Starfield May update adds improved surface maps, Ship Decoration mode, and more

Today Bethesda launched the latest Starfield update in Steam Beta, due out for all other platforms later this month, and it’s got some nice improvements players have been hoping for.

Bethesda also released a video getting into the details of the update, which adds even more bug fixes alongside some pretty substantial quality of life improvements that Starfield players have been wanting for quite a while. We’re finally getting better surface maps, folks. 

The map overhaul looks fantastic, and it’ll definitely help me to actually find my way around cities like New Atlantis. Along with the map improvements, the scanner is getting tricked out with more navigation icons, making it a much more useful tool in town. 

This update is also going to make it even easier to sink hours into ship customization. The new Decoration mode brings some of the outpost building mechanics into your ship. Now you can completely design the interior, and new empty hab modules will help you build your own floor plan from the ground up. 

The most intriguing part of the update is the bevy of settings options that Bethesda is adding to the game. We’ll be able to fine tune the game’s difficulty by adjusting item weight, max carry weight, ground and ship damage, vendor credit totals, and more. The gameplay options really open up some room for players to make the game match their own priorities. Plus, there are new graphics settings for Xbox Series X players and a new camera option that finally puts close-up dialogue scenes to rest. 

Assuming all those changes get you back in the game long enough to run through new game plus, Bethesda has added the option to change your character’s traits and appearance when going through the Unity. Even more changes are coming soon. At the end of Bethesda’s video, Lead Creative Producer Tim Lamb teased the addition of land vehicles and the upcoming Shattered Space DLC.

The update is live now in Steam Beta, and will go live on May 15 for all Starfield owners. You can read the full patch notes for Starfield’s May update here.