Starfield guide: aggregate you charge to accomplish in space

Starfield — a spacesuit-wearing character gestures broadly with arms spread open on an empty lunar surface. A blue, ringed world is visible in the sky behind
(Image credit: Bethesda)

Bethesda's new RPG is assuredly here, and as promised, it's huge. This Starfield guide  will accustom you with Starfield's assorted quirks and complexities so you can accomplish abreast decisions as you booty your aboriginal accomplish in amplitude or attack with capital adventure decisions and affair choices. Some genitalia of Starfield feel like abiding to Skyrim or Fallout, but others are wholly new and different, and we've got the run bottomward on how things like traits, research, and crafting work.

For our adjudication on Starfield, analysis out our Starfield review as well. The abbreviate version: Starfield may not be the best of Bethesda's above RPGs, but it's absolutely the biggest, and we'll apparently be blind out in amplitude for years to come. Acquisition aggregate you charge to apperceive about charting the stars below. 

Starting out

(Image credit: Bethesda)
Starfield release time: Here's the full breakdown on when you can actually play Starfield based on your timezone and the version you bought.
Starfield early access: This isn't your usual "early access" game in progress, it's a headstart for special editions.
How buggy is Starfield?: We all know how Bethesda games can be. Here's how the game runs at launch for seven of the PC Gamer staff on their own rigs.
Starfield on Steam Deck: Our experiences and settings recommendations for playing Starfield on your Steam Deck.

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Can you play?

Before you absolutely get started in Starfield, actuality are all the capacity you charge to apperceive about whether you can play. Get capacity on performance, alleviate times, and all the added abrasive $.25 afore you commit.

Starfield absolution time: Here's the abounding breakdown on back you can actually comedy Starfield based on your timezone and the adaptation you bought.
Starfield aboriginal access: This isn't your accepted "early access" bold in progress, it's a headstart for appropriate editions.
How buggy is Starfield?: We all apperceive how Bethesda amateur can be. Here's how the bold runs at barrage for seven of the PC Gamer agents on their own rigs.
Starfield on Beef Deck: Our adventures and settings recommendations for arena Starfield on your Beef Deck.

Starfield cities: These are all the major hubs you'll visit.
Starfield factions: As always in a Bethesda RPG, there are distinct groups with their own objectives.
How big is Starfield?: It's space, so it's pretty big.

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Lore studies

Starfield is Bethesda's aboriginal new aboriginal ambience back the actual aboriginal Ancient Scrolls game. To get yourself aggressive in their new universe, bolt up on the belief you charge to apperceive about the bodies and places we're visiting.

Starfield cities: These are all the above hubs you'll visit.
Starfield factions: As consistently in a Bethesda RPG, there are audible groups with their own objectives.
How big is Starfield?: It's space, so it's appealing big.

Starfield backgrounds: Your chosen background will give you certain advantages like immediate skill unlocks or other perks.
Starfield traits: As in Fallout, these traits will change your gameplay style for better and worse, so choose wisely.
Starfield skills: Your big list of every skill you can unlock and what it does.
Best starting skills: If that big list is giving you choice paralysis, start here with the first five skills we think you should unlock ASAP.

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character building

As you may bethink from the Fallout games, appearance conception fatures a lot of alone capacity to anguish about. Analysis these guides to all the alone genitalia you'll appetite to accept as you activate playing.

Starfield backgrounds: Your called accomplishments will accord you assertive advantages like actual accomplishment unlocks or added perks.
Starfield traits: As in Fallout, these ancestry will change your gameplay appearance for bigger and worse, so accept wisely.
Starfield skills: Your big account of every accomplishment you can alleviate and what it does.
Best starting skills: If that big account is giving you best paralysis, alpha actuality with the aboriginal bristles abilities we anticipate you should alleviate ASAP.

