The Adoring Fan is in Starfield, God help us

Bethesda’s upcoming space-exploration RPG might not be part of The Elder Scrolls series, but that doesn’t mean that gamers will be able to escape from the franchise’s most cursed NPC. You’ve already read the headline - the Adoring Fan is back. Run while you still can.

For those blissfully unaware, the Adoring Fan debuted in the fourth numbered Elder Scrolls game, Oblivion. As Kotaku writes, once players achieve the Grand Champion rank in the 2006 title’s combat arena, the yellow-haired chap will become - as his name would suggest - your biggest fan. Those foolish enough to let him follow them will probably live to regret it as there’s no easy way to get rid of him or shut him up from making his ceaseless comments. He’ll even respawn if you kill him (and he won’t take that personally, either).

Take a look at the story trailer for Starfield below.

Needless to say, the Adoring Fan might just be Bethesda’s most infamous NPC to date, and it’s now been confirmed that he’ll continue to follow you even to the furthest reaches of the galaxy. During the Starfield Direct yesterday, a familiar yellow-haired chap was introduced, and yes, he still shows the same level of enthusiasm towards the player.

In Starfield, the Adoring Fan will follow you if you choose the ‘Hero Worshipped’ trait for your character, and yes, that’s literally all the trait will do. During the showcase, it’s possible to read the trait’s description, which simply states: “You’ve earned the attention of an annoying ‘Adoring Fan’ who will show up randomly and jabber at you incessantly. On the plus side, he’ll give you gifts.”

Mercifully, it seems he’ll be slightly easier to get rid of in this game. The developers confirmed that there are ways to remove traits, and showed the player character aiming at the poor Adoring Fan’s head, so maybe if you attack him in this game, he won’t simply return from beyond the grave.

Starfield is set to launch (hah) on 6 September.