Starfield’s new space drug Aurora could be the devastating substance that skooma failed to establish itself as inSkyrim. Of course, when it comes to a spacefaring adventure, drugs are likely not the first thing that comes to most people’s minds. However,Starfieldhas already laid down some groundwork for Aurora to be something players may need to watch for during the game. If that is the case, then it could easily surpass the relevance that skooma had inSkyrim. That could make Aurora’s presence it an odd yet effective part of the worldbuilding inStarfield’s universe.
Included in the recentrevelations aboutStarfield’s ESRB informationwas some information about drugs in-game, which refer to the fictional space drug aurora. According to the information provided, players will encounter some rather explicit depictions of the drug and situations surrounding it in the game. Mentions are made of aurora dealers that the player can buy the drug from, and even labs where aurora can be cooked. There is a definite chance for Aurora to play a major role inStarfieldwith what has been revealed thus far. While aurora sounds like it will be serious inStarfield, Skooma inSkyrimdidn’t have the same effect.
RELATED:Going the Hard Sci-Fi Route for Starfield Means its Character Creator Might Not Hold a Candle to Saints Row
Starfield’s Aurora Already Sounds More Serious Than Skyrim’s Skooma
Skooma is one of the things that could have used more explanation inSkyrim.Skooma’s history inThe Elder Scrollssees it described as a dangerous, addictive drug that ruined people’s lives. There are a few side quests that involve the drug, such as getting a healing potion to help someone suffering from addiction, and taking down a skooma dealing operation. There is even the chance of a skooma dealer appearing as a random encounter on the roads between cities. Although it is largely absent from the main stories, players are told about the negatives of skooma. Unfortunately,Skyrimspends much more time telling than showing.
Although skooma is described as a serious drug, it doesn’t follow through. While there is aSkyrimmod that gives skooma hallucinogenic effects, players can take it in the base game with no ill effects, with it acting as a minor stamina potion. While this could be excused by the player being a Dragonborn, the fact that they can still get poisoned and suffer from diseases does not point towards them being immune to addiction. Although there is a variant that temporarily blurs the Dragonborn’s vision and slows them down, it only appears in one place. As a result, the Dragonborn’s use fails to get Skooma’s danger across.
Starfieldalready looks to have an advantage in showing the side effects of aurora use. Although most peoples' lists offeatures that would be good inStarfieldprobably doesn’t include drug effects, it makes aurora more effective than skooma. Using aurora is said to mess with the player’s perception for a time, giving it a direct downside. It’s possible that using aurora could be as detrimental as the chems from theFalloutseries when overused. In addition, aurora dealers and drug labs practically guarantee at least some side stories will involve the aurora trade, which also have the potential to eclipseSkyrim’s skooma-related missions.
The game hasn’t been released yet, butStarfield’s Aurora could have the impact thatSkyrim’s skooma didn’t. While skooma was essentially just a low-level consumable for players with now ill effects despiteskooma’s stated effects inThe Elder Scrolls, aurora’s actual downsides and footprint in the game paint a far bigger picture for it. With players actually interacting with aurora and getting a look at how it is made and distributed,Starfieldcan tackle the idea of a fantasy drug trade more effectively thanSkyrimdid in the past. Aurora could be shaping up to beStarfield’s more powerful version ofSkyrim’s skooma.
Starfieldis in development.
MORE:Starfield’s Procedurally Generated Planets May Already Pale in Comparison to Star Wars: Jedi Survivor’s Universe
