In Starfield, the settlements have a big problem that takes away from the immersion, and that's how empty they feel. The Starfield: Starborn DLC should fix this. The issue is that players can build outposts on different planets, but these locations often feel empty and lifeless. They are more like a collection of resources than real communities. This is a major change from Fallout 4, where settlements were vibrant and full of stories. Building and developing settlements was exciting in Fallout 4 because they felt alive.

In Starfield, the companions occupying outposts are only those sent by the player, which makes the bases feel less like communities and can lead to disappointing visits. Starfield's outposts feel sterile and lack the engaging elements that make building fun. There's potential for improvement, and the game could really benefit from a more dynamic system that brings these outposts to life, making the building feel more meaningful and enjoyable. The Shattered Space DLC couldn't fix many big problems, but hopefully, Starborn can.

Bases In Starfield Are Empty And Don’t Give Much Reason To Build

It Loses Its Appeal Quickly

Starfield has a huge universe to explore, and a not insignificant feature is the outposts. The Starfield: Starborn DLC has to give players a bigger reason to build. Right now, it's a great way to mine for resources, but otherwise, there's no point in investing in an outpost. Players can put in the bare minimum and forget the outpost when they don't need any materials.

Starfield's current outpost system doesn't live up to its potential. This makes the game feel empty when it should have been fleshed out. The main problem is that the player-built outposts feel dull and lifeless. The outposts in Starfield lack the interactions that would make players want to spend time and resources on them. Even Starfield's otherwise interesting companions can't improve the outposts because they're so limited. This is compounded by the fact that there is a limited number of companions per outpost, so it is always pretty sparse.

There are no NPC settlers, no dynamic activities, and nothing really engaging for potential inhabitants, which turns these outposts into little more than storage spaces or farms for resources. Players can feel disconnected from their bases because there’s no real reason to come back to them aside from managing resources. What could have been lively and interesting feels static and boring, making it hard for players to connect with the game world.

Fallout 4 Had A Great Settlement System That Didn’t Require Companions

Settlers Came And Went

The settlement system in Fallout 4 was a standout feature that made the game much more enjoyable and replayable. Starfield's Starborn DLC shouldn't continue to have lonely bases when Fallout 4, released eight years earlier, lets players create real communities they could nurture and develop. Players could have 22 settlers per settlement, which increased with Fallout 4's DLC expansions.

It's possible to increase Fallout 4 settlement capacity past the limit of 22 through exploits.

This system encourages players to engage with the game world beyond just the main missions, giving them a good reason to explore and gather resources in the wasteland. Rather than just building structures, players were making homes for virtual characters. The settlements could grow as more settlers arrived, which added to the experience. Players could set up radio beacons, recruit settlers with unique personalities and needs, and watch them go about their daily lives, creating a level of immersion and satisfaction that Starfield’s outposts lack.

If players didn't, they'd experience more raids, so Fallout 4 gave reasons to visit the settlements that Starfield doesn't. It's true that the NPCs were mostly nameless and could be replaced, but it felt like those NPCs needed the player, who acts almost as a mayor. In fact, there was so much talk about settlements needing players' help that it became a meme. In Starfield, no one needs the player's help; they just wait there until the player decides to return.

Settlements Add Narrative Potential And Storytelling That Starfield Currently Misses

It's A Great Way To Add Replayability

The big difference between the quiet outposts in Starfield and the lively settlements in Fallout 4 highlights a missed chance for deeper storytelling in the vastness of space. Starfield's Starborn DLC could capitalize on this and build a real storyline where the player feels like more than a single person. Replayability thrives on making players feel like they've accomplished something great, and it's easy for players to feel good about themselves when they make a community from scratch.

There are radiant quests that task players with missions for factions and reward the player with currency. However, they quickly feel dull and unimportant once the player realizes there will just be another identical mission soon after. Monotony does not make players want to replay games. One of the reasons loading screens hold Starfield back is because they get tiresome when experienced too often, just like radiant quests.

If players were to start an outpost and build it from a handful of settlers, they'd feel like a founder. Then, they could add buildings and defend them as new NPCs show up or as players take them to the bases, and it would give players a sense of ownership. The more players build up the outpost and take care of the citizens, the better it'll get. If the radiant quests led to more citizens, materials, or even prestige for the town, it'd make them a lot more bearable. It'd be an easy way to make Starborn a popular DLC.

Basebuilding Is Already Set Up for Settlements, It’s Almost Already There

The Bones Are Already In Starfield

Starfield's current outpost system has some incredible creative options but also sets the stage for a more engaging settlement system like the one in Fallout 4. Players can build habitats, craft items, and set up defenses, showing there's already a framework for more player control. It's almost as if Starfield was waiting for a DLC like Starborn to set up the settlement system.

Vehicles feel like they should have been in Starfield initially as well, as the bones were there, so settlements may have been a future update that Bethesda planned after launch.

If Starfield's Starborn DLC adds features like security and settlers, it'd improve the game exponentially and wouldn't be that big of a change. The skeleton for a settlement system is already in Starfield, with base building, resource management, and a way for companions to live in outposts. It's hard to deny that it has the assets, it just needs to be programmed. Hopefully, Bethesda will give players the chance to make outposts into settlements.