Starfield’s Huge New Update Is The Game’s Best Version To Date

Bethesda’s worst kept secret is a secret no longer. It’s been revealed that Starfield is finally set to land on PlayStation 5 on 7 April.

The port will make full use of the DualSense’s haptic feedback while a Pro Performance Mode and Pro Visual Mode will also be available on the PlayStation 5 Pro, targeting a higher framerate. Starfield’s standard edition will launch on PS5 at $49.99 with that becoming the default price across all platform storefronts.

What you might not know is that Starfield’s PS5 port will be accompanied on 7 April by a new story DLC, the title’s biggest update yet, and more across all platforms; that is to say Xbox and PC.

GAMINGbible recently had the opportunity to attend a hands-off demonstration and Q&A of the new content with Starfield’s lead creative producer Tim Lamb who divulged all. While Lamb argued against rumours of this being Starfield’s “2.0” moment, he did describe the upcoming Free Lanes update as the game’s most comprehensive yet, adding that this is the best version of Starfield for new, returning, and existing players. After seeing well over an hour of the update in action, I’m inclined to agree.

The Free Lanes Update Overhauls The Game’s Oft-Criticised Space Travel

Upon release, I awarded Starfield a score of 10 out of 10. Controversial, I know. My relationship with Starfield has transitioned through many phases but when I go back and read that review, those original feelings come flooding back.

That being said, I can understand some of the player criticism surrounding space travel which was, in many instances, a non-event outside of stumbling across new locations or triggering random side quests. Free Lanes adds new depth to this perhaps underdeveloped area of the base game. In fact, it’s hard to know where to begin given the breadth of what’s being introduced.

Space travel is now so much more than a glorified loading or transition screen. Developers have introduced a cruise mode so that players can lock on to a destination, stand up, and exit the cockpit, all whilst monitoring their arrival to said destination using the player character’s compass. In that time, you can chat to companions, sort out your inventory, or simply stand by a window and watch the wonders of space pass you by.

Bethesda

To ensure that this isn’t simply a passive addition, Free Lanes also introduces a bunch of new anomalies and events in space. An anomaly might yield cool loot, for example. If an event of this nature does pop up during cruise mode, you’ll be alerted at which point, you should return to the cockpit and manually resume control of your ship. There is, I’ll add, a new field of view too for space travel, accounting for the fact that many ship builder creations from players have far exceeded what devs imagined in terms of scale.

All of this adds so much more agency to space travel, turning that passive transition from one planet to another into something far more immersive and engaging - and I really think this will resonate with players new and old.

That may be the headliner of the Free Lanes update, but it’s far from all that it introduces. It also boosts weapon variation thanks to the introduction of X-Tech. While X-Tech is predominantly introduced in the new Terran Armada DLC, Lamb confirmed that it is lootable across Starfield’s world. Using X-Tech at a workbench will allow players to further customise weapons far beyond previous limitations.

There’s a new exotic weapon tier as X-Tech permits players to roll for and apply new legendary rank components. ‘Kismet’ was one such legendary perk that adds the chance to triple the size of a gun’s magazine capacity upon reload - and that’s just one example I witnessed in action. While Free Lanes doesn’t touch directly on the combat, Lamb explained that the various new upgrades should offer players plenty of new options to experiment with. X-Tech can also be used to upgrade armour, ship modules, and more.

Bethesda

Elsewhere in the preview, I was shown how Free Lanes adds new ship building equipment and optimisation options as well as some interesting new outpost items. The latter was incredibly appealing to me as, I’ll admit, base building isn’t one of my personal favourite activities in Starfield. However, Free Lanes introduces a pre-built, pre-decorated elevated cabin - perfect for players like me - that can be plonked down anywhere as an immediate base option.

Other new items include a cute guinea pig companion and enclosure, an action figure playset with figures offering unique buffs, plus a new pet in the form of a creature known as a Milliewhale. He’s apparently a reward tied to a quest added in the Free Lanes update. Cross-outpost storage is also being added as a nice little quality-of-life improvement, and small touches like that don’t go unnoticed.

