighted by remarks such as Reddit user Crumboa's observation about the Coachman rifle lacking a trigger in the game.
Despite the thread focusing primarily on the pistol problem and rapidly making its way to the top of the game's largest subreddit, the reactions were mixed. Some fans downplayed clipping as a non-issue, while others humorously exaggerated it, deeming Starfield "literally unplayable." A segment of fans pointed out that clipping problems are not unique to Bethesda's latest title and are common in games featuring various weaponry.
For players troubled by clipping concerns, there's potential relief from the modding community in the future. However, a complete fix for clipping, through a comprehensive overhaul of collision detection, might not be achievable until Bethesda launches Starfield's Creation Kit. The studio announced plans to release the official mod tools around early 2024.
