Starfield PS5 Beginner’s Guide: Everything You Need to Know Before You Launch

I pre-ordered Starfield on PS5, because this is the version I’ve been waiting on. But I did so hesitantly.

I actually played Starfield at launch. I played it on my Xbox Series S back in September 2023 via GamePass, and I couldn’t get into it. I’m not a console fanboy, but I’ve always had a hard time getting into games on my Xbox Series. Something about sitting down with that controller just doesn’t click for me the way PlayStation does. Whether it was the game itself, the platform, or some combination of both, I bounced off it and moved on.

I never stopped thinking it had potential though. And now that it’s coming to PS5 with two and a half years of updates and the massive Free Lanes overhaul, this feels like the right time to give Starfield the real shot it deserves. On the platform where I actually enjoy playing games.

Tomorrow, Starfield finally hits PlayStation 5, and it’s not just a port. It’s arguably the definitive version of the game, launching day one with the massive Free Lanes update baked in, all the quality-of-life improvements from two and a half years of updates, and access to both the Shattered Space expansion and the brand new Terran Armada story DLC if you go Premium.

If you’re like me and this is your first time stepping into the Settled Systems, there’s a lot to unpack. This guide covers everything you need to know before you boot it up for the first time.

What Is Starfield?

Starfield is Bethesda Game Studios’ first new IP in 25 years. The same team behind Skyrim and Fallout 4 built a space RPG set in the year 2330 where humanity has left Earth behind and settled across dozens of star systems.

You start as a miner who stumbles onto a mysterious artifact, which leads you to Constellation, the last group of space explorers in the galaxy still chasing the big questions. From there, the game opens up in classic Bethesda fashion. You can follow the main story, join factions, build outposts on planets, customize your ship, explore over a thousand planets, or just wander around getting into trouble.

It’s an open-world RPG at its core, but unlike Skyrim or Fallout, your playground is an entire galaxy. The scope is massive, although not on the level or scale as something like No Man’s Sky.

Which Edition Should You Buy?

There are two editions available on PS5.

The Standard Edition runs $49.99 and includes the base game with the Free Lanes update already built in. You get the full Starfield experience, all the updates from the past two and a half years, and a physical option is available at retailers if you want a disc.

The Premium Edition is $69.99 and includes everything in the Standard Edition plus the Shattered Space expansion (the first major story DLC that launched in 2024), the Terran Armada story DLC (launching day one alongside the PS5 version), and 1,000 Creation Credits to spend in the Creations mod marketplace.

My recommendation? Go Standard. It’s the version I went with. The base game alone is probably worth the $50, especially with all the added content and updates. If you enjoy the game, and complete it and want more, then you can always upgrade to the Premium edition or purchase the DLC separately. No sense paying for DLC that you may not want to play.

PS5 Performance: What to Expect

The PS5 version gives you two graphics modes to choose from.

Visual Mode runs at 4K resolution and targets 30 frames per second. This is the mode for people who want the game to look its absolute best and don’t mind the lower frame rate.
Performance Mode targets 60 frames per second with upscaled resolution. For an RPG that involves a lot of shooting, exploring, and flying, this is the mode I’d recommend for most people. The smoother frame rate makes combat feel significantly better, and the visual difference is less noticeable than you’d think during normal gameplay.

If you’re playing on a PS5 Pro, you get the best of both worlds. Both modes benefit from PlayStation’s PSSR upscaling technology, which means Performance Mode on Pro looks noticeably sharper than on the base PS5, and Visual Mode gets more stable frame rates.

DualSense Features

Bethesda didn’t just dump the game onto PlayStation and call it a day. They’ve actually done some solid work with the DualSense controller.

Adaptive triggers change feel depending on what weapon you’re using, including your starship weapons. Each gun type has a different trigger response, which is a nice touch that adds some weight to the combat.

The light bar on the controller tracks your health and ship integrity, giving you a quick visual indicator without having to look at the HUD.

Audio logs and ship intercoms play through the controller speaker, which is one of those small immersion touches that I always appreciate when developers actually use it.
The touchpad lets you quickly swap between first-person and third-person perspective, and you can use it to instantly pull up your map and hand scanner.

Download Size and Storage

Here’s the not-so-fun part. Starfield on PS5 weighs in at approximately 135 GB according to Bethesda. My pre-load was 81.20 GB, which doesn’t include Free Lanes update. With the day-one patch that includes Free Lanes and the Terran Armada DLC installation, Bethesda says you’ll want at least 150 GB of free space on your console.

Pre-loading went live on April 5, so if you’ve pre-ordered digitally, you should already have it downloading. If not, get on that now so you’re not staring at a progress bar on launch day.

If storage is a concern, this might be the time to invest in an NVMe SSD expansion for your PS5. Games aren’t getting smaller, and Starfield is going to be a fixture on your hard drive for a while.

