Bethesda has today pulled back the curtain on Starfield's big May update, which is the largest update yet for the game, and the big highlight feature from an Xbox perspective is the addition of a 60FPS performance mode for Xbox Series X!
Let's dig into the big new features that are coming in this Starfield update when it arrives on May 15th:

More Detailed Surface Maps

"These improved maps replace surface dots with terrain markings, which, combined with actually seeing the points of interest on the map, makes it much easier to see where you are and what’s around you. Additionally, new markers have been added in the major cities to show the locations of vendors and each of these markers acts as a fast travel point, so you’ll be able to head straight there quickly and easily from your Scanner or the surface map."
New Ways To Customise Gameplay

"The new update also introduces a host of new gameplay options, including the ability to increase vendor credits and carry capacity or access your ship cargo from anywhere through your player inventory. You can also play around with some survival features, like the effects of food and your environmental hazards. Of course, there are also some new combat settings, so you could make space combat harder and run-and-gun combat easier if you want to. And if you’re looking for a bigger challenge, there’s now a new Extreme difficulty above Very Hard."
Significantly Improved Ship Interior Decorations

"The system is now very similar to how you decorate your outposts. The update also includes new completely empty hab modules, allowing you to start your decorating from scratch. This also lets you play around with your ship’s layout with more openings available for doorways."
Xbox Series X 60FPS Mode & Other Visual Options

"You can now choose between 30, 40, 60 or an Uncapped frame rate on VRR displays. If you do not have a VRR display running 120hz, you will still be able to select from 30 or 60. Screen tearing may occur at times when selecting 60 on a non-VRR display."
Re-Spec Your Traits For New Game Plus

"Now, after you enter the Unity, you’ll have the option to change both your appearance and your Traits. It’s another way for you to choose who you want to be in your new universe."
A Ton Of Quality Of Life Improvements

