Summary
The May 2024 update forStarfieldadds a good selection of new and improved features, and there’s one in particular that has the potential to make it feel like a different experience entirely.Starfieldpromised a lot as a take on RPG space exploration from the acclaimed developer Bethesda Game Studios, but the version of the game that hit store shelves at launch ended up being a disappointment for many. While it might have already been the perfect experience for some, the potential for exploration to feel bland and repetitive could definitely be a problem.
Post-launch supportdidn’t significantly progress the game in 2023, but theMay 2024Starfieldupdateshows that the team hasn’t just been sitting idly by. Some commonly-requested features like more robust maps and interiorship decoration options are now in the game, and it doesn’t take long after starting it up again to notice some of the larger overhauls.Other changes can be hidden within menu options; however, and missing out on a toggle that might completely change howStarfieldfeels to play is a mistake that’s all too easy to make.
Starfield’s May Update Was Good, But One Key Ship Building Feature Still Needs Improvement
Ship building just got a lot better in Starfield, but that doesn’t mean it’s where it should be yet, and the biggest fix is pretty simple.
Environmental Damage Makes Starfield More Interesting
Planetary Conditions Can Be A Real Threat Now
Starfieldhas added a lot of Gameplay Options to its settings with the May update, and somenew inclusions dealing with environmental effects might be the most exciting ones. The biggest selling point ofStarfieldlies in having over a thousand planets to explore, but ifexploring most of them tends to feel monotonous, the appeal can wear off quickly. Letting the environment have a bigger impact on the player is one of the best ways to patch this over, making it so that a planet with harsh conditions can offer an intensity that feels refreshing.
The principal setting dealing with this concept is “Environmental Damage & Afflictions,” which can now be toggled to different difficulty settings. The system is familiar to the radiation concept in theFalloutgames, where exposure to a toxic environment starts racking up quickly. Depending on the environmental damage being done, temporary status effects called Afflictions cause unique debuffs to the player character, punishing a lack of care when venturing forth in an alien environment. There are four key types of environmental damage inStarfield:
Traditionally, this system has been easy enough to ignore, but the new toggle makes it possible to turn environmental damage into a genuinely threatening mechanic. Not only does this reward smarter play in the moment, but it makes a lot of the game’s RPG mechanics and loot feel more relevant. While finding a suit that worked well for general purposes can often mean the end of swapping out gear, ratcheting up the environmental damage difficulty incentivizes preparing correctly for different hostile environments and approaching exploration in a more consistently flexible way.
Starfield Guides (Tips, Ships, Weapons, & More)
Our collection of guides for Starfield; ships, weapons, mission walkthroughs, tips, tricks, & more!
Starfield’s New Settings Turn It Into A Survival Game
Managing Resources & Challenges Makes More Mechanics Relevant
Afflictions themselves can also be dialed up thanks to the new settings, further enhancing the relevance of environmental effects. If an affliction can’t just be quickly cured by consuming an item, there’s a significant reason to care about receiving them for the first time.Setting “Affliction Treatment” to “Improve Only” and"Affliction Prognosis" to"Advanced" makes it so that items can only stabilize the problem, which will still require proper medical care or the bandage of time to fully heal.
Embracing these new possibilities can makeStarfieldfeel more like a survival game, which makes both the fear and wonder of space exploration more potent. This kind of shift has been covered more thoroughly by mods in other Bethesda games likeThe Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, and even theFalloutgames that tend to have more intense resource management by default have plenty of community-made survival options. It’s an overhaul that can be great for newcomers but tends to especially shine for those who are already familiar with the game and can find some new excitement by adding that challenge.
Survival mods are also available forStarfieldon PC, although the lack of a Creation Club release so far means that Xbox players will still have to wait some time before they can access any mods for the game.
Another option in the May update that really leans into this concept is the addition of Sustenance, which can be toggled to provide either buffs alone or both buffs and debuffs. Failing to eat and drink enough doesn’t lead to death, so it’s not a particularly hardcore addition, but it does make maintaining supplies important for anyone trying to stay at the top of their game. It’s a more streamlined system than whatcan be found inSkyrimorFallout 4, keeping the focus on the basic provision of food and water rather than any more complicated concerns.
Perfect Starfield Survival Can Require Some Fiddling
There’s No One Answer For Every Player
Setting upStarfieldfor a good survival experience also requires dipping into some of the more generic options added, as tweaking other elements of difficulty can enhance the overall effect.Turning up damage for both the player and enemies makes combat more intense without just leaning on sponginess, and limiting the speed or options for healing makes just tanking through everything less viable. Other features like vendor credits and carry capacity will very much come down to individual preference, and ticking every box to max isn’t necessarily the best way to have a good survival experience.
5 Best Vendors In Starfield (& Where to Find Them)
There are a lot of vendors in Starfield, but not all of them are worth your time. Some outshine the rest, whether for buying goods or selling them.
Getting the perfect setup can take a bit of fiddling, but there’s no denying thatStarfieldhas a more robust system for challenge now than ever before. Even those who don’t normally like survival games should at least check out a couple of them, as some ofStarfield’s mechanics feel irrelevant without more environmental impact. There’s always a possibility thatStarfieldcould get a full-fledged survival mode in the future, but for now, the game’s new options fill in nicely.
