InStarfield, the settlements have a big problem that takes away from the immersion, and that’s how empty they feel. TheStarfield: StarbornDLC should fix this. The issue is that players can build outposts on different planets, but these locations often feel empty and lifeless. They are more like a collection of resources than real communities. This is a major change fromFallout 4, where settlements were vibrant and full of stories. Building and developing settlements was exciting inFallout 4because they felt alive.
InStarfield, the companions occupying outposts are only those sent by the player, which makes the bases feel less like communities and can lead to disappointing visits.Starfield’s outposts feel sterile and lack the engaging elements that make building fun.There’s potential for improvement, and the game could really benefit from a more dynamic system that brings these outposts to life, making the building feel more meaningful and enjoyable. TheShattered SpaceDLC couldn’t fix many big problems, but hopefully,Starborncan.
Bases In Starfield Are Empty And Don’t Give Much Reason To Build
It Loses Its Appeal Quickly
Starfieldhas a huge universe to explore, and a not insignificant feature is the outposts. TheStarfield: StarbornDLC has to give players a bigger reason to build. Right now, it’s a great way to mine for resources, but otherwise,there’s no point in investing in an outpost. Players can put in the bare minimum and forget the outpost when they don’t need any materials.
I’m Worried Xbox Could Become Known For Its Broken Exclusives Like Starfield & STALKER 2
Xbox has had a number of exclusives brimming with potential, but their buggy launches and unfinished states are giving the publisher a bad name.
Starfield’s current outpost systemdoesn’t live up to its potential. This makes the game feel empty when it should have been fleshed out. The main problem is that the player-built outposts feel dull and lifeless. The outposts inStarfieldlack the interactions that would make players want to spend time and resources on them. EvenStarfield’s otherwise interesting companionscan’t improve the outposts because they’re so limited. This is compounded by the fact that there is a limited number of companions per outpost, so it is always pretty sparse.
There are no NPC settlers, no dynamic activities, and nothing really engaging for potential inhabitants, which turns these outposts into little more than storage spaces or farms for resources.Players can feel disconnected from their basesbecause there’s no real reason to come back to them aside from managing resources. What could have been lively and interesting feels static and boring, making it hard for players to connect with the game world.
Settlers Came And Went
The settlement system inFallout 4was a standout feature that made the game much more enjoyable and replayable.Starfield’sStarbornDLC shouldn’t continue to have lonely bases whenFallout 4, released eight years earlier,lets playerscreate real communitiesthey could nurture and develop. Players could have 22 settlers per settlement, which increased withFallout 4’s DLC expansions.
It’s possible toincreaseFallout 4settlement capacitypast the limit of 22 through exploits.
This system encourages players to engage with the game world beyond just the main missions, giving them a good reason to explore and gather resources in the wasteland. Rather than just building structures, players were making homes for virtual characters.The settlements could grow as more settlers arrived, which added to the experience. Players could set up radio beacons, recruit settlers with unique personalities and needs, and watch them go about their daily lives, creating a level of immersion and satisfaction thatStarfield’s outposts lack.
Playing STALKER 2 Made Me Realize The One Thing That Starfield Is Really Missing (& No, It’s Not About Loading Screens)
STALKER 2 has been a fun experience so far, but it also outlined pretty clearly what Bethesda’s massive space epic is actually missing.
If players didn’t, they’d experience more raids, soFallout 4gave reasons to visit the settlements thatStarfielddoesn’t. It’s true that the NPCs were mostly nameless and could be replaced, butit felt like those NPCs needed the player, who acts almost as a mayor. In fact, there was so much talk about settlements needing players' help that it became a meme. InStarfield, no one needs the player’s help; they just wait there until the player decides to return.
Settlements Add Narrative Potential And Storytelling That Starfield Currently Misses
It’s A Great Way To Add Replayability
The big difference between the quiet outposts inStarfieldand the lively settlements inFallout 4highlights a missed chance for deeper storytelling in the vastness of space.Starfield’sStarbornDLC could capitalize on this and build a real storylinewhere the player feels like more than a single person. Replayability thrives on making players feel like they’ve accomplished something great, and it’s easy for players to feel good about themselves when they make a community from scratch.
There are radiant quests that task players with missions for factions and reward the player with currency. However, they quickly feel dull and unimportant once the player realizesthere will just be another identical mission soon after. Monotony does not make players want to replay games. One of the reasonsloading screens holdStarfieldbackis because they get tiresome when experienced too often, just like radiant quests.
10 Lessons Starfield’s Starborn DLC Should Learn From Shattered Space
There are many lessons that Starfield’s Starborn DLC needs to learn from Shattered Space if the game wants to bring a sizable playercount.
If players were to start an outpost and build it from a handful of settlers, they’d feel like a founder. Then,they could add buildings and defend themas new NPCs show up or as players take them to the bases, and it would give players a sense of ownership. The more players build up the outpost and take care of the citizens, the better it’ll get. If the radiant quests led to more citizens, materials, or even prestige for the town, it’d make them a lot more bearable. It’d be an easy way to makeStarborna popular DLC.
Basebuilding Is Already Set Up for Settlements, It’s Almost Already There
The Bones Are Already In Starfield
Starfield’s current outpost system has some incredible creative options but also sets the stage for a more engaging settlement system like the one inFallout 4. Players can build habitats, craft items, and set up defenses, showingthere’s already a framework for more player control. It’s almost as ifStarfieldwas waiting for a DLC likeStarbornto set up the settlement system.
Vehicles feel like they should have been inStarfieldinitially as well, as the bones were there, so settlements may have been a future update that Bethesda planned after launch.
IfStarfield’sStarbornDLC adds features like security and settlers, it’d improve the game exponentially and wouldn’t be that big of a change. Theskeleton for a settlement system is already inStarfield, with base building, resource management, and a way for companions to live in outposts. It’s hard to deny that it has the assets, it just needs to be programmed. Hopefully, Bethesda will give players the chance to make outposts into settlements.
Starfield
Bethesda Game Studios presents Starfield - the first original IP from the studio in twenty-five-plus years. Set in the year 2310, the United Colonies and Freestar Collective are observing a shaky truce after a war set 20 years prior. The player will customize their character as a member of a space exploration team called Constellation while navigating The Settled Systems and the conflicts between the warring factions. According to Bethesda, players can explore over 100 systems and 1000 planets to find resources and build their ships, living out their own sci-fi journeys.