Systems and Tips

(Image credit: Bethesda)
Starfield tips: Here's what you should know about Starfield before you get too deep into space.
Best free ships: Don't miss out on a free ride and complete these quests for bigger, better ships.
Starfield weapon tiers: Here's how weapon rarity and stats work in Starfield so you know you're carrying the best.
How to make money: Collect credits fast with these tips on what to keep and sell.
Starfield persuasion: When guns aren't the answer, make sure you're prepared for some charismatic diplomacy instead.
Starfield lockpicking: Not exactly lockpicking or hacking, Starfield has you use digipicks to break into certain locked doors and containers.
Starfield scanning: Learn how to get the lay of the land by scanning your surroundings on each planet you encounter.
How to wait in Starfield: For when you just need to pass the time.
How to change appearance: If your space face no longer suits you, here's how to get a new look.
How to use the boost pack: If you're struggling to use your jetpack, make sure you're prepared for flight first.
How to sell ships: Here's how to offload your spare or stolen ships.
How to sell contraband: If your cargo hold is crammed with smuggled goods, here's how to offload it all before the space cops find you.
Where to sell items: Shops are harder to spot than you'd think.
Hide your spacesuit: Don't walk around town like a tourist, take that space suit off.
Rank up skills in Starfield: Learn how to upgrade all your skills.
Starfield randomization: Space is huge and not always bespoke. Here's which parts of Starfield are set in stone for all players and which are randomized per playthrough.

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How to...

After you've fabricated your appearance and gotten your boots on the ground, here's what you'll be accomplishing next. Bethesda has done a new booty on some old systems like lockpicking, persuasion, and accomplishment upgrades.

Starfield tips: Here's what you should apperceive about Starfield afore you get too abysmal into space.
Best chargeless ships: Don't absence out on a chargeless ride and complete these quests for bigger, bigger ships.
Starfield weapon tiers: Here's how weapon aberration and stats assignment in Starfield so you apperceive you're accustomed the best.
How to accomplish money: Aggregate credits fast with these tips on what to accumulate and sell.
Starfield persuasion: Back accoutrements aren't the answer, accomplish abiding you're able for some absorbing address instead.
Starfield lockpicking: Not absolutely lockpicking or hacking, Starfield has you use digipicks to breach into assertive bound doors and containers.
Starfield scanning: Apprentice how to get the lay of the acreage by scanning your ambience on anniversary planet you encounter.
How to delay in Starfield: For back you aloof charge to canyon the time.
How to change appearance: If your amplitude face no best apparel you, here's how to get a new look.
How to use the addition pack: If you're disturbing to use your jetpack, accomplish abiding you're able for flight first.
How to advertise ships: Here's how to offload your additional or baseborn ships.
How to advertise contraband: If your burden authority is awash with banned goods, here's how to offload it all afore the amplitude cops acquisition you.
Where to advertise items: Shops are harder to atom than you'd think.
Hide your spacesuit: Don't airing about boondocks like a tourist, booty that amplitude clothing off.
Rank up abilities in Starfield: Apprentice how to advancement all your skills.
Starfield randomization: Amplitude is huge and not consistently bespoke. Here's which genitalia of Starfield are set in bean for all players and which are randomized per playthrough.

The Den location: Find your way to one of the best places for unloading stolen goods.
Starfield Casino location: Here's where you'll find the Almagest and win the jackpot.
Paradiso resort location: Take a quick spacecation by heading to the resort planet.
Hopetown location: Home of Ron Hope, here's how to get to this outpost and its ship parts factory.

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Where is...

Space is a big place. Don't get absent out there attractive for your abutting destination. Actuality are out guides to award assertive towns, outposts, and added credibility of interest.

The Den location: Acquisition your way to one of the best places for auction baseborn goods.
Starfield Bank location: Here's area you'll acquisition the Almagest and win the jackpot.
Paradiso resort location: Booty a quick spacecation by branch to the resort planet.
Hopetown location: Home of Ron Hope, here's how to get to this beginning and its address genitalia factory.

Change FOV in Starfield: There's no default FOV slider in Starfield but there's already a mod to add one if you want to change your view.
How to use DLSS in Starfield: Another common complaint is that Starfield uses AMD's FSR supersampling tech. There's a mod to replace it with Nvidia's DLSS if you prefer.

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System fixes

If there's a cartoon affection or fix that you're attractive for in Starfield, affairs are that modders are already on the case. Appropriate afterwards barrage players began acclimation and abacus accepted requests for Starfield.

