Summary
Bethesda Game Studios’s NASA-punk-styled epic RPG, Starfield, was released last September after much anticipation and excitement. Described sometimes glibly as “Skyrimin space,“Starfield’sfeel and design does heavily channel many elements from it as well as the studio’s other previous works, functioning akin to them in myriad ways. And due to that, the title, though praised for many reasons, also garnered its share of criticism for those items that seemed too similar and stuck in previous patterns.
However,Starfield’s somewhat uneven receptiondidn’t deter portions of fans from combing through its worlds and the vast regions of space between, and subsequently finding them filled with all kinds of Easter eggs and nods to the sci-fi genre. Among these,Starfieldcontains a number of humorous ones, which have often been the mark of many beloved sci-fi works. There is a certain encounter that, unlike those that appear randomly, can reliably be found inStarfield’s Schrodinger System, near Schrodinger III to be precise. Once fans are able to reach and explore it, they will find a mysterious ship called The Colander nearby that hosts an intimidating creature known as The Interloper. The Interloper being located specifically in Schrodinger might, upon reflection, be one of the funnier references inStarfielddue to both their natures and qualities.
Starfield’s XL-069 Interloper and Schrodinger Star System Compliment Each Other Perfectly
The Schrodinger System and the XL-069 Interloper in Starfield
While roaming the vast expanse ofStarfield’s dizzying number of systems, fans can set a course for the Schrodinger System. As many are now likely aware, Schrodinger is the physicist famous for proposing the possibility of a living thing being both alive and dead simultaneously via the quantum mechanical thought experiment. Schrodinger’s Cat and variations of the idea have seen their way into countless sci-fi works since, with numerous takes on it and what it might imply about the physical reality of the universe.Starfieldnames an entire system after the scientist, and lurking within it is nestled another variation on this theme.
Players can then come across a derelict ship named The Colander drifting ominously near the planet of Schrodinger III. Venturing inside, fans will need to navigate its creepy and claustrophobic corridors, and will eventually be met with a terrifying creature, the Interloper, one ofStarfield’s difficult optional boss encounters. Taking a more pop culture angle, this is a clear reference to theAlienfranchise, although from a certain angle, some might also take the monster as a nod to the Necromorphs from theDead Spaceseries (which itself draws inspiration fromAlien.) Either way, it is one of the most deadly enemies in all ofStarfield,appearing itself to lie somewhere between life and death in an unsettling manner. Further investigation into the ship’s logs reveals that the monster was apparently discovered on a planet dubbed XL-069, hence its name, with that combination of alphanumerics most likely itself a reference with traditionally cruder implications.
How Starfield’s XL-069 Interloper and Schrodinger System Fit Seamlessly Together
The point of Schrodinger’s original posit is that it may be possible for things to exist in a state of flux, somewhere between “real/alive” and not, alternating these states in a theoretical philosophical conundrum as to what counts as reality in the universe. The concept connects the two in a manner that’s both fitting and perhaps quite funny, as one “lives” within the other, though eventually likely to be killed by inquisitive (and properly prepared and leveled) characters. While arguably an elaborate joke, it does again show the detail andfun inclusions found throughoutStarfield’s massive galaxy that can be a cool surprise and satisfying to uncover while engaging with its other gameplay and exploration aspects.
Starfield
WHERE TO PLAY
Starfield is the first new universe in 25 years from Bethesda Game Studios, the award-winning creators of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Fallout 4. In this next generation role-playing game set amongst the stars, create any character you want and explore with unparalleled freedom as you embark on an epic journey to answer humanity’s greatest mystery.The year is 2330. Humanity has ventured beyond our solar system, settling new planets, and living as a spacefaring people. From humble beginnings as a space miner, you will join Constellation – the last group of space explorers seeking rare artifacts throughout the galaxy – and navigate the vast expanse of the Settled Systems in Bethesda Game Studios’ biggest and most ambitious game.
