Starfield is Bethesda’s long-anticipated new space game, which has fans buzzing with excitement over its massive open world and unique “NASA Punk” aesthetic. It also marks the first major release from the studio since Microsoft’s acquisition of its parent company Zenimax in 2021, and it serves as a litmus test for Xbox’s ability to deliver on the huge first-party titles that drive subscriptions on Game Pass and console sales.
The game recently received an impressive deep dive during an Xbox Games Showcase, revealing details of its massive world and gameplay systems. But if you’re planning to pick up the new Starfield Xbox controller, it might be worth keeping in mind that it bundles an extra feature that wasn’t detailed during the Showcase: a dynamic background on your console’s home screen.
As pointed out in a Twitter post by The Verge’s Tom Warren, the Starfield background is nice and all, but it’s fairly lowkey compared to other dynamic backgrounds that have been released for other games. It’s mostly just a few swirls with what looks like some starry background on a dark background that pulses quietly in the corner of your screen.
It’s not a bad thing, but it is a bit of a letdown considering the level of hype surrounding the game. Considering how much time and money went into the Creation Engine that powers Starfield, you’d think that the team could have built something more impressive than a simple, boring wallpaper.
Nevertheless, it is a good way to get excited for the game and will serve as an incentive to purchase the new controller. For those not in the market for a special edition controller, there’s always the option to add the Dynamic Background manually on other Xbox Series X and Series S consoles through the Settings app.
If you’re eager to check out the new background and all its features, be sure to grab the free update on your Xbox One system. It will be available starting September 6 for both the Xbox Series X and Series S.
This is the second dynamic background that has been bundled with an Xbox controller, following 2021’s Halo Infinite. It’s not outside the realm of possibility for the company to release a different background for every big first-party game it releases going forward, especially considering how popular these backgrounds have been for both Xbox and third-party console owners.
Are you excited to play Starfield when it releases this fall? Do you hope the game will live up to the expectations of its early hype, or do you think it’s better to stick with a known staple for now after Fallout 76’s disastrous launch? Sound off in the comments below.