There was a preview video that said you had to have a different target for each missle. What is written in the core rulebook does not support that in any way.
RAW, they are wrong.
They're misreading it. Each missile can strike only one target, but you can target both missiles (or all three) at the same target.
I'm...not sure why there's any confusion.
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Because the game developers that have publicly run games have made comments that the missiles need to target different targets. It's entirely possible that Owen K.C. Stephens also misinterpreted the text I suppose.
Owen is muttering a lot here, but it's just audible when he assures the android that he can cast magic missile, but that they hit two different vines because mumble, mumble "target different targets."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RmFDrV8k7w
1:08:26
This wasn't the first time Owen made this comment about Magic Missile, but it was the only one I could find with a quick search.
This is why there's confusion.
In support of the opposite (and probably correct interpretation of the RAW) here's an early playtest in which two magic missiles were fired at the same target. Granted, this is an early playtest...
https://www.twitch.tv/videos/115988165
Around the 15 minute mark.
Contributor
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It is interesting to me that the wording did change from the Pathfinder version to the Starfinder version.
If you shoot multiple missiles, you can have them strike a single creature or several creatures. A single missile can strike only one creature. You must designate targets before you check for spell resistance or roll damage.
versus
You can target a single creature or several creatures, but each missile can strike only one creature You must designate targets before you attempt to overcome spell resistance or roll damage.
Side-by-side, taking out the wording that specifically allows for sending multiple missiles at a single target makes it appear that there was a change of intent between the two rulesets.
However, I would require the Starfinder rules to stand on their own. The wording in the Starfinder spell description does not prohibit the caster from striking a single target with more than one missile.
Further, by comparison with other 1st level spells, it would be somewhat underpowered if you could only target one creature. Targeting three missiles at the same creature puts its average damage on par with Jolting Surge, albeit slightly lower due to the fact that it auto-hits at range compared to needing an attack roll for larger damage.
It would be nice to get a concrete answer from a piazo employee/ rules guy on this as GM's and players are still confused
There are so many things that need to be cleared up. This is not one. The text is pretty clear. Only the number of Magic Missiles changed, but it still works the same way.
Magic Missile: A missile of magical energy darts forth from your fingertip and strikes its target, dealing 1d4+1 points of force damage.
The missile strikes unerringly, even if the target is in melee combat, so long as it has less than total cover or total concealment. Specific parts of a creature can’t be singled out. Objects are not damaged by the spell.
For every two caster levels beyond 1st, you gain an additional missile – two at 3rd level, three at 5th, four at 7th, and the maximum of five missiles at 9th level or higher. If you shoot multiple missiles, you can have them strike a single creature or several creatures. A single missile can strike only one creature. You must designate targets before you check for spell resistance or roll damage.
Magic Missile: You fire two missiles of magical energy that strike targets unerringly (the creatures must still be valid targets) and deal 1d4+1 force damage each. You can’t target specific parts of a creature, and objects are not damaged by the spell. You can target a single creature or several creatures, but EACH missile can strike only one creature. You must designate targets before you attempt to overcome spell resistance or roll damage. You can cast this spell as a full action. If you do, you fire three missiles instead of two.
Meaning there is two enemies in the room. You target one creature and have ALL missiles hit that creature. You must designate your target/targets.