‘Starfield’ release date, gameplay: How a shirt design may have confirmed the legitimacy of earlier leaked images

Details about the gameplay of “Starfield” have been very difficult to find despite the game’s two-year-old announcement. However, fans have likely caught a break and found a discreet confirmation that the previously leaked images may have been part of the gameplay of Bethesda’s newest IP.

Why the previous ‘Starfield’ gameplay leaks are likely real

There was a flood of leaked images supposedly captured as screenshots from an earlier build of “Starfield.” It is highly unlikely for Bethesda to directly confirm the legitimacy of these photos, but fans may have found a solid clue that made the leaks much more believable.

The said clue was found on the “Starfield” shirt Bethesda Game Studios managing director Ashley Cheng was wearing at the virtual Develop:Brighton Conference last week. Fans on Reddit pointed out that the printed logo on the right sleeve looks very similar to the one found on the spacesuit in the leaked images from last month.

It can be recalled that the leaked screenshots suggest that “Starfield” would be played in the third-person perspective allowing fans to see the playable character in a spacesuit. While the leaks do not say much about specific gameplay details, they present the potential first look at the protagonist’s attire that includes a logo patch on the right sleeve. The design of both logos on Cheng’s shirt and the one on the leaks appear to mostly feature diamond shapes in the same arrangement.

Of course, it is only wise to take these leaks and clues with a grain of salt. But seeing these similarities between supposed screenshots and a shirt donned by a developer inevitably adds weight to the leaks.

‘Starfield’ release date: Would it launch in 2021?

Even though “Starfield” is a new IP, Bethesda’s long history of delivering successful AAA games is enough to excite video game fans. Unfortunately, the studio would not confirm anything other than it is still in development. In the same conference, Bethesda Game Studios director Todd Howard only said the wait for the game is “going to be a while.” Judging from that statement, it seems like a 2021 release date is still far-fetched.