Starfield Patch Arrives as Bethesda Teases Oblivion Remaster

Amid the excitement surrounding The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, Bethesda has quietly rolled out a surprise Starfield patch. This update introduces a 'Very Low' graphics setting to boost performance, expanded support for Creations (mods), and various fixes for quests, vehicles, the UI, and the Shattered Space DLC.

The patch is currently in beta on Steam, which PC players can opt into. Bethesda has invited player feedback on its official website, where full patch notes are provided below.

While this update focuses on adding features and addressing bugs, it leaves Starfield's community still awaiting news about potential future DLC.

The space-faring RPG Starfield launched in September 2023 as Bethesda's first original IP in over two decades. However, it failed to garner the same acclaim as the studio's earlier Elder Scrolls and Fallout titles. Even its Shattered Space expansion, released a year later in September 2024, currently holds a 'Mostly Negative' user rating on Steam.

Despite attracting 15 million players, some have questioned whether Bethesda might scale back Starfield support to concentrate on its other franchises. The studio has reassured fans it has "exciting plans" for the game this year, seeking to address growing community frustration over scarce communication and updates. In June 2024, Bethesda reaffirmed its commitment to Starfield's ongoing development, confirming at least one more story expansion would follow Shattered Space. In a discussion with YouTube channel MrMattyPlays, Bethesda Game Studios' Todd Howard shared the team's goal to deliver a substantial story expansion every year for "a very long time to come."

In March, speculation about a Starfield PlayStation 5 port intensified after fans noticed a PS logo on Bethesda's official Creations website. The logo appeared alongside a work-in-progress ship decal mod for Starfield. Although the mod was later removed, it fueled speculation that the currently PC and Xbox-exclusive title might be headed to PS5.

While the spotlight is currently on Oblivion Remastered, dedicated Starfield fans are hopeful that Microsoft and Bethesda have major announcements planned for the Xbox Games Showcase on June 8. Could they reveal the PS5 version alongside a new expansion? Might they shadow-drop both, mirroring the Oblivion Remastered strategy? The answer is just a few weeks away.

Starfield Update 1.15.214 Patch Notes:

FEATURES

Introduced a 'Very Low' display setting to enhance performance on select hardware.Creation Kit: Mod creators can now add custom icons to the game.Creations Store now allows bundling of multiple Creations.Creation Kit: Upload limits for Creations have been raised to 2GB.

BUG FIXES

GENERAL

Creations: Fixed a potential error when restoring load order after installing and then deleting a large number of mods.Creation Kit: Resolved a crash that could occur when loading a plugin containing an ingredient form.Addressed a possible input lock when changing views while simultaneously sitting in a landed ship's pilot seat.Added a fix for a rare movement lock during scripted dialogue sequences.Fixed a control lock that could happen if a vehicle mod was disabled while a loaded save depended on it.Addressed a rare control lock that occurred when opening a menu immediately after loading a save during take-off.Fixed an issue that prevented exiting the vanity camera on PC.Resolved a crash related to moving or demolishing structures at the Main Outpost on Andraphon.Fixed a rare crash when entering the Unity.Addressed an issue where rapidly quicksaving could cause some quicksaves to be deleted.General stability and crash fixes.Various UI improvements and fixes for Creations.

GAMEPLAY

Skills: The Cargo Link and Robots build limits granted by the Outpost Management skill now persist correctly after journeying through the Unity.Weapons: The Space-Adept legendary effect no longer incorrectly reduces terrestrial damage.Gameplay Options: Fixed an issue preventing cargo access in certain interior locations.Gameplay Options: Clarified the description text for the Malnourished and Hydrated status effects.Fixed a Grav jumping issue that could occur after being hailed in Freestar or UC space.Resolved a rare problem affecting item displays aboard the Razorleaf.Fixed a missile-related issue that sometimes blocked XP gain.Addressed a player placement problem when loading a save onto the UC Vigilance after installing a new Creation.Fixed an issue where stuck creatures could be teleported into water.Addressed a bug where dropped stolen items could lose their stolen status.At Hell's Gate: The Crucible Blade no longer damages orbiting ships when used inside a vessel.At Hell's Gate: Crucible Blade audio now plays correctly after loading a save or fast traveling.Bounty Board in the Tracker's Alliance HQ now plays the correct audio cues during interaction.

GRAPHICS

Updated supported resolutions to include 32:9 and 32:10, plus additional 16:9, 16:10, and 21:9 options.Performance: Fixed a frame rate drop that could happen when opening the scanner during long play sessions.Celestial bodies now remain visible in the sky after entering and exiting interior cells.

QUESTS

All That Money Can Buy: Resolved a rare issue that made the Trade Tower elevator unusable.In Memoriam: Fixed a progression blocker where completing "At Hell's Gate" with Sarah as a companion could halt this quest.Perfect Recipe: Shonda will now correctly recover if she was downed while gathering Ashta meat.The Starjacker: Adjusted dialogue options for players who have gone through the Unity.Top of the L.I.S.T.: Fixed a control lock that could occur after selling survey data to Phil Hill.Trackers Alliance: Fixed an issue where bounty scanner quests could expire prematurely.Trackers Alliance: Resolved a rare problem where neither killing nor stunning a bounty target would complete the mission.Worlds Apart: Prevented players from leaving the planet too soon after exiting the temple.

LOCATIONS

Mannequins now correctly persist in the New Atlantis Penthouse.Players can now modify shelves and cabinets in the Core Manor in Akila City.Fixed an issue that blocked scanning of certain flora.At Hell's Gate: The Plasma Research Facility now appears on the surface map.Fixed a visible seam in the Deserted Biotics Lab.Environmental hazards now display correctly near vents in New Atlantis.

UI

Ship Builder: Fixed an issue in the ship upgrade menu when only one module was available for upgrade.Ship Builder: Addressed a selection problem when using large font sizes.Ship Decoration: Updated the display names for empty ship modules.All buttons in the Vehicle Builder menu now function correctly with large fonts enabled.Localization: The text for the Dehydrated debuff no longer gets cut off in Spanish and Polish with large fonts.Localization: Bounty boards in the Tracker's Alliance HQ now use consistent localized text.Localization: Descriptions for the Hydrated and Dehydrated status effects relating to sneak attacks are now fully translated.

VEHICLE

Added a dedicated keyboard binding for the boost function (PC).The vehicle now displays a marker on the player's compass.Fixed a camera issue for players with the maxed-out Surveying skill.Improved logic for exiting a vehicle when the exit path is partially blocked.Vehicles will now deploy when landing at locations other than official spaceports or landing pads.Fixed a visual artifact with the Rev-8 vehicle when boosting in foggy conditions.

Shattered Space

Va'ruun outpost modules are now available to players who have entered the Unity.Skills: Defeating enemies inside gravity bubbles on Dazra now correctly counts toward Gymnastics skill progression.Fixed an issue with the elevator buttons on the Mourning level in Dazra.Weapons: The Penumbra now correctly applies bonus headshot damage.Performance: Addressed minor stuttering issues in the Well and the exterior areas of Dazra.The Va'Ruun Schimaz's blade is no longer pixelated on the Data Menu.Fixed a flickering lens flare issue with the Citadel on Dazra.Zealous Overreach: Adjusted Mirek’s dialogue to accommodate characters who have experienced the Unity.Zealous Overreach: Fixed a progression issue if the player cleared Shadow Station Epsilon before speaking to Ekris.