Starfield introduces its first companion in a new video

techradar.com:

In a new behind-the-scenes video, Bethesda has introduced one of the companions that players will meet in Starfield: a robot called Vasco. 

The video, published to the Bethesda Softworks YouTube channel, is only just over a minute long but it gives an overview of Vasco’s origins and how the robot will be helpful to the player on their adventure, alongside some new concept art.

Starfield’s Lead Artist, Istvan Pely, introduces Vasco as one of the development team’s “favorite companions in the game”. Vasco is, according to Pely, Constellation’s expeditionary robot who has been refurbished by the space exploration organization “to meet the requirements” of its mission. 

Pely describes Vasco as a “utilitarian, heavy industrial machine well-suited to the rigors of space travel.” Vasco's primary role is, apparently, “peaceful” as, while he does have defensive capabilities, he’s especially well-suited to travelling across rough terrain while loaded up with items that are useful for “extended overland journeys.”  

Described as a “reliable companion” that the player can “depend on”, Vasco strikes us, on this brief first impression, as the kind of companion you keep around because they’re useful, rather than because they have a sparkling wit. Still, that’s no bad thing and no guarantee that we won’t get emotionally attached to his old, dented panels anyway.

We’re expecting to meet Vasco on November 11 this year, which remains Starfield’s scheduled release date. The game will be playable on PC and on Xbox Series X as a console exclusive, with a day one release on Xbox Game Pass.

This isn’t actually the first time we’ve caught a glimpse of Vasco, even if it is our formal introduction to the robot companion. We last saw a very brief clip of