Change FOV in Starfield: There's no absence FOV slider in Starfield but there's already a mod to add one if you appetite to change your view.
How to use DLSS in Starfield: Addition accepted complaint is that Starfield uses AMD's FSR supersampling tech. There's a mod to alter it with Nvidia's DLSS if you prefer.

Starfield New Game+: Story spoilers here, for those curious about how Starfield's NG+ works.
Starfield console commands: Bethesda's classic cheats are back for those who want to go godmode or just take great screenshots.
Starfield mods: Right at launch, Starfield modders are already hard at work with traditional fixes and all the old gag mods.

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What's next?

If you accomplish abbreviate assignment of Starfield's capital story, your abutting stop will be a additional playthrough, or conceivably cheats and (eventually) mods. Here's how to get started, no amount what your additional chance entails.

Starfield New Bold : Adventure spoilers here, for those analytical about how Starfield's NG works.
Starfield animate commands: Bethesda's archetypal cheats are aback for those who appetite to go godmode or aloof booty abundant screenshots.
Starfield mods: Appropriate at launch, Starfield modders are already adamantine at assignment with acceptable fixes and all the old gag mods.

Crew and Companions

(Image credit: Tyler C. / Bethesda)
Starfield companions: A list of your main Constellation crew members and some other hireable crew you can meet out on your travels.
How to assign crew in Starfield: You'll want to match your crew's skills to their jobs by assigning them to your ship or outposts.
Recruit no-name mercenaries: If you need even more operational support, you can recruit some generic crew too.
Starfield Adoring Fan location: For an entirely different "no-name" crew member, you can recruit Oblivion's old gag pal the adoring fan.
How to recruit Amelia Amelia Earhart: Add a historic figure to your crew by completing a quest.
Starfield romance options: Here's who you can pursue for a more personal relationship on your crew.

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Crew and You

You won't appetite to go it abandoned in space, so accomplish abiding you apperceive who you can recruit. Starfield has a capital set of companions, mercs for hire, and don't balloon there are affair questlines, too.

Starfield companions: A account of your capital Afterlife aggregation associates and some added hireable aggregation you can accommodated out on your travels.
How to accredit aggregation in Starfield: You'll appetite to bout your crew's abilities to their jobs by allotment them to your address or outposts.
Recruit no-name mercenaries: If you charge alike added operational support, you can recruit some all-encompassing aggregation too.
Starfield Adherent Fan location: For an absolutely altered "no-name" aggregation member, you can recruit Oblivion's old gag pal the adherent fan.
How to recruit Amelia Amelia Earhart: Add a celebrated amount to your aggregation by commutual a quest.
Starfield affair options: Here's who you can accompany for a added claimed accord on your crew.

Combat and Crafting

(Image credit: Bethesda)
Starfield ship combat: How to win space battles and board enemy ships to live out your piracy dreams.
How to repair your ship: After getting into outer space scuffles you will need to repair your ship if you want to survive the next fight.

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Combat class

Space is dangerous, so don't go unprepared. Starfield's earthbound action is appealing accustomed to those who've played Fallout, admitting we'll go over some specifics to be acquainted of, but there's address action to be able for as well.

Starfield address combat: How to win amplitude battles and lath adversary ships to alive out your piracy dreams.
How to adjustment your ship: Afterwards accepting into alien amplitude scuffles you will charge to adjustment your address if you appetite to survive the abutting fight.

Starfield outpost building: Here's how to get started building your own terrestrial base wherever you please in Starfield.
Starfield ship building: How to start customizing your craft with the ship builder
Starfield crafting and research: If you want better guns and equipment, you'll need to invest in researching how to craft them all.
How to create a cargo link: Once you've started raking in resources, you'll need to transfer materials between outposts with a handy cargo link pad.
High-Tensile Spidroin: Here's where to find this rare crafting resource by collecting it yourself.

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Crafting clues

As you activate acquisition assets on all the planets you visit, you'll alpha application Starfield's crafting and customizing systems to about-face your ship, outposts, and accessory into your absolute accessories. Here's aggregate you should apperceive about crafting systems.

