dailynewsnblog
Starfield received its biggest update in over a year earlier this week. The Free Lanes update arrived on all platforms (a list which now includes PlayStation 5) and delivered a bunch of free content to all travelers in the Settled Systems. From fresh quests to revamped points of interest to an entirely new expansion, the universe is teeming with content to explore.
While you can stumble upon all of this content for yourself as you’re out flying amongst the stars, it’s helpful to know exactly what Bethesda added to Starfield. Below, you can find a list of everything new that arrived with the Free Lanes update so you have an idea of what to expect after you hop into a new or existing playthrough.
Terran Armada DLC
Technically, the Terran Armada DLC is separate from the Free Lanes update; whereas Free Lanes update is free for all players, Terran Armada costs $10 for all non-Premium Edition players. However, it’s difficult not to intertwine the two pieces of content, as many of the new items in the Free Lanes update are accessed through the DLC.
Terran Armada is a full expansion in Starfield that acts much like the Shattered Space expansion from 2024. There’s a fresh questline for players to embark on, new characters and locations, new crewmates to recruit, and plenty of unknown locations to explore. Terran Armada features over a dozen hours of pure content, but you can sink even more time in if you explore everything it has to offer.
Weapons, armor, and X-Tech
The gear systems in Starfield have been dramatically revamped with the Free Lanes update. Not only are there new weapons and armor sets, which can be found all over the universe, but you can also acquire a new crafting material, X-Tech. X-Tech is a powerful resource that’s used in the new legendary crafting system in Starfield. You can use X-Tech to roll legendary modifiers on your weapons and armor. You can re-roll existing modifiers or roll new ones for gear that doesn’t have any currently equipped. X-Tech in short supply, though, as the resource is only found on dead Terran Armada enemies and through looting in the new expansion locations.
In total, you can equip nearly two dozen new weapons, several new pieces of armor, and add plenty of modifiers to that gear using X-Tech and the right workbench.
Moon Jumper
One of the more exciting pieces of content in Free Lanes is the Moon Jumper vehicle. The Moon Jumper takes some work to find, as you have to travel around to different planets looking for specific new POIs . However, the hard work pays off, as the Moon Jumper is a fantastic vehicle that takes planet exploration to a whole new level.
Unlike the existing REV-8, the Moon Jumper features a much higher boost threshold, allowing you to soar up into the sky and travel great distances without touching the ground. Think of it as a mini-spaceship that you can actually fly above the ground on planets in Starfield.
Chateau Des Etoiles house and Milliwhale
Outposts and houses in Starfield don’t play a massive role in the story, as you can store everything you’ll ever need in your player inventory or on your ships. However, the new Chateau Des Etoiles house might change your mind about the housing system, as it’s a gorgeous mansion that sprawls over the surface of an asteroid. It takes quite a lot of credits and progress to purchase the house, but you won’t find a more luxurious space to kick up your feet in the Settled Systems.
Also arriving with the Free Lanes update is a new pet that you can enjoy the house with. The pet’s name is Milliwhale, and it’s a strange but lovable creature that keeps your house warm for you when you’re out exploring. You can acquire Milliwahle after completing a side quest on Anchorpoint, one of the new POIs.
Anchorpoint and other POIs
Speaking of Anchorpoint, it’s the new central hub for the Terran Armada expansion. Anchorpoint is a location in the Algorab system, and it’s a sprawling space station full of unique characters, side quests to complete, and secrets to uncover. You can interact with NPCs, trade with vendors, and access a bunch of new content, including the Chateau Des Etoiles house. It takes a ship with a 27 LY Grav Drive to reach there, though, so you might have to wait before visiting.
In addition to Anchorpoint, there are also several new POIs across dozens of planets and moons in the Settled Systems. You’ll mainly stumble upon these POIs randomly, but many of them are quite large and have some loot worth exploring for. This includes the Moon Jumper vehicle, which can seemingly only be found at one of these new POIs.
Action Figures
If you’re a fan of the Fallout series, then you likely know what Bobbleheads are and the purpose they serve. Well, Bethesda has finally brought that system into Starfield in the form of Action Figures. Across the Settled Systems, you can now find different Action Figures, which are added to your inventory and all come with unique bonuses. For example, we looted an Action Figure called “Freestar Militia Medic,” and it has the passive ability of aid items healing 5% quicker when you first pick them up.
You can find dozens of these Action Figures across Starfield, and each one has a different bonus to make your life easier. You don’t even need to do anything to activate them, but they can be displayed at your house or outpost.
Cruise Control
Finally, the last major change the Free Lanes update added to Starfield is the Cruise Control feature. For years, players have been asking for a way to manually fly their way to a destination without it taking days of real-world time. The idea of fast traveling across galaxies never sat right with some Starfield fans.
Well, the Cruise Control feature aims to address those issues. What it does is allow you to speed to a given destination much faster than you normally could while regularly flying. To make matters better, you can turn autopilot on and get up from the captain’s chair while the ship is flying. You can talk to your crew, walk around the ship, or sort your items, all while still flying to a location.
Cruise Control also features some random events, pointing out passing ships, unique locations, or enemies to fight. It’s a great feature that adds a new layer of immersion to Starfield.
