Starfield

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Starfield (2023)

Starfield is a 2023 science-fiction RPG developed by Bethesda Game Studios, being their newest IP in 25 years. Set in 2330, the game takes place within the Milky Way galaxy and features over 1,000 explorable planetary bodies, both real and fictional.

The following weapons appear in the video game Starfield:

Pistols

Colt M1911A1

The Colt M1911A1 appears in the game as the "Old Earth Pistol", one of a handful of Earth firearms. The trigger guard is slightly enlarged compared to a real M1911A1, presumably as a way to accommodate spacesuit gloves; this has the side effect of "stretching" the frame, most obviously seen by the larger space between the top of the grips and the slide catch / safety. On that note, the plunger housing for the springs that keep tension on those two parts is missing, though the two holes in the frame to which it mounts are present; in reality, the lack of spring tension on the slide catch and safety could cause them to shift up into the path of the slide, either locking it open or jamming it closed, respectively. The holes in the frame for the grip screws are also present, the upper one actually sticking up just above the grip due to the frame being stretched in that area, showing exactly how much height was added. The large lightening holes under the grips are similarly modelled, though not visible in normal gameplay; they can sometimes be seen by rapidly swapping between different grip attachment options, the pistol visible without grips for a frame or so as they switch. Additionally, there is another pin/screw hole through both sides of the frame forward of the slide catch, which doesn't serve a clear purpose. The small locking piece for the magazine catch appears to be missing at a glace, but actually seems to be bugged to sit too deep into the model.

The M1911A1's slide doesn't lock open when empty; as with (almost) all weapons in the game it has only an empty reload animation, thus the player character racks the slide after swapping mags whether the pistol is empty or not. Though on the flip side, if the pistol did lock open when empty and still only had empty animations, this would introduce a further issue of the slide teleporting the the rear when not empty; a "faulty slide catch" (empty) and unnecessary racking of the slide (non-empty) is likely a lesser evil than the physical impossibility of a teleporting slide. The M1911 also holds 9 rounds in its magazine, as opposed to a correct 7 or 8.

Outside of these issues, the pistol is quite faithfully modelled and well-detailed, featuring elements such as a modelled firing pin, extractor, and ejector (can be seen down the barrel), and is correctly depicted as being single action only. As with the other "Old Earth" weapons, it uses the correct type of ammo: ".45 Caliber ACP". The .45 ACP ammo box item oddly shows a bottlenecked cartridge, though the actual casings ejected from the pistol are correctly not bottlenecked.

Colt M1911A1 - .45 ACP

The Colt M1911A1 in the inventory menu.

The player character armed with the Colt M1911A1.

Aiming the Colt M1911A1.

Reloading the Colt M1911A1. The spring between the slide release and safety appears to be missing.

A third-person perspective of the Colt M1911A1.

"XM-2311"

A modernised M1911 pistol appears in the game as the "XM-2311", implying it is a prototype firearm that was developed in the year 2311 (400 years later, and 19 years before the game begins). The XM-2311 is conceptually in line with many present-day M1911 pistols; it features a different slide with large cocking serrations at both front and rear, lightening groves in the middle, lightening holes towards the front, and a more angular profile, while the frame has a longer dust cover with a picatinny rail, as well as black polymer grips. The pistol also sports a tan/bronze sort of finish, while the barrel, bushing, guide rod plug, and sights are a dark grey. Aside from the rail, the XM-2311's frame is otherwise the same as the game's M1911, and thus also features its quirks mentioned above.

This more modern M1911 variant can fittingly accept more attachment options than the original. Both versions can equip a compensator that matches the M1911's slide profile (due to its modernity and tan/bronze finish, it's clearly intended for the 2311), the M1911 can equip the 2311's black grips (though the 2311 cannot equip wood grips), and both pistols can equip an extended 10-round magazine (which somehow holds 15 rounds). Due to its rail, the XM-2311 can equip a red dot sight or scope, as well as a laser; the race gun style optics mount wraps over the left side of the slide and itself features a picatinny rail on the bottom, allowing the use of an optic and the laser at the same time.

