Starfield uses Creation Engine 2, a new iteration of Bethesda Game Studios' proprietary Creation Engine. This engine is an upgraded and heavily modified version of the original Creation Engine that powered previous Bethesda RPGs like The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Fallout 4. Creation Engine 2 features significant improvements including real-time global illumination, advanced volumetric lighting, enhanced post-processing effects, and upgrades to animation and physics systems to support Starfield's large-scale, space-themed open world and procedural generation system

. While Creation Engine 2 is based on the legacy code of the original engine, it represents a substantial overhaul tailored for next-generation gaming hardware and the specific needs of Starfield. Bethesda has continued evolving their engine rather than adopting an entirely new one, allowing them to leverage decades of technology and expertise while addressing some of the limitations of the older engine versions