Starfield beginning building: Here's how to get started architecture your own earthbound abject wherever you amuse in Starfield.
Starfield address building: How to alpha customizing your ability with the address builder
Starfield crafting and research: If you appetite bigger accoutrements and equipment, you'll charge to advance in researching how to ability them all.
How to actualize a burden link: Already you've started raking in resources, you'll charge to alteration abstracts amid outposts with a accessible burden articulation pad.
High-Tensile Spidroin: Here's area to acquisition this attenuate crafting ability by accession it yourself.

Quests, Choices, Collectibles

(Image credit: Bethesda)
Join the Crimson Fleet: How to join the space pirates club so you can check out their base.
Starfield Sabotage quest: All your options for completing the Ryujin Industries questline.
Juno's Gambit quest: How to decide on a side in this random encounter with a rogue AI.
Starfield first contact: A classic Fallout-style quest where you'll mediate between two opposing groups.
Alternating Currents: Choose to help MAST or the Trade Authority in this quick quest.
No Sudden Moves: How to get the Artifact from Petrov.
High Price to Pay: A main mission critical decision, figure out whether to stay at the Lodge or go to The Eye.
Pilgrim's Final Writing light puzzle: After High Price to Pay, you'll need to solve a puzzle to unearth some new clues.
Side with the Hunter or Emissary: Spoilers for Starfield's ending here, and how to make your biggest choice.

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Quest questions

Once you get able-bodied on your way in Starfield, you'll alpha authoritative important decisions and analytic puzzles forth the way. Get advice actuality for any ambagious quests or decisions that accept you bitter your nails. 

Join the Blood-soaked Fleet: How to accompany the amplitude pirates club so you can analysis out their base.
Starfield Demolition quest: All your options for commutual the Ryujin Industries questline.
Juno's Artifice quest: How to adjudge on a ancillary in this accidental appointment with a rogue AI.
Starfield aboriginal contact: A archetypal Fallout-style adventure area you'll arbitrate amid two opposing groups.
Alternating Currents: Accept to advice MAST or the Barter Ascendancy in this quick quest.
No Abrupt Moves: How to get the Antiquity from Petrov.
High Amount to Pay: A capital mission analytical decision, amount out whether to break at the Abode or go to The Eye.
Pilgrim's Final Autograph ablaze puzzle: Afterwards Aerial Amount to Pay, you'll charge to break a addle to ascertain some new clues.
Side with the Hunter or Emissary: Spoilers for Starfield's catastrophe here, and how to accomplish your better choice.

MANTIS puzzle solution: Don't miss this sidequest that rewards a free ship and legendary spacesuit.
Star Eagle spaceship: Complete the Freestar Rangers questline to get this rad ship.
Starfield Narwhal ship: Where to buy this great cargo and combat ship.

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Ship requisitions

There are all sorts of ships to add to your armory in Starfield, so let us point you to some of the best rides you can fly.

MANTIS addle solution: Don't absence this sidequest that rewards a chargeless address and allegorical spacesuit.
Star Hawkeye spaceship: Complete the Freestar Rangers questline to get this rad ship.
Starfield Narwhal ship: Area to buy this abundant burden and action ship.

Starfield skill book locations: Remember Fallout's skill magazines? Collect these for permanent boosts to your various skills.
Starfield temple locations: Unlock special space powers by hunting down these elusive temples.
Starfield Earth landmarks: Collect the snowglobes at important Earth surface sites.
Apollo landing site: If you fancy visiting a bit of history.

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Collectible clues

Just like in Fallout and Skyrim, Starfield has affluence of abate items for you to find. Actuality we'll absolute you to all the collectibles you need, big and small.

Starfield accomplishment book locations: Bethink Fallout's accomplishment magazines? Aggregate these for abiding boosts to your assorted skills.
Starfield temple locations: Alleviate appropriate amplitude admiral by hunting bottomward these ambiguous temples.
Starfield Apple landmarks: Aggregate the snowglobes at important Apple apparent sites.
Apollo landing site: If you adorned visiting a bit of history.

Lauren Morton
Associate Editor

Lauren started autograph for PC Gamer as a contributor in 2017 while block the Aphotic Souls appearance badge and accustomed her role as Accessory Editor and Arch Minecraft Liker in 2021. She originally started her career in bold development and is still absorbed by how amateur beat in the modding and speedrunning scenes. She brand continued books, best RPGs, multiplayer cryptids, and can't stop arena address crafting games.