The sandbox elements that allow players to make their own fun has always been a huge draw for Bethesda games, and Starfield is no different. Where other games might offer players some customization and the chance to purchase a variety of vessels, Starfield grants the player an astronomical amount of choice when it comes to how they blast around the galaxy, especially in terms of player character's looks, base builds, homes, and settlements
While designing the ideal spaceship isn't (literally) rocket science in Starfield, there are some essential pointers to keep in mind that will give prospective spacefarers the boost necessary to reach the moon, stars, and beyond in the ship of their dreams.
10 The Breakdown
Just like in many other space-exploration games, players can optimize the performance of their ships through upgrades. Here's an overview of a ship's upgradable attributes:
- Hull
- Shield
- Cargo
- Laser Damage (LAS)
- Ballistic Damage (BAL)
- Missile Damage (MSL)
- Jump Range
- Mobility
- Top Speed
- Mass
- Crew
The hull and shield represent the ship's hard and soft hit points. Cargo is the ship's haul capacity, which should indicate that taking legitimate (or illegitimate) goods from one place to another for profit is a viable way to play (which should be great news for trucker fans!). A range of different weapons are available to fend off (or pick on) other ships. The ship's jump range is represented in light years and offers information on how much of the galaxy players can explore. Finally, the Crew count represents the space left on the ship for personnel.
9 Optimizing Builds
There are tons of customization options to choose from, but each upgrade and component isn't just a stat boost; they're visible on the ship itself. Every ship can be given a highly personalized paint job. Players can even get as specific as a coat of paint's hex code.
Ship captains are expected to think about balancing their ships' strengths and weaknesses. Those looking to zip around space (and outrun the authorities) should opt for something light with as little bulk as possible. More defensive ships with heavier cowling, bigger guns, and a more powerful shield generator will be more sluggish but will be in a better position to outlast their enemies.
8 More Than One Way To Build
As well as being able to modify a ship's every detail at a spaceport, players will be able to quickly slot new components in and out via a menu, which is great news for players who prefer getting in a ship and exploring deep space over meticulously planning a design at the drawing board.
Everything, from weapons to landing gears, can be swapped out without having to mess around with the layout. Of course, for those who do like to play endlessly with deep ship-building systems, build mode offers a ridiculous amount of flexibility to do so.
7 Module-Based Construction
Starfield's developers focused less on "realistic simulation" (like Kerbal Space Program) and took a more "build whatever, it just works" approach. As such, players won't be able to make a mess with the physics engine when designing their creations.
In shipbuilder mode, parts, or "modules," clip onto the ship like Lego. Modules can go anywhere that blue snap points appear, giving ships a "NASA-punk" look. Players looking for sleeker, rounder designs can mold their crafts into smoother shapes with the creative use of cowling.
6 Beautiful On The Inside
Modules not only affect the way that ships look on the outside but also on the inside, too. This means that swapping out one module for another will completely revamp its appearance. Since Starfield gives the player a body in first-person mode, this changes how flying feels between each ship.
The game offers a broad range of modules from many different in-game manufacturers, each with its design preferences. Players can choose a module's various iterations to find what suits their needs the best (and, of course, for any absent niches overlooked by Bethesda, it's likely that modders are out there working to fill the gap).
5 Power Allocation
Prospective captains should keep their eyes peeled for a good engine while exploring the galaxy. In Starfield, players can strap as much high-tech equipment onto their ships as they like, provided they can find a way to power each component.
Once a ship has been built and is rocketing through space, players can allocate power from certain parts of the system to maximize effectiveness in a specific area. For example, while roaming a peaceful part of space, combat-oriented ships won't be stuck at a sluggish pace. Instead, they will be able to trade energy from their weapons and shields to the engines to gain a boost to their speed.
4 Functional, Walkable Interiors
Rather than being confined to the ship's cockpit, the ship's captain can explore any part with a functional interior. This includes the "hab" (sleeping and living quarters), the armory, the docker (the hatch to the outside or other ships), the cargo hold, the bay, the ship's main entrance, and the exit.
Besides being where the player can interact with the ship and its crew, each interior habitat can be used for gameplay purposes. For example, snapping a crafting module onto the ship gives the player access to crafting stations, where they can improve weapons and suits between missions.
3 Strange New Designs
Player ships in Starfield can look as practical, fun, and beautiful (or ugly) as players desire. The only limit is the player's imagination, as well as their funds, the reactor's energy output limits, and, of course, the limits hard-coded into build mode.
Bethesda teased some wacky designs during the Starfield Direct event, including a squashed-looking robot complete with rocket-boost boots. However, there's more than enough potential in its build mode to spawn even more garish and tasteless player-made monstrosities, which is all part of the fun in sandbox games.
2 Owning Multiple Crafts
For players who don't want to design their crafts, buying (or straight-up stealing) someone else's is an entirely viable tactic. But Bethesda won't force anyone to abandon their old love upon conquering the new. Players can maintain two, three, or a whole fleet of ships simultaneously.
Those with a particular penchant for ship-pinching can mark their favorite for quick access by tagging it as their "home ship." Like in previous Bethesda titles, players are free to launch into a thievery spree at any time, but they won't just be able to "lift" something without consequence, even at zero-G. Ships come as registered and unregistered, meaning that pilots with unregistered rides may find it difficult to get serviced at more "respectable" ports.
1 Ship Maintenance
Ships will inevitably get damaged over time through dogfights, bumps, and close calls with asteroids. That means that players should regularly maintain their beloved space boats as with any other vital equipment. Port engineers will repair any dings and patch holes for a fee.
Companions throughout the galaxy can be brought on board for love or money. Crews aren't just there to make the captain look good; they're necessary for the good running of the ship. Crew members come with strengths and weaknesses, and savvy captains should be able to leverage those strengths by assigning them a suitable position (even for companions who seem functionally useless).
Starfield is due for release on PC and Xbox Series X/S on September 6, 2023.