When Starfield launched in 2023, it felt like one of those games that players were going to argue about for years. In case you missed it, check out my review. Some people bounced off it quickly, while others sank dozens of hours into exploring the Settled Systems. I ended up somewhere in the middle. There’s a lot in Bethesda’s space RPG that works, especially the writing and the sense of discovery, but it’s also a game that sometimes feels like it’s fighting its own systems.
Since launch, Bethesda has steadily updated the game with new features, Creations support, quality-of-life improvements, and the Shattered Space expansion. Now the studio is preparing what it says is the biggest update yet, and I recently attended a hands-off digital preview event where Bethesda walked through what players can expect next.
On April 7, Starfield will arrive on PlayStation 5 alongside two major additions across all platforms: the free Free Lanes update and the Terran Armada story DLC.
PlayStation 5 Release Details
The PlayStation release is obviously the headline. For the first time, Sony players will be able to explore the Settled Systems when the game launches on PS5 this April. Bethesda says the version will take advantage of the system’s hardware features, including the controller’s adaptive triggers, touchpad, and lightbar. Players using a PlayStation 5 Pro will also have the option to prioritize higher frame rates with a Pro Performance Mode or focus on visuals through a Pro Visual Mode.
But for players who have already spent time with Starfield, the more interesting part of the announcement is the Free Lanes update.
Free Lanes Update Features
One of the most common complaints about the game after launch was how segmented exploration could feel. Traveling across space often meant bouncing between menus rather than feeling like you were actually making a journey. Free Lanes introduces a new cruise mode that allows players to travel between planets within the same star system. During these trips, players can encounter events and activities while spending time aboard their ship with their crew.
In theory, this sounds like a way to make space travel feel more connected. Whether it actually changes the rhythm of exploration in a meaningful way will probably come down to how often these encounters appear and how interesting they are.
Free Lanes also introduces a number of new systems and additions aimed at expanding the game’s core loop. Bethesda confirmed the update will add new encounters, locations, points of interest, and dungeons to increase variety across exploration. A new resource called X-Tech will allow players to upgrade weapons and ship modules, while enemy modifiers introduce tougher enemy variants with abilities like additional shielding, elemental damage, or faster attacks.
Some of the other additions lean more toward expanding the sandbox. The update adds a Moon Jumper land vehicle, cross-outpost storage improvements, and even a new creature companion called the Milliewhale. Two new crew members, Muria and a small mini-bot, will also join the roster. For players who enjoy the New Game Plus loop, Bethesda is also introducing a Starborn improvement that allows a limited number of items to carry over when passing through the Unity.
Terran Armada DLC
Alongside the free update, Bethesda is also releasing Terran Armada, a new story-focused DLC.
This expansion introduces a new questline that spans the Settled Systems and centers around robotic forces connected to the Terran Armada. Players will encounter new characters, enemies, locations, and rewards as they deal with the threat these machines pose to humanity’s future in space.
Since the preview event was hands-off, Bethesda didn’t dive deeply into the structure of the missions or how the narrative will play out. The studio framed the DLC as a new chapter in the evolving universe of Starfield, but how impactful it ends up feeling will depend on how those quests are integrated into the broader game.
Trackers Alliance Expansion
Bethesda is also continuing to expand the Trackers Alliance content that was introduced in 2024. Five new bounty hunting adventures are being added, bringing new contracts and targets to the system. Players who previously purchased the original Trackers Alliance content will receive these new missions for free, while new players can access the full package through Creations Credits.
Final Thoughts
Taken together, these updates feel like another step in Bethesda’s ongoing effort to refine Starfield after launch.
When I reviewed the game back in 2023, I found a lot to appreciate in its scale, writing, and the freedom it gives players to shape their own adventures. At the same time, some of the game’s systems and pacing made it harder to connect with that universe than it probably should have been.
The additions shown during this preview suggest Bethesda is still trying to smooth out those rough edges while expanding the sandbox that players already enjoy.
Whether these changes significantly reshape the experience or simply add more content to an already massive RPG will become clearer once players get their hands on the update. Either way, April 7 looks like a notable moment for Starfield, especially for PlayStation players finally getting the chance to step into Bethesda’s sci-fi universe.