The XM-2311 in the inventory menu.

The player character armed with the XM-2311.

Aiming the XM-2311.

Reloading the XM-2311.

A third-person perspective of the XM-2311.

Shotguns

Ithaca Model 37

The "Old Earth Shotgun" is an Ithaca Model 37, though it features the side-mounted ejection port from a Mossberg 500, a Trench Gun style heatshield, and an MG 42 pistol grip. The latter is certainly a reference to the Model 37 used in Aliens, which features an aesthetically-similar MP 40 pistol grip. The shotgun suffers from a rather unfortunate bug, where the pump's resting position is most of the way to the rear. The shell loading animation and pump animation both begin with pump in its correct forward position, which results in the pump quickly zooming forward to be where it should at the beginning of the animation; this has the side effect of making it seems as though the gun is being pumped "backwards". It's possible this bug is due to the Model 37 inheriting its "pump rest position" from one of the game's sci-fi shotguns, which does pump "in reverse" (rear is in battery), or some similar issue. The pump handle itself is much larger than in reality (as with the AK/VSS handguards mentioned below, likely for animation reasons) and features a cutout that resembles a much-enlarged version of that seen on the Mossberg 500, as well as an upper thumb rest area similar to a Remington Model 870 (or similar).

The Model 37 can equip a short barrel, completing the Aliens look. Unfortunately, the gun's tube capacity is an incorrect 6 with either tube length, instead of 7 by default and 4 with the shorter tube. This is an odd oversight, as the game also includes a sci-fi tube-fed lever action grenade launcher which does get a larger tube capacity with a longer barrel attachment. The Ithaca can also equip a choke, as well as a fixed polymer stock, which, in combination with the pistol grip and heat shield, is rather reminiscent of another shotgun kept handy for close encounters.

Despite most weapons featuring only one reload animation, Ithaca 37 actually handles reloads well, forcing use of the pump before being able to fire if reloading from empty. The gun's ammo type is correctly listed as "12G Shotgun Shell". The only marking on the weapon is a very long string a text on the right side of the receiver, too long to be a serial number: "HL-8210957090114".

Ithaca Model 37 used in Aliens - 12 gauge

Mossberg 500AT with pistol grip and custom choke - 12 gauge

The Old Earth Shotgun in the inventory menu.

The player character armed with the Old Earth Shotgun.

Aiming the Old Earth Shotgun.

Reloading the Old Earth Shotgun.

A third-person perspective of the Old Earth Shotgun.

Rifles

AK Hybrid

The "Old Earth Assault Rifle" is a stockless AK rifle. Its receiver is a slightly altered AKM receiver, but bears the barrel from the original AK-47. The front trunnion has an added polymer shell somewhat resembling a Magpul MOE AKM handguard taped to the rifle's wooden handguard, probably to reuse handling animations from other weapons. The rifle correctly chambers 7.62x39mm which appear to be steel cased as seen in the AK's reload animation, however, it ejects longer and straighter casings when fired.

AKM - 7.62x39mm

Type 2 AK-47 - 7.62x39mm

The AK hybrid in the inventory menu.

The player character armed with the hybrid AK.

Aiming the AK.

Reloading the AK.

A third-person perspective of the AK.

VSS Vintorez

The VSS Vintorez appears as the "Old Earth Hunting Rifle". The handguard on the in-game weapon is more AK-like than the real weapon. The handguard like the AK hybrid, has a partial Magpul MOE handguard attached which is only visible from the right. Like its real-life counterpart, the in-game Vintorez is fed 9x39mm rounds by its 20-round magazines.

VSS Vintorez - 9x39mm

The VSS Vintorez in the inventory menu.

The player character armed with the VSS Vintorez.

The scope reticle of the VSS Vintorez.

Reloading the VSS Vintorez. In contrast to previous Bethesda titles, this armed player appropriately uses trigger discipline when reloading the Vintorez and mockup shotgun, but sadly not with the AK rifle.

Now happy with a proper outfit to go with her hat, the player character shows off her VSS Vintorez.