# Starfield New Features & Improvements in Starfield’s Latest Major Update

- Product: Starfield (https://whatsnew.fyi/product/starfield)
- Vendor: Bethesda Game Studios
- Date: 2024-05-01
- Original notes: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1716740/view/4202497395530962492
- Permalink: https://whatsnew.fyi/product/starfield/releases/2024-05-01-new-features-improvements-in-starfield-s-latest-m

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- **added** — Surface maps now display terrain markings and points of interest instead of surface dots
- **added** — New vendor location markers in major cities that serve as fast travel points
- **added** — Ability to increase vendor credits and carry capacity through gameplay options
- **added** — Option to access ship cargo from anywhere through player inventory
- **added** — Survival features customization including effects of food and environmental hazards
- **added** — New combat settings to adjust space combat and run-and-gun combat difficulty independently
- **added** — New Extreme difficulty level above Very Hard
- **added** — Bonus experience rewards based on how gameplay options are balanced
- **added** — Expanded ship interior customization system similar to outpost decoration
- **added** — Completely empty hab modules for ship customization from scratch
- **added** — More doorway opening options for custom ship layouts
- **added** — Frame rate target options of 30, 40, 60, or Uncapped on Xbox Series X with VRR displays
- **added** — Ability to prioritize between Visuals and Performance on Xbox Series X
- **added** — Option to change appearance and Traits during New Game Plus after entering the Unity
- **added** — Toggle to disable dialogue camera for custom perspective viewing
- **added** — New tabs in Container and Barter menus for easier navigation
- **changed** — Default frame rate target on Xbox Series X with VRR display set to 40 prioritizing full visuals
- **changed** — Starfield universe expands further with New Game Plus replayability features

Starfield’s largest update since launch is coming on May 15! The May Update includes more detailed surface maps; new gameplay difficulty options and performance settings; new features for ship customization and more!

In this in-depth breakdown, Community Director Jessica Finster is joined by Joe Mueller, Istvan Pely and Tim Lamb from Bethesda Game Studios to discuss everything the update has to offer, plus some insights into the future of Starfield.

##### Updated Surface Maps

Community feedback is a huge source of inspiration for the team at Bethesda Game Studios, and one of the most requested features has been more detailed surface maps, and the latest update delivers. 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 Gameplay Options

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. These settings can be tuned to allow you to focus on the style of gameplay you enjoy the most. Depending on how you balance them out, you might even get some bonus experience.

##### New Ship Interior Customization Tools

In Starfield, your ship is your home. The latest update takes that to a new level by expanding the amount of interior customization you can do in your ship. 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 Display Settings

We’ve heard from many that you’d like to have more control over the graphic fidelity and performance on Xbox, similar to how PC players can customize their experience. We’re now enabling that on Xbox Series X with a few options that you can use to find the best fit for your playstyle and display.

For each of these, we highly recommend a Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) Display running at 120hz, and to verify your Xbox is setup to use it. If you have it set up this way, Starfield will now default to a frame rate target of 40, while keeping the priority for full visuals.

-  **Frame Rate Target:** 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.

-  **Prioritize:** You can now prioritize between **Visuals and Performance** while trying to maintain the frame rate target. If you’re choosing a frame rate target of 60 or above, we recommend changing this to Performance. Prioritizing Visuals keeps the highest resolution while maintaining full detail for special effects, lighting, and crowds. Prioritizing Performance lowers internal resolution and detail for special effects, lighting, and crowds. Both modes may adjust internal resolution dynamically when scenes or action get heavier as well. When switching between modes, you will see the lighting change briefly as the system catches up to the new mode.

##### New Game Plus Trait Respeccing

Replayability is huge in Bethesda Game S

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