Starfield on PS5 – 15 New Things You Need to Know

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Even though the world of Starfield didn’t need to be perfectly logical, some improvements were necessary to make the game truly enjoyable. The upcoming Free Lanes update and Terran Armada expansion, launching on April 7th, address this. Plus, we now have more details about the PlayStation 5 version, which will also be available on that day. Let’s take a look at everything you need to know, starting with…

Standard and Premium Editions

Do you remember the rumors that PlayStation tried to buy Bethesda to make Starfield exclusive to the PS5? Microsoft’s acquisition of Bethesda felt like a huge win for them at the time, so it’s surprising to see Starfield now coming to PlayStation 5. The base game will cost $49.99, matching the recent price cut on Xbox and PC. For $69.99, you can get the Premium Edition, which includes the new Terran Armada DLC, the Shattered Space expansion, 1,000 Creation Credits, a special Constellation skin pack, and a digital artbook and soundtrack.

DualSense Support

Starfield takes full advantage of the PlayStation 5’s DualSense controller. The adaptive triggers change resistance based on the weapon you’re using, and the controller’s light bar reflects your character’s health. You can even hear ship communications and audio logs directly through the controller’s speaker. The touchpad offers a variety of functions, like switching between first and third-person views and scanning your environment, all done in a smoother way.

Graphics Modes on PS5 Pro

Similar to other games made by Xbox Game Studios, Starfield on the PS5 Pro will offer two display options: a Performance mode targeting 60 frames per second with better graphics, and a Quality mode at 4K resolution with 30 frames per second. It’s unclear if options for 40 FPS or an unlimited frame rate – features added to the Xbox Series X version after launch – will also be available. We’ll have to wait and see if these options will be included on the standard PS5.

Terran Armada Lore and Enemy Types

Bethesda recently shared details about the Terran Armada and their history. Originally members of both the United Colonies and Freestar Collective, they left the Settled Systems when the Colony War began, refusing to take sides. Now they’ve returned, and appear intent on creating trouble. The main storyline of the new DLC revolves around discovering why they’ve come back, and Bethesda promises their actions will have significant, galaxy-wide effects.

The Terran Armada claims to be the rightful inheritors of Earth, which raises a question: why do they rely so heavily on robots? Discovering the answer is likely a key part of the game’s story, alongside dealing with human enemies. Players will face many types of robots, ranging from basic soldiers to powerful lieutenants, with even more surprising variations likely hidden by the developers. Bethesda seems to be holding back some robot designs, so expect a few surprises on the battlefield.

Incursions

I’m really excited about the new Incursions! They’re popping up all over the Settled Systems, and some are even part of the main story. The best part is the loot – you can get some seriously good stuff. Each Incursion has a bunch of different things you need to do, like saving people, getting a refinery working, or disabling those pesky Terran robots. Just a heads-up, though: they have these jammers that stop you from using grav jumps, so you’ll have to rely on Cruise Mode to get out of there. It adds a nice bit of challenge!

Delta

Players of the base game can team up with G and Muria, but owners of Terran Armada get an even more interesting companion: Delta. He’s a reprogrammed robot from Terran Armada, and the reasons behind his change and who did it remain a mystery. According to designer Emil Pagliarulo, Delta isn’t malicious, but he’s far from heroic. Fans of KOTOR might be reminded of HK-47, and it makes you wonder how he’ll interact with Vasco.

Anchor Point Station

The game is entering a new phase, and players will find exciting new adventures at Anchor Point Station. It’s a fairly easy place to locate, and once you arrive, you’ll meet fresh characters and unlock a variety of new quests. While the full extent of the story is still unfolding, it’s connected to the existing Free Lanes content.

Interdiction Events

Thanks to Cruise Mode, you can travel between planets, leading to all sorts of discoveries and strange events. You can relax during these journeys by crafting, talking to your crew, or upgrading your ship with new technology. However, be prepared for interruptions! Bethesda calls them ‘interdiction events,’ and they can range from ship attacks to even more dangerous situations, requiring you to take immediate action.

New MGP Weapons

The latest dangers bring new opportunities to find valuable loot, including the powerful MGP Ballistic Rifle. These weapons are different from those commonly found in the Settled Systems – they’re more modern and realistic. You’ll find a wide variety of both ballistic and energy weapons, and you can customize them to fit your playstyle. Early tests show they feel great to fire and deliver a real impact.

New Rank 4 Legendary Perks

X-Tech lets players fully customize their Legendary weapons with the perks they want, and the biggest changes happen when a weapon reaches Rank 4. New perks can dramatically alter how a weapon performs. We’ve discovered some of these, like ‘Reckless,’ which is perfect for snipers: it lowers your magazine size and health, but boosts damage by 500%. There’s also ‘Barbaric,’ designed for melee combat – it speeds up attacks and movement, and each hit increases damage. Even your suit gets upgrades, like ‘Enigmatic,’ which creates holographic decoys to distract enemies and keep them from targeting you.

Reworked Perks

We’re also improving some of the older perks that weren’t working as well. For instance, the Space-Adept perk used to increase damage by 30% in space, but reduce it by 15% on planets. Now, with the changes to Free Lanes, you’ll get a significant damage boost in space without any downsides.

New Weapon Skins

You can now personalize your crafting benches and weapons with unique styles tied to different factions. Bethesda has added several new options, like designs inspired by the Crimson Fleet and Gilded groups. Plus, they’ve expanded the range of weapons available with existing styles like Constellation and Neon, giving you even more ways to customize your gear.

All-In-One Outpost Module

While shared storage and unique pets are great, sometimes you just need a simple base on a remote planet – a quick place to rest and refuel. The new Elevated Cabin provides exactly that: a complete, pre-furnished module with everything you need to get started. Plus, you can still personalize it by rearranging or swapping out the furniture to make it your own.

New Terran Armada Ship Parts

So, we’ve covered the cool new ship parts – things like cloaking devices and EMPs. And get this, there are new Terran Armada ships you can steal, but you can also find blueprints for their parts. That means I can totally customize my ship with stuff like a bigger cockpit and even a double-decker living space! If I want to really strategize while jumping between stars, it gives me a lot more to play around with.

Why It’s Not Starfield 2.0

There’s been talk that the recent update isn’t a sequel to Starfield, and both Todd Howard and now lead creative producer Tim Lamb have confirmed this. In a recent interview with WccfTech, Lamb strongly disagreed with the idea, explaining that the update isn’t intended to be seen as a completely new game. Instead, the team focused on improving existing systems based on player feedback and their own interests.

The recent Free Lanes update was a massive undertaking, especially considering all the content already available in Starfield. However, the developers don’t see it as a complete overhaul – more like a series of improvements and additions that make this the definitive Starfield experience. Bethesda has plenty of future plans and hints at expanding the game’s rich backstory even further. For anyone who hasn’t played yet, now – with Free Lanes and Terran Armada – is the perfect time to start exploring.

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2026-03-30 16:43