"In addition to the major features coming in this update, there are also a ton of quality-of-life improvements like the ability to toggle the dialogue camera off. Now you’ll be able to watch scenes play out from your chosen perspective. There are also new tabs in your Container and Barter menus, making it easier to see where you’re navigating to when quickly cycling through the menus."
Starfield's May 15th update is absolutely jammed with new features, but we've also been treated to a teaser for what's next, with Bethesda revealing that the game's first land vehicle is in the works along with official mod support and of course, the Shattered Space expansion that's arriving (hopefully) later this year.
Look out for the Starfield update on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and PC when it arrives in exactly two weeks' time!
Liking the sound of this latest Xbox update for Starfield? Tell us in the comments down below.
Comments 31
Been waiting for 60fps to really get into this game. Nice news.
Gamepass day 1 you play a worse version than if you had waited
It still won't change the poor main story, loading screens and awful repetitive power temples. There is plenty more wrong I could mention with the game it's no wonder it got snubbed at the awards.
The game has very dated design due to the ancient Creation engine. They need to move to Unreal or make another engine.
Not sure even modders can save it.
These changes don't fix an empty game. If Starfield had launched with just 10 populated planets vs 1,000 barren ones, it would have been soooo much more enjoyable. There was no joy to exploration that previous BGS games have; it was just loading screen on top of loading screen, then running around an unpopulated expanse.
I'm just downloading the update now. I've really enjoyed my time with Starfield and these are some welcome improvements.
Edit, I meant downloading it on Steam.
Speaking of which the new map is huge improvement as is the new dialogue camera and ove had a bit of fun decorating my ship interior
Man that's some tasty updates, I like glad we get the traits change.
I'd like to know what sacrifices have to be made for the performance modes.
QoL - there first 'land' vehicle coming....
I wonder how it runs and what sacrifices we have to accept for 40/60fps as they do mention VRR displays in relation to higher frame rate modes
@Kooky_Geezer Can you tell me one single UE open world game that has the freedom of Creation Engine game. I'm really curious.
Just imagine if this and all the other improvements we have had and future ones before the end of 2024 had been there day one.
Would have had a big AAA almost perfect on our hands critically acclaimed reviews and a massive hit.
Getting Xbox massive praise and lots of momentum.
Why do companies do this and not wait for this perfection for day one and get all the kudos that comes with it?
It’s not like Xbox can’t afford to wait and I’m sure it would have done them more good.
Survival mode was the biggest miss for me so I'm really excited for it 😁. Other than that, I really enjoyed the game.
Is it me being sceptical or are they getting ready for a late 2024 PS5 release as well.
Day 1 - After barely an hour I thought this had to be one of the biggest letdowns in gaming (and that's going up against BioShock Infinite)
8 months later - Maybe I was a bit hasty; now we've had a good few updates, maybe give it a second chance 🤔🙂
@OldGamer999
Is it me being sceptical or are they getting ready for a late 2024 PS5 release as well
That would be more of a hopeful take, rather than a sceptical one 😉....
Well, having a worse version on day 1 is almost like a guaranteed thing nowadays (for sure in AAA), which is part of the reason I don't often play games day one.
I'm keen to give this a try, but still waiting for a bit longer. I'm the type of gamer that very rarely plays the same game more than once, so I want o play a resonably polished version.
@carlos82 how are you downloading? nothing showing for me on updates??
article says it's not out til 15th?
@Tonmoy
one single UE open world game that has the freedom of Creation Engine game. I'm really curious
Not only the freedom but the persistence of items,etc within the game world. Those are staples of Bethesda RPG'S, and one of the many, many things I love and admire about their games.....of course one other option is to just hate on Bethesda and their choice of game engines(que,the comments) 😀
@Sol4ris
Not hopeful for me I have a series x and Gamepass until May 2025.
I’m just glad we are getting all these great updates. But just pissed that Starfield could have been so much more for Xbox had all these great features had been there day one.
Just imagine the reviews and the excitement and the momentum the Xbox brand would have got.
@Dimey sorry I meant to put on PC, the update is already available through Steam Beta
All of these improvements sound great!
good that they used the word huge when talking about shattered space, and unless I mis-heard, there are other new quests coming too?
I played about 20 hours and really enjoyed it. I was sidetracked and haven't played since. Now I will probably wait until the shattered space dlc along with other great updates. Can't wait.
@Tonmoy The original Mass Effect games used Unreal these are comparable as same style and genre.
Starfield isn't nowhere near as good and will never be.
Been playing this on my deck and very much enjoying it! The update should make it even better.
I love Skyrim and I love sci-fi, but I just couldn’t put my finger on why I was so disappointed in Starfield and I think I know why (including peoples typical complaints like dull planets). It’s because I got my ship too fast and too easy. The “go everywhere” went from 0 to 100.
Like, if this was Skyrim, you’d escape Helgen and immediately be given a dragon to fly around the rest of the game.
If there was more story and multi-path faction choices to earn, steal, or build my ship THEN go into space. I would have felt like it was special. Then my future choices would hold more weight because of the game altering decisions I made planet side before getting to space.
Oh oh oh. Like, what if I learned that my father (who died under mysterious circumstances 🤨) had a hidden, half-built spaceship I had no idea about. One group wants to help me finish building it (quest by quest) because they were friends of dads but I have to earn those parts, but one group will buy the “hunk of junk” for enough to buy my own snazzy ship (but do I dare sell my fathers legacy 😱), but a third shady group will front the whole cost and even finish building it for free if I’ll become a smuggler for them, totally anti-the way dad raised me 😈. Shoot. Bethesda should hire me to fix Starfield for them 🤣🤣🤣
Plus the “load to space flight, load to solar system, load to land” just makes it feel too jarring. Like in Skyrim you could fast travel BUT you had to discover the place first, meaning you had to TRAVEL to the place first.
Jarring is the right word. I was gutted when I beat the game without even realizing I was beating the “boss”. I thought the whole “you meet future you of the past you becoming the cosmic you” was half way. When it ended I was gob smacked 😅.
Something major would really have to change for me to love (even like) Starfield but I think those changes would basically just make it a completely different game.
That’s cool, but I already put 250 hours in when it came out. Had a blast, but when I’m done, I’m done.
@OldGamer999 people would still have found reasons to say it was “the worst game ever” because they had some other idea in their head it didn’t meet up with. I think hype was the issue (that and people need to get educated on having false expectations)
Lowering the important of weight carriage can save this game for me. And the better navigation is a great bonus.
Let’s give it a new try.
@Kooky_Geezer The great thing is if you don't like it. You don't have to play it. 🤷♂️
City maps was what got me, so that is nice. Maybe on a replay, I can see the benefit of the land vehicles as well.
Might be tempted to give Starfield another go.
I quit trying to while get off that ship that is full of treasure. Literally died dozens (perhaps hundreds) of times. Then I gave up.
This might tempt me start again. But I would probably start again from scratch. I am determined to finish the game at some point.
Got to try and complete the Avatar game first of all, though.
@trev666 Which applies exactly the same to any game on any console or PC if you buy it day one. Big Difference is Gamepass removes the £70 day one price tag.
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