Starfield’s Free Lanes Update Improves Expert/Master Lock Loot, Bounty Targets in Cities, and More

Bethesda's biggest update yet for the space-faring RPG brings numerous fixes for quests, the Ship Builder, and other interactions.

Posted By | On 07th, Apr. 2026

Starfield Free Lanes_04

Free Lanes is now available for Starfield, alongside the new Terran Armada DLC and PS5 version. And while we’ve covered the free update extensively in terms of new features, the full patch notes highlight several other changes which long-time players may appreciate.

For example, ever felt disappointed when opening Expert and Master level locks? Their loot has now been improved, and should better align with the challenge of obtaining them. Bugs with inconsistent weapon damage and the accuracy bonuses for the CombaTech magazine not applying correctly have also been fixed.

However, you can now properly interact with bounty targets, which may or may not have fixed an issue where they would infrequently appear in cities. It’s also possible to now jump while reloading Livingstone’s Pistol, the Old Earth Pistol, and the XM-2311. Of course, there are also fixes for quests such as “Friends Like These,” “Guilty Parties,” “One Giant Leap,” and so on that should be appreciated. Various bugs with the Ship Builder have been addressed, and it should now be easier to place Weapons Workbenches in houses and ships.

Check out the patch notes below for more and the full details here. You can also read our reviews of the PS5 version (Free Lanes included) and Terran Armada in the meantime.

Starfield Update 1.16.236

General

  • Steam – Disabled DLC will no longer re-install when launching the game.
  • General crash and stability fixes.

Gameplay

  • Improved loot found in containers with Expert and Master level locks.
  • Reactive Equipment – Resolved an issue with the sound effects for the Reactive legendary effect.
  • Addressed an issue that could cause NPCs to calculate weapon damage inconsistently.
  • Fixed an issue with CombaTech magazine accuracy bonuses not applying consistently.
  • The player can now jump while reloading the XM-2311, Old Earth Pistol, and Livingstone’s Pistol.
  • Bounty targets in cities should now be properly interactable.
  • Resolved an issue that could potentially cause non-combat background music to no longer play.
  • Photo Mode – Addressed an issue that could cause issues when entering photomode while also entering an interior.
  • Photo Mode – Addressed an issue that could cause the player’s right foot to display awkwardly.

Quests

  • Friends Like These – Players should now be able to return the Terrormorph data at the end of the quest.
  • Guilty Parties – Addressed an issue where this quest could possibly not start after completing “Background Checks”.
  • Missed Beyond Measure – Addressed an issue that could cause the player to be locked with an invalid companion.
  • One Giant Leap – The player’s helmet should now be visible.
  • Refurbished Goods – All weapons required by the quest should now be able to be found.
  • Refurbished Goods – Turning in this quest will no longer take incorrect items from the player’s inventory.
  • The Hammer Falls – Addressed an issue that could cause the player to not receive the Star Eagle ship upon completion.
  • Two Tales, Two Cities – Addressed a situation where the player could potentially be control locked if choosing to arrest Tahir.

Locations

  • Resolved an issue that could cause some beds in Akila City to not grant Rested Bonus as intended.
  • Characters should now correctly sit in chairs in the Explorer’s Refuge.

UI

  • Improved and issue that could make Weapons Workbenches difficult to place in houses or ships.
  • Added visual improvements to the Ship Repair UI.
  • Ship Builder – Addressed an issue that could prevent unique or stolen ships from being renamed.
  • Ship Builder – Resolved an issue that could cause a duplicate model of a ship to persist on the landing pad after modifying it.
  • Ship Builder – Hopetech All-In-One Berth 2×2 furnished version is now accessible in game.
  • Ship Builder – Improvements to UI in Large Font Mode.
  • Outpost – Improvements to UI in Large Font mode.
  • Players can now use the escape key to back out of renaming an item in a workbench. (PC)
  • Fixed a typo with the Scan Jammer’s description.

Shattered Space

  • The Oracle has updated music.

Creations

  • A Perfect Recipe: Resolved an issue that could prevent the Ashta from spawning.
  • Updated the description for Plushie Andreja.
  • At Hell’s Gate: Plushies can now be placed in Plushie cases.
  • The “Plushie Case – Mount” can now be placed closer to the “Plushie Case – Stackable” variant.
  • Allied Winter Camo Skins will now show up on the Creation menu when installed.

Amazing Articles You Might Want To Check Out!

Keep On Reading!

Call of the Elder Gods Launches on May 12th, Also Coming to Game Pass

Call of the Elder Gods Launches on May 12th, Also Coming to Game Pass

The sequel to Call of the Sea sees players on a globe-hopping, puzzle-focused adventure to solve Eldritch-rela...

Starfield’s Free Lanes Update Improves Expert/Master Lock Loot, Bounty Targets in Cities, and More

Starfield’s Free Lanes Update Improves Expert/Master Lock Loot, Bounty Targets in Cities, and More

Bethesda's biggest update yet for the space-faring RPG brings numerous fixes for quests, the Ship Builder, and...

Cyberpunk 2077’s PS5 Pro Update Arrives on April 8th, Includes 3 Graphics Modes

Cyberpunk 2077’s PS5 Pro Update Arrives on April 8th, Includes 3 Graphics Modes

Between Ray Tracing Pro for the full ray-traced experience and Performance Mode for up to 90 FPS, there's a lo...

007 First Light Won’t “Resolve” Bond’s Character: “It’s As Much About How He Changes MI6”

007 First Light Won’t “Resolve” Bond’s Character: “It’s As Much About How He Changes MI6”

"Bond is someone who clearly grows and evolves, but he's not somebody who changes fundamentally," says main wr...

Starfield is Out Now for PS5 and Gets a Hype Trailer From None Other Than Keith David

Starfield is Out Now for PS5 and Gets a Hype Trailer From None Other Than Keith David

Free Lanes and Terran Armada are also available for all platforms, bringing new activities, quests, companions...

Starfield (PS5) Review – A Successful Cross-Console Voyage

Starfield (PS5) Review – A Successful Cross-Console Voyage

Starfield finally makes the jump to PS5 with solid results and a port that feels worth the wait.