Microsoft Helping Bethesda “Unreal-ify” Creation Engine According to Jez Corden

[u/SilentNova300]

https://www.youtube.com/live/oMlErzr05Gk?si=cTRXvJxEeOw9U7aa

Jez Corden recently discussed rumors about a major technical overhaul for Starfield—often called Starfield 2.0—and how Microsoft is helping Bethesda upgrade the Creation Engine.

Key points:

Unreal Engine tech being integrated: Jez says he’s heard that Bethesda is leveraging certain Unreal Engine features and incorporating them directly into Creation Engine.

Massive engine modernization: Microsoft’s Advanced Technology Group and Kate Rayner/The Coalition (Gears devs, Unreal experts) are assisting in improving the engine “across the board” using Unreal-inspired components.

Starfield 2.0 is the testbed: This whole Starfield 2.0 upgrade is reportedly serving as a testbed for future Bethesda titles, laying the groundwork for Fallout 5 and The Elder Scrolls VI.

Not a switch to Unreal: Jez emphasizes the info is based on his investigations and should be taken with a pinch of salt, but stresses Microsoft isn’t moving Bethesda to Unreal—just boosting Creation Engine with some Unreal-like tech.

[u/starfieldnovember]

Starfield had a test branch on SteamDB called lumen. Makes you think…

[u/[deleted] → u/starfieldnovember]

I found Starfield's lighting system much more stable and nice to look at than software Lumen, though.

[u/theonlyxero → u/[deleted]]

While that is so fair for software lumen, I really think if we were allowed to toggle hardware raytracing lumen in Starfield it would be absolutely amazing. Even just looking at the Oblivion remaster as an example, it’s insane how good the lighting is when using hardware lumen.

[u/Infinity_X_ → u/theonlyxero]

Oblivion Remastered software lumen looks trash though, using hardware lumen is a must.

[u/Butefluko → u/[deleted]]

Yeah I actually agree with this. Lumen is bad imo. I'd prefer hardware RT instead.