As much as Starfield’s universe was under no obligation to make sense to players, a fair number of tune-ups were required to make it fun. That’s where the new Free Lanes update and Terran Armada expansion come in, launching on April 7th. And while there’s plenty of new information to dive into, we also know more about the PS5 version, which goes live on the same day. Let’s jump into everything you should know about it, starting with…
Standard and Premium Editions
Remember when PlayStation allegedly eyed Bethesda to secure PS5 exclusivity status for Starfield? Remember how big a “get” it was for Microsoft? It feels almost surreal to see it coming to PS5, but that’s not all. The Standard Edition will retail for $49.99, reflecting its recent price drop on Xbox and PC. The Premium Edition costs $69.99 and not only includes the new Terran Armada DLC but also the first expansion, Shattered Space. You also get 1,000 Creation Credits, the Constellation Skin Pack, and a digital artbook and soundtrack.
DualSense Support
Starfield fully supports the PS5’s DualSense, from different adaptive trigger resistances depending on the weapon to the light bar reflecting your current health. You can even listen to non-local ship comms and audio logs through the speaker. The touchpad is also host to many functions, from swapping between first and third person to scanning your surroundings, which feels more seamless.
Graphics Modes on PS5 Pro
Much like other first-party titles published by Xbox Game Studios, Starfield supports PS5 Pro with two modes: Performance (60 FPS with “improved visuals” per the PlayStation Blog) and Quality (4K/30 FPS). But what about 40 FPS or even an uncapped frame rate, which the Xbox Series X version received in a post-launch update? And will they be available on the regular PS5? Time will tell.
Terran Armada Lore and Enemy Types
Thanks to Bethesda’s deep dive, we learned a bit more about the Terran Armada and why they are the way they are. As it turns out, they were previously part of the United Colonies and Freestar Collective, but when the Colony War broke out, they chose to abandon the Settled Systems rather than participate. Now they’re back and seemingly out to cause mayhem. Finding out their true motivations is ultimately what drives the plot of the DLC, which will apparently have “consequences that ripple throughout the galaxy,” per Bethesda.
If the Terran Armada thinks of itself as Earth’s “true” children, then one has to ask: Why all the robots? That’s probably one of the mysteries that the player must solve (not that there aren’t humans to deal with as well). But you’ll battle quite a few different tiers of robot foes, from the rank and file soldiers to lieutenants with some variants thrown in. It feels like Bethesda is keeping some of those other types close to its chest, so expect the unexpected.
Incursions
Which also ties into the new Incursion system. These appear throughout the Settled Systems, with some mandated by the story and others made optional, offering extensive loot. Depending on the size and scale of the incursion, you’ll have multiple objectives, like rescuing hostages, setting a refinery to melt down, and shutting down the Terran robots. Be careful, though, since they have jammers which can prevent grav jumps, meaning only Cruise Mode is viable for escape.
Delta
Model G and Muria are companions for base game players, but Terran Armada owners get something even better: Delta. He’s a robot from the Terran Armada that’s been “reprogrammed.” By whom and why? Unknown. However, designer Emil Pagliarulo described him as “not evil, but he’s definitely not good.” Your average KOTOR fan is probably getting flashbacks to HK-47, and you have to wonder how Vasco will get along with him.
Anchor Point Station
A new era for the game demands a pivotal new location where players can discover quests, and Anchor Point Station is it. You’ll have to find it (which won’t be too hard), and upon landing, there are several new characters and quests to discover. How deep the rabbit hole goes remains to be seen, but it does tie together with Free Lanes.
Interdiction Events
Since you can travel between planets in a star system courtesy of Cruise Mode, there are various discoveries and anomalies to be had. And while you could just put the ship on autopilot and craft, chat with crew members, optimize systems with recently discovered X-Tech, and so on, something may suddenly pull you out of Cruise Mode. Known as interdiction events, these may result in the ship being attacked, “or worse,” per Bethesda, and you’ll need to respond accordingly.
New MGP Weapons
New threats mean new corpses to loot new weapons, including the MGP Ballistic Rifle. Unlike the guns circulating in the Settled Systems, these are described as “more contemporary” and “less sci-fi.” Ballistic and energy weapons abound, and you can modify them to your liking. Based on what we’ve seen so far, they have a satisfying kick with each shot while packing a significant punch.
New Rank 4 Legendary Perks
With X-Tech, players can now freely customize Legendary weapons with their desired perks, but the real fun begins at Rank 4. It packs several new perks that can completely revamp a weapon. Thanks to the deep dive, we’ve learned about a few more options, including Reckless, which reduces the magazine size to 1 and cuts your health in half but increases weapon damage by 500 percent, making it a fantastic option for snipers. There’s also Barbaric, where attacks and movement speed become faster and each successful hit increases damage dealt, which is pretty much built for melee weapons. Even the suits get some nifty perks, like Enigmatic, which creates holograms in combat to bamboozle enemies, thus drawing aggro away from you.
Reworked Perks
Some of the older, less ideal perks are also getting changed. Take Space-Adept, for example. In its current form, it increases damage by 30 percent in space but decreases it by 15 percent planetside. For Free Lanes, the downside has been removed entirely, so as long as you’re in space, you get a huge boost.
New Weapon Skins
Crafting benches can have more of an identity thanks to faction-specific skins, and that extends to weapons as well. Bethesda has added “quite a few” new options to the mix, including the Crimson Fleet, Gilded, and so on. However, the existing Constellation and Neon skins also now support a greater range of weapons, extending customization even further.
All-In-One Outpost Module
As cool as shared-outpost storage and a Milliewhale pet can be, sometimes you just want to throw down a base on a desolate planet. A short stopover before going on your way. That’s where the new Elevated Cabin comes into play, serving as an all-in-one, fully furnished module with all the essentials. And you can still customize it as you see fit, moving or replacing the furniture entirely.
New Terran Armada Ship Parts
We’ve already gone over the new ship modules and how they enable functions like cloaking or an EMP. Of course, you’ll also find new Terran Armada ships that can be commandeered to your liking, but schematics of their parts also drop. This means you can outfit your own vessel with a “big new cockpit” and a double-decker habitable area. So if you want to bring a more tactical feel while traveling starside, it’s something else to get invested in.
Why It’s Not Starfield 2.0
Rumors have been claiming that this isn’t a “Starfield 2.0.” Todd Howard has been saying the same before the update’s reveal, and now lead creative producer Tim Lamb has reiterated the fact, once more. During a roundtable Q&A (via WccfTech), the latter said he would “push back” against the notion. “There’s a narrative baked into what that label would mean. We looked at a number of systems where we had interest or had heard things from the community, and we tried to level up a number of them.
“Free Lanes is huge, and getting it to work with all of the existing content we shipped at launch was significant. But I wouldn’t call it 2.0. A number of systems have been made incrementally better. We’ve added a ton of content. It’s the best version of Starfield.” To that end, Bethesda still has “things” that it wants to pursue in the future and teased how there’s a “lot more in the lore.” Regardless, if you’ve never played Starfield, then Free Lanes and Terran Armada would be the best time to jump in.