Bethesda Surprises Fans with Starfield Patch Amid Oblivion Remastered Hype

Amid the buzz surrounding The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, Bethesda has rolled out a surprise update for Starfield, introducing 'Very Low' display settings to boost performance, enhancing support for Creations (mods), and tackling issues in quests, vehicles, user interface, and the Shattered Space DLC. This update is currently available in Steam beta, allowing PC players to opt in and test the changes. Bethesda is actively seeking player feedback and has detailed the patch notes on their website.

This update primarily focuses on adding new features and addressing bugs, leaving Starfield enthusiasts eagerly awaiting further news on potential new DLCs. Launched in September 2023, Starfield marked Bethesda's first new IP in 25 years. Despite reaching 15 million players, the game didn't garner the same acclaim as Bethesda's Elder Scrolls and Fallout series. The Shattered Space expansion, released a year later in September 2024, received a 'mostly negative' user review rating on Steam.

Despite the lukewarm reception, Bethesda remains committed to Starfield's future. In June 2024, the studio reaffirmed its dedication to supporting the game and announced plans for at least one more story expansion following Shattered Space. In an interview with the YouTube channel MrMattyPlays, Bethesda Game Studios' Todd Howard expressed ambitions to release annual story expansions for "hopefully a very long time." Moreover, amid speculation in March about a potential PlayStation 5 release, fans noticed a PlayStation logo on Bethesda’s official Creations website, fueling hopes that Starfield might expand to other platforms.

As excitement builds for the Xbox Games Showcase on June 8, players are hopeful that Microsoft and Bethesda will unveil significant updates for Starfield, possibly including a PS5 version and new expansions. The community is buzzing with anticipation, wondering if Bethesda might follow Oblivion Remastered's example and shadow-drop new content.

Starfield Update 1.15.214 Patch Notes

FEATURES

• Added Very Low display settings to enhance performance on certain devices.
• Creation Kit: Creators can now add new icons to the game.
• Creations Store now supports bundling Creations.
• Creation Kit: Creations up to 2GB in size can now be uploaded.

BUG FIXES

GENERAL

• Creations: Fixed a potential error when restoring load order after installing and then deleting a large number of mods.
• Creation Kit: Fixed a possible crash when loading a plugin with an ingredient form.
• Addressed a potential control lock when changing views while sitting in a pilot seat during landing.
• Fixed a rare movement lock during forced dialogue scenes.
• Addressed a control lock if a vehicle Creation was disabled while a loaded save depended on it.
• Fixed a rare control lock when immediately opening a menu after loading a save during take-off.
• Fixed an issue preventing exit from the vanity camera on PC.
• Fixed a potential crash related to moving or removing buildings at the Main Outpost in Andraphon.
• Resolved a rare crash when entering the Unity.
• Addressed an issue where rapidly pressing quicksave could result in some quicksaves being removed.
• Implemented general crash and stability fixes.
• Improved Creations UI.

GAMEPLAY

• Skills: The Cargo Link and Robots build limits from Outpost Management skills now persist after going through the Unity.
• Weapons: The Space-Adept legendary effect no longer negatively impacts terrestrial damage.
• Gameplay Options: Addressed an issue with some interiors preventing cargo access.
• Gameplay Options: Clarified status effects text for Malnourished and Hydrated.
• Fixed a Grav jumping issue after being hailed in Freestar or UC space.
• Fixed a rare issue affecting items displayed in the Razorleaf.
• Resolved an issue preventing XP awards from missiles.
• Fixed a player placement issue after installing a new creation and loading into the UC Vigilance.
• Resolved an issue where creatures could be moved to water if they became stuck.
• Addressed an issue where dropped items could lose their stolen status.
• At Hell's Gate: The Crucible Blade no longer damages ships in orbit when used inside a ship.
• At Hell's Gate: The Crucible Blade audio now plays correctly after loading a save or fast traveling.
• The Bounty Board in the Tracker's Alliance HQ now has the correct audio interactions.

GRAPHICS

• Updated resolutions to include 32:9 and 32:10, as well as additional 16:9, 16:10, and 21:9 resolutions.
• Performance: Fixed a frame rate drop issue when opening the scanner during long play sessions.
• Celestial bodies now remain visible in the sky after entering and exiting interiors.

QUESTS

• All That Money Can Buy: Fixed a rare issue causing the Trade Tower elevator to be inoperable.
• In Memoriam: Addressed an issue preventing completion if "At Hell's Gate" was completed with Sarah as the companion.
• Perfect Recipe: Shonda now recovers if downed while collecting Ashta meat.
• The Starjacker: Adjusted dialogue options for characters post-Unity.
• Top of the L.I.S.T.: Resolved a control lock after selling survey data to Phil Hill.
• Trackers Alliance: Fixed an issue where bounty scanner quests could time out.
• Trackers Alliance: Fixed a rare issue where killing or stunning the target did not complete bounty missions.
• Worlds Apart: Fixed an issue allowing the player to leave the planet too quickly after exiting the temple.

LOCATIONS

• Mannequins now persist in the New Atlantis Penthouse.
• Players can now modify shelves and cabinets in the Core Manor in Akila City.
• Fixed an issue preventing scanning of some flora.
• At Hell's Gate: The Plasma Research Facility now appears on the surface map.
• Fixed a visible opening in the Deserted Biotics Lab.
• Vent Hazards now display correctly on Jemison.

UI

• Ship Builder: Fixed an issue with the ship upgrade menu when only one module is available for upgrade.
• Ship Builder: Addressed a selection issue when using large fonts.
• Ship Decoration: Updated names of Empty ship modules.
• All buttons now work in the Vehicle Builder menu with large fonts enabled.
• Localization: Fixed cutoff text for the Dehydrated debuff in Spanish and Polish with large fonts enabled.
• Localization: The bounty boards in the Tracker's Alliance HQ are now consistently localized.
• Localization: Fully localized strings for both Hydrated and Dehydrated status effects regarding sneak attacks.

VEHICLE

• A keyboard binding is now available for the boost button on PC.
• A marker for the vehicle now appears on the player's compass.
• Fixed a camera issue for players with maxed out Surveying skill.
• Improved logic for exiting the vehicle when partially obstructed.
• The vehicle now deploys when landing at locations other than spaceports or landing pads.
• Addressed a visible artifact with the Rev-8 when boosting in foggy conditions.

SHATTERED SPACE

• Va'ruun outpost modules are now available after entering the Unity.
• Skills: Killing enemies inside gravity bubbles on Dazra now counts towards the Gymnastics skill.
• Addressed an issue with the buttons on the lift on the Mourning level in Dazra.
• Weapons: The Penumbra now deals bonus headshot damage.
• Performance: Fixed slight stutters in the Well and outside Dazra.
• The Va'Ruun Schimaz's blade is no longer pixelated on the Data Menu.
• Fixed a lens flare flicker with the Citadel on Dazra.
• Zealous Overreach: Adjusted Mirek’s dialogue options to account for characters post-Unity.
• Zealous Overreach: Fixed an issue if the player cleared Shadow Station Epsilon before speaking to Ekris.