Why Terran Armada Is The Perfect Time To Return To Starfield

On April 7, 2026, Starfield is coming to PlayStation 5! Along with the release on PS5, Bethesda is launching a significant free update called Free Lanes. This update will include features like Cruise Mode, New Game Plus, new quests and locations, pets, ship upgrades, and various gameplay improvements. Plus, the first major expansion, Terran Armada, will be available, adding a new story and a compelling new companion named Delta, who isn’t afraid to operate in the gray areas of morality.

While it’s not quite the sequel some players were hoping for, there’s still a lot to enjoy in Starfield. If you stopped playing after the game first launched, now is a great time to return. With the recent updates and the release of the Shattered Space expansion, you’ll have the best possible experience. Let’s look at a few reasons why.

It’s Finally Coming To PlayStation 5

The Wait Is Over For PlayStation Players

If you’re a PlayStation 5 owner, the biggest reason to get excited about Starfield is that it’s coming to PS5 on April 7, 2026. Players on Xbox Series X/S and PC have been enjoying it for a while, and given how much power Starfield needs to run well, the PS5 is an ideal platform to play it on.

This game is quite large, requiring 120 GB of storage space and an internet connection to download, even if you buy a physical copy – it’s a significant commitment. The large file size is understandable considering the game’s massive scale, with huge, automatically generated planets and vast areas to explore in space.

Shattered Space DLC’s Environments

Bethesda’s Dungeon Design Returns In Full Force

So, if you’re just getting back into Starfield now, you’re in for a treat! They released a DLC called Shattered Space about a year ago. It wasn’t a perfect fix for everything, but it added a really cool new location with that classic Bethesda environmental storytelling I love – you can really get lost in the atmosphere and learn about the world just by exploring.

Many players initially found the planets’ points of interest to be too similar, which hurt the feeling of exploring a vast universe – it was jarring to find the same buildings and lore on every planet. However, the main story area in Shattered Space, while not huge, is a compelling experience. The dungeons you explore during the DLC’s questline are particularly well-designed and atmospheric, creating a sense of eerie mystery and subtle horror that will appeal to players who enjoy the stranger side of space exploration.

New Planetary And Space POIs In Cruise Mode

One Of The Biggest Painpoints Of Starfield Gets A Helping Hand

Bethesda is adding more points of interest to Starfield with a free update called Free Lanes. While the game still relies on procedurally generated planets – meaning you might see the same locations repeated – this update will introduce new places to discover and add some welcome variety to your exploration.

I’m really excited about the new Cruise Mode they’re adding to Starfield. We’ll dive deeper into it later, but basically, it’s going to add a bunch of new things to discover while you’re flying between planets. They’re calling them POIs – points of interest – and it sounds like you’ll have fun little interactions while cruising in hyperspace. Honestly, space travel felt a little empty before, so this should make exploring the galaxy way more engaging!

Vehicles Are Now In The Game

No More Running Across Long Distances To Get To Your Quest Marker

Players who experienced Starfield at launch may recall the lengthy process of landing and traveling from your landing spot to where quests actually began. Thankfully, one of the first updates to the game added customizable ground vehicles, letting you quickly travel the surface and choose your own colors.

I’m super excited about the next update! They’re adding a second vehicle, which is a huge deal. Getting around the planets and checking out those points of interest felt kinda clunky before, but this should make everything way smoother. Honestly, vehicles felt like the one big thing the game was missing, and in a NASA-punk world, it just makes sense to have them, you know?

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Space Travel Is Getting Expanded With Cruise Mode

More Adventures Await You, Captain

One of the most debated parts of Starfield was how you traveled through space. Some players hoped for a vast, open-ended experience like No Man’s Sky, while others wanted space travel to simply support the game’s role-playing elements. Opinions on the ship combat were also strongly divided – it could be frustrating at first, but rewarding with practice and ship improvements.

So, Bethesda is adding something called Cruise Mode to the game, and honestly, it’s pretty cool. Basically, while you’re traveling between planets, you can actually walk around inside your ship! It adds to that sci-fi feel, you know, actually being in space. And it’s not just an empty ship either – they’re adding points of interest inside the ship that you can check out while you’re cruising, which is a really neat way to add more exploration and make the whole experience feel more immersive.

Terran Armada’s New Morally Gray Companion

Finally, Someone Who Won’t Question Your Actions

All owners of Starfield are receiving a free update called Free Lanes. On the same day, a paid expansion, Terran Armada, will also be released, along with Shattered Space. These additions will provide players with a lot more story content to explore. Terran Armada seems to focus on a more realistic, action-oriented sci-fi experience, while Shattered Space leans towards strange space magic and horror.

Players will soon meet a new companion named Delta, who’s been described as the ideal partner for captains who aren’t afraid to bend the rules. This is great news because the companions currently in Starfield tend to be very lawful, making it difficult to play as a character who operates outside the law. Plus, it’s fun to have another robotic companion alongside Vasco!

New Game+ Adjustments

The NG+ Experience Gets Two Important Overhauls

Good news for players who are further along in Starfield and know the story! You can now improve your skills without starting a New Game+. Instead, you’ll use a new resource called Quantum Essence. This is a significant improvement because previously, unlocking all ability tiers required a lot of time and effort finding temples throughout the game.

If you’re planning a New Game+ run – maybe to get the special Starborn armor – you can now use a Quantum Entanglement Device to bring some of your items with you. Otherwise, you’ll have to start collecting everything all over again, and with randomized loot, finding your favorite gear could take a while. The upcoming Free Lanes update also adds X-Tech, a currency that lets you customize weapons by rerolling their best traits. Overall, the combination of exploration and combat in Starfield is better than ever.

An Asteroid Home

Living Lavishly In The Lap Of Space

If you’ve already spent tons of time in Starfield – building a ship, setting up outposts, gathering a crew, and dominating all the factions – you might think you’ve seen it all. But this new update still has something special to offer, even for players who like to complete everything: you can now build a home inside an asteroid! If you felt like Starfield was missing a truly unique place to live in space, this update solves that problem.

Heads up – the new player home coming in this update will be quite pricey, so you’ll likely need to save up some credits to buy it. Plus, the update includes new items to collect, an alien companion, and lots of new ship parts, so if you enjoy collecting and upgrading in Starfield, you’ll have plenty to keep you busy.

2026-04-02 15:06