Starfield's lead designer has commented on the game's story and how it delves into existentialism and religion in some capacities. Emil Pagliarulo said in an interview with Polygon that Starfield's story will dig into the "more theological aspects" of exploring space and the questions humanity has about our place in the universe.

"The real high level of the story is like, 'Are we alone in the universe in one place?'" Pagliarulo said.

Delving into the question of the meaning of the universe could sound "pretty heady," Pagliarulo said, but that's what Starfield is going for. "We kind of go there a little bit, we get into some pretty existential stuff in the main story," he said.