The Free Lanes Update: What’s New

This is the big one, and it’s free for everyone.

The Free Lanes update is the largest free content update Starfield has received since launch, and it fundamentally changes how the game feels to play. The biggest addition is Cruise Mode, which lets you fly freely between planets within a star system without loading screens or fast travel menus. You just point your ship at a planet and go.

While in Cruise Mode, you can actually get up from the pilot’s seat and walk around your ship. Use workbenches, decorate, talk to your crew, whatever you want. An autopilot handles the flying. This was the number one thing players asked for since 2023, and Bethesda has finally delivered. It’s not seamless fly anywhere in the galaxy, but it’s certainly a start.

The update also introduces Interdiction events, where enemies can pull you out of Cruise Mode and force you into combat. New space encounters happen more frequently too, so flying between planets actually feels alive and eventful.

Beyond travel, Free Lanes adds X-Tech, a brand new resource used to customize and upgrade your weapons, gear, and ships. There are new legendary ranks, new legendary effects, a new Database system that tracks everything you’ve discovered, shared outpost containers, a new Anchorpoint star station with vendors and quests, new ship modules, a new land vehicle, and even a pet called the Milliewhale that you can keep at your outpost.

For New Game Plus players, the update adds the Quantum Entanglement Device, which lets you carry up to 50 items into a new playthrough, and Power Upgrades that let you rank up Starborn abilities without revisiting temples.

It’s a massive update. And again, it’s completely free and built into the PS5 version from day one.

The Terran Armada DLC

If you bought the Premium Edition, you also have access to the Terran Armada story DLC on day one. If you bought Standard, it’s available separately for $9.99.

Terran Armada introduces a new enemy faction that believes they are the true inheritors of Earth, and they’re backing up that belief with an army of advanced combat robots and enough firepower to threaten the entire Settled Systems. The DLC adds a new questline, a new companion named Delta (a reprogrammed Terran Armada robot who is described as “not evil, but definitely not good”), and a new system called Incursions.

Incursions are combat events where the Terran Armada deploys forces to various locations across the galaxy. These can transform existing locations into active war zones, and some of them will disable your grav drive, meaning you can’t fast travel away until you deal with the threat. They’re designed to make the galaxy feel like it’s under a real, persistent threat.

The DLC also brings new weapons with a more grounded, military aesthetic (including an actual machine gun), new ship parts, a pre-built outpost cabin module, and a new location called New Babylon that Bethesda has been keeping under wraps.

There are 20 new trophies tied to Terran Armada and Free Lanes, so trophy hunters have plenty to chase.

What to Do First

When you boot up Starfield for the first time, you’re going to go through character creation. This is important because your Background choice determines your three starting skills and affects how some NPCs react to you. You cannot change your Background later.

Check out our five best builds to begin working towards from the start.

If you want to focus on stealth and infiltration, go with Cyber Runner. If you want to be a ship combat specialist who boards enemy vessels, Bounty Hunter is a great pick. If you want a well-rounded experience with some social skills, Diplomat is solid.

Traits are also selected during character creation. Unlike Backgrounds, Traits can be removed later through quests or medical doctors, so don’t stress too much about them. That said, Alien DNA (bonus health and oxygen), Wanted (20% damage boost below 20% health), and Introvert (benefits when playing solo) are strong picks for most builds.

After the tutorial section, the game opens up and you join Constellation. My advice? Don’t rush the main story. Take your time. Explore. Talk to NPCs. Accept side quests. Join a faction. The main quest will always be there, but some of the best content in Starfield is found off the beaten path.

Visit Akila City early and talk to the Trackers Alliance. The first bounty mission, “The Starjacker,” is free for all players and kicks off a great bounty hunting questline. If you have the Premium Edition or buy the Creation, the full seven-mission bounty arc is one of the better side stories in the game.

And definitely play around with ship customization once you have some credits saved up. Building and flying your own ship is one of the most satisfying parts of Starfield, and the new ship modules from Free Lanes make it even better.

No Cross-Save

One important note for anyone who played on Xbox or PC: there is no cross-save support between those platforms and PS5. Your Xbox/PC progress does not carry over. The PS5 version is a fresh start.

Starfield on PS5 is the most complete version of the game that exists. Two and a half years of updates, the biggest free content drop the game has ever received, full DualSense support, PS5 Pro enhancements, and two story expansions available from day one if you go Premium.

If you’ve been waiting to play this game, Tuesday is the day. And if you need help once you’re in, we’ll be running guides all month covering builds, the Free Lanes systems, Terran Armada content, and everything else you need to conquer the Settled Systems.

Welcome to the stars PlayStation! It’s about time.

Agree, disagree, or think I got it completely wrong? Say so in the comments or over at our Vortex Effect forums.

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