Anyone else kind of annoyed at the lack of official marketing (for lack of a better term) for the game?

[Cy]

I don't mean marketing as in ads, or non-affiliated YouTubers making 4 speculation videos a week to farm views, I mean stuff like Dev Diaries, or more official animations, or official novel tie ins, or, hell, even dev interviews in the lead up to launch? I feel like there's a huge missed opportunity here, especially when it comes to things like animations and short stories/novels. This is a brand new universe that no one has ever experienced, and there's already publicly known lore about the Colony War, so it's not like there isn't material to draw on. You could have a short animated web series about the original expeditions from the solar system, or a novel detailing the Colony War, or anything, really. And it's not like I'm just saying this because I want it. Bethesda has authorized Elder Scrolls novels before, so it's not like they've never done things like this. I dunno. I kinda just feel underwhelmed about the official pre-release launch lead up compared to other games I've followed in the last few years. Am I alone in this? Or do other people feel like Bethesda/Microsoft could be doing more to promote and hype their biggest game ever?

[Crix]

Usually when you see very little of a game that's a sign the game is going to be problematic. There is something to hide.

It could also just be too early, they did showcase this a lot through it's tenure. So really, I don't know how you could say "lack of".

If you don't see much new stuff though prior to release date, It should raise a red flag. Absence of new material. I would be a little bit cautious. Especially after Fallout 76 that doesn't mean they're going to not make the same mistake but in a different fashion. Bethesda has a track record of poor release quality titles.

I think the reality is, there really isn't much else to show that they haven't shown already. You basically get the idea of what the game is about. I can't really expect this game to be anything to stellar. It's way overhyped already.

[Bordric]

Yeah at least like videos of the different factions and deep dives there maybe. Or diaries of those and ships etc. Maybe the move to Microsoft took too much of their time.

[Bordric]

Originally posted by Crix:

Usually when you see very little of a game that's a sign the game is going to be problematic. There is something to hide.

It could also just be too early, they did showcase this a lot through it's tenure. So really, I don't know how you could say "lack of".

If you don't see much new stuff though prior to release date, It should raise a red flag. Absence of new material. I would be a little bit cautious. Especially after Fallout 76 that doesn't mean they're going to not make the same mistake but in a different fashion. Bethesda has a track record of poor release quality titles.

The opposite could be said also. Star Citizen comes to mind. Great marketing still no game.

[Cy]

Originally posted by Bordric:

Yeah at least like videos of the different factions and deep dives there maybe. Or diaries of those and ships etc. Maybe the move to Microsoft took too much of their time.

Faction videos would be great, exactly the kind of thing I'm talking about.

[✠ Code Talker]

Yeah, no new gameplay footage. I wouldn't be surprised if they delay it

[Crix]

Originally posted by Bordric:

Originally posted by Crix:

Usually when you see very little of a game that's a sign the game is going to be problematic. There is something to hide.

It could also just be too early, they did showcase this a lot through it's tenure. So really, I don't know how you could say "lack of".

If you don't see much new stuff though prior to release date, It should raise a red flag. Absence of new material. I would be a little bit cautious. Especially after Fallout 76 that doesn't mean they're going to not make the same mistake but in a different fashion. Bethesda has a track record of poor release quality titles.

The opposite could be said also. Star Citizen comes to mind. Great marketing still no game.

There has been plenty of marketing on SF. You mean it's not enough is what you're saying. Which of course it will never be if someone is hyping themselves about a game they essentially know what it is about and what you're doing. You know there are factions, why do you need to know what these factions are or even about. It's cookie cutter arpg content. I really don't know what else people are expecting. Games are not original anymore. If you have played any Bethesda TES or Fallout title you know what you're getting with SF, just adding in more of the base building with a ship in game developer kit *editor. Nothing that hasn't been done and is over saturated in the Early Access/Indie market.

[Daedrius]

Not really. I mean I'd like to see the game, but I also don't want too many spoilers.

[Dragon Fist Ent]

Its unfortunately bethesda's way, whether for good or bad they usually stay tight lipped about their games until release date, they usually dont even give out many games for reviewers before release. outside any teasers and ads you probably wont see how it actually is until release. fingers crossed for a skyrim and not a fallout 76

[Umbral]

Don't they have some big Q&A on the 16th? So we might find out more then.
However, for the most part I am not worried about the silence. I personally find that far too many companies invest far too much money into these huge marketing campaigns to build up hype for their game, which, more often then not, doesn't exactly meet the level of hype they raised. They should just focus their time and money on making a good game that will speak for themselves. Youtubers and streamers in this day and age will do all the marketing they will ever need. Plus, what they have shown us is more then enough imho, not to mention that I would rather they don't reveal every single aspect of their game before the game even comes out so we as players can enjoy the game first hand with minimal spoilers.

Would I enjoy watching more Starfield content? As someone excited to play the game, sure. But at the same time I don't feel the need get over-hyped to the point where I feel the need to role-play as the annoying fan going "I've got to have every molecule." When it comes to new Starfield info lol. The interviews and the direct have been more then enough in my books to make me excited to play.

[Tenoshii]

For highly anticipated games there's a significant amount of diminishing returns from marketing it.

The vast majority of people who know about Starfield and have seen the deep dive have already decided what their plan for acquisition is. Additional "marketing" isn't really going to tip the scales to a degree that's worth the cost.

It's not like there are 5 million people who are like: "If only I saw a 15 minute walkthrough of going from Planet A to Planet B and clearing POI X, I'd be pre-ordering immediately!"

[Paraskeet]

does the headset, the controller and the watch count as marketing? but I have to agree on some missed opportunities here.
one of the people I work with wants a starfield themed series x but apparently microsoft and bethesda were not interested in creating one.

Originally posted by Tenoshii:

For highly anticipated games there's a significant amount of diminishing returns from marketing it.

It's not like there are 5 million people who are like: "If only I saw a 15 minute walkthrough of going from Planet A to Planet B and clearing POI X, I'd be pre-ordering immediately!"

true and one thing I would like to add is larian releasing bg3 before starfield. people can say what they want about these studios but they are not run by idiots and if a studio with a different formula for their game decides to avoid competition, it shows that some of the worries are baseless.

[Paraskeet]

Originally posted by P.:

Overhwelmingly Positive

I doubt it at launch. give it a few weeks and the review score will change but I think professional reviews are going to give it a nigh perfect score

[RebelStorm]

Microsoft doesn't market anything except Game Pass. They don't even market their own console.

[Paraskeet]

Originally posted by CoronaExtra:

Microsoft doesn't market anything except Game Pass. They don't even market their own console.

they are up to a good start with more than 20m consoles sold and this is before any of the heavy hitters release.

sony obviously has market lead with more than 40m consoles sold but it remains to be seen how it will shape, in the coming years.
I think sony will again sell more than 100m consoles but with microsoft's acquisition of big studios, it's hard to predict how both will fare.

with that said it's ridiculous how many switch consoles nintendo sold. 120m and the release of switch 2 is expected in the second half of 2024

[Mno]

Nope, less marketing is better. They've already shown everything we need to know.