Bethesda announces that its sci-fi action RPG Starfield is getting a massive new update on May 15. The update adds new features to ship customization, improved surface maps, new gameplay and graphics options, and more.
Massive Starfield update launches on May 15
Starfield’s custom ships are one of the game’s main selling points, though the system has limitations. Bethesda addresses one of those limitations by improving the player’s ability to decorate ship interiors. The main addition is letting them use a similar interface to decorate ships as they use when decorating their base. The update also adds some empty habitation modules for easy customization and gives players more options for door placement.
Meanwhile, Bethesda says it is answering many player’s requests for better surface maps. The new maps replace surface dots with terrain markings and add 3D models for points of interest. The Starfield update also adds map markers for vendors in major cities, letting players travel quickly to them. A later update will also add surface vehicles.
The May 15 update will also let Starfield players change their character’s appearance and Traits when starting New Game Plus. Players will additionally notice some new gameplay options and quality-of-life improvements. These include a new Extreme difficulty and separate difficulty options for ground and space combat. Players can also adjust things like environmental hazards, food effects, the amount of money vendors carry, and carrying capacity. Players can also toggle Starfield’s dialogue camera on and off.
Finally, this month’s update adds new display settings on Xbox Series X. Starfield players using screens with variable refresh rate displays can lock the framerate at 30, 40, or 60 FPS or leave it uncapped. Other Series X users can choose between 30 and 60 FPS.
The Starfield update will also let Series X users decide whether the game should prioritize Visuals or Performance while trying to meet the target framerate. Visuals mode will keep the maximum resolution and level of detail, while Performance mode will lower resolution and LOD as needed.
