Bethesda is sending Starfield back into space with its most substantial content overhaul since the game's 2023 launch. The sci-fi RPG arrives on PlayStation 5 on 7 April alongside two major updates that address many of the criticisms that greeted the original release.
The April update brings two components: the Free Lanes overhaul, which is free for all players, and the Terran Armada story DLC priced at $10 (free for Premium Edition owners). According to Bethesda, this represents "the biggest update to the game since launch" and will make Starfield "the most complete version" of itself.
From loading screens to open space
The Free Lanes update tackles what many consider Starfield's most glaring design flaw: the absence of meaningful space exploration. At launch, travelling between planets meant pulling up a map and loading into small zones. The new system changes that entirely. Players can now cruise freely between planets within star systems, encountering points of interest, hostile forces, and derelict ships along the way. Ships can set autopilot while players step away to talk to crew members or craft items, removing the tedium of manual flight.
The update also introduces quality-of-life improvements that reshape core systems. Cross-outpost storage means players no longer need to remember where they stashed materials across the galaxy. A new Moon Jumper vehicle handles rough terrain with boost jets. The game adds X-Tech, a high-end crafting material that allows weapon and ship module upgrades previously impossible, and new pet companions like the Milliewhale for outposts.
New story and long-term plans
The Terran Armada DLC introduces a new faction: humans commanding robotic forces that threaten the Settled Systems. Players face new characters, locations, quest chains, and exclusive faction ships to commandeer. As reported by IGN, Bethesda hopes this story content will draw lessons from the acclaimed Crimson Fleet questline in the base game, offering more compelling narratives than the previous Shattered Space expansion.
Crucially, Bethesda has signalled this is not the end. In a Q&A attended by Eurogamer, Bethesda executive Tim Lamb stated the studio plans to "support Starfield for years" and has "long-term plans" in motion. While the company has nothing to announce immediately, Lamb indicated the team is "still actively working on Starfield" with "more lore and more ideas we want to pursue," suggesting additional story expansions beyond April's releases.
The game's base price also drops to $40, making the PS5 version a more accessible entry point for PlayStation audiences. For those platforms, the PS5 edition takes full advantage of the hardware, supporting DualSense adaptive triggers and offering both Performance and Pro Visual modes on PS5 Pro.
Whether these changes prove sufficient to win over players who dismissed the original remains uncertain. Yet for those who stuck with Starfield, the April update represents a genuine course correction on the game's foundational design, not merely cosmetic patching.