As for some quick fire improvements, Muria has been made recruitable, new enemy modifiers have been added so that players can adjust, say, elemental damage or shielding, plus the Moon Jumper has been added as a new land vehicle option. A follow-up press release also made mention to “a number of new encounters, POIs, dungeons, [and a] notable increase in variety for players to discover”. The preview didn’t feature any content of this nature so I’m afraid I can’t provide a ton of insight here beyond Lamb teasing ‘Anchor Point’ as something new and cool. I got the impression it may be a new locale or quest.

I can tell you of one major improvement to the New Game Plus experience that’s left me impressed. Stepping through the Unity triggers New Game Plus, but it can be frustrating leaving all of your gear behind. Now though, players can make use of the Quantum Entanglement Device which allows you to store “most things” in the game with some quest-related exceptions. The device is located at The Lodge. Just drop off what you want to keep, step through the Unity and by the time you reach The Lodge in the story again, you’ll find everything you stored within the Quantum Entanglement Device.

Free Lanes is totally free for all players across all platforms.

The Long-Awaited Terran Armada DLC Offers a Thrilling New Galactic Adventure

Lamb next went on to slightly lift the lid on the Terran Armada DLC with the caveat that Bethesda didn’t want to show much out of fear of spoiling the experience. I can say that Terran Armada was compared in scale to preceding DLC Shattered Space, but Lamb detailed that this is an entirely different kettle of fish. Shattered Space was a response to player feedback after requests flooded in for a classic Bethesda quest set within a single location.

Terran Armada, Lamb revealed, is far more sprawling and largely set entirely within space. The DLC introduces a new robot threat as well as new characters, locations, quests, and rewards. “Players get the chance to shape the future of humanity in space as they combat the incursions of the Terran Armada’s robotic forces in this brand new story DLC,” a synopsis teases.

Bethesda

In the preview, I was shown a brief snippet of a mission in which Lamb’s character fought off said robot enemies before triggering some kind of self-destruct mode on a ship. He then had to safely navigate off the enemy ship before it blew to smithereens. This brief teaser looked entertaining enough.I was told that in space fights, the Terran Armada will be able to prevent your grav drives from working amongst other things. If you’re looking for new Starfield content, this looks like an entertaining little campaign that adds some new bells and whistles into the mix for variety’s sake.

It was revealed that the DLC will introduce at least one new companion in the form of a little robot/droid called Model G who you can change the personality setting and colour scheme of. In fact, Lamb revealed that you can give him a “flirty” personality if you are so inclined … but you will be judged by me. There was also a brief mention of an “aspirational” new apartment if you’re a day one player who feels they’ve earned everything Starfield has to offer, as well as new ships.

If you only have the base version of the game, Terran Armada will set you back £8.99/$9.99.

Trackers Alliance Adds New In-Game Bounty Hunting Quests

Finally, Bethesda is set to introduce a small new update for Trackers Alliance which first landed back in 2024. Essentially, this addition offered players the chance to travel across the Settled Systems as bounty hunters. Well, five new bounty hunting missions are now available. With several new targets, contracts, and rewards to unearth, although I should note, if you haven’t previously purchased Trackers Alliance content, the new missions will set you back 700 Creations Credits. We weren’t shown any of these missions during the preview.

There’s More Coming In Starfield’s Future

Starfield’s launch perhaps didn’t go as Bethesda expected after years of hyping up the IP. It landed very well with critics, but less so with players. I’ve always been a fan of the game and while I did think Shattered Space was a poorly calculated misstep, the overall Starfield experience has only gone from strength to strength. With this port, update, and DLC, I really am hoping that more players might get the enjoyment out of Starfield that I have in the last couple of years.

It’s by no means the end of the road for the game. Lamb teased that the team has further plans and “things in the lore that we’re still excited about”. For now though, the countdown is on for 7 April which is set to offer heaps of new content.