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Starfield
Starfield
1.16.236|Apr 7, 2026
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Starfield Update 1.16.236 – April 7, 2026

4/5 Significant

The Free Lanes update introduces interplanetary cruise mode, the Terran Armada DLC, and the X-Tech system for legendary gear customization.

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Key Changes

  • 1Free Lanes: New cruise mode for interplanetary travel without fast travel
  • 2Terran Armada DLC is now available
  • 3X-Tech: New crafting system for customizing legendary effects on gear
  • 4Quantum Entanglement Device: Transfer items when going through the Unity
  • 5Moon Jumper: New playable vehicle added
  • 6Anchorpoint Station: New major Point of Interest in the Algorab system
  • 7Shared Outpost Container: Access inventory across all outpost locations
  • 8Rank 4 Legendary effects and additional quality tiers for weapons and suits
  • 9Ship Optimization Terminal: Spend X-Tech to improve ship attributes
  • 10Database Menu: New UI for tracking locations, resources, and recipes

All Changes

🎮Gameplay Systems(7)

  • newFree Lanes: Added cruise mode allowing travel in open space or to POI locations between planets within a star system.
  • newLegendary Enemies: Added Legendary Enemy Modifiers that make legendary foes more challenging.
  • newGameplay Options: Added Legendary Enemy Modifiers settings into Gameplay Options to adjust their appearance frequency.
  • newStarborn Powers: Starborn Powers can now be upgraded using Quantum Essence.
  • buffQuantum Essence: Quantum Essence can now be added to the Favorites menu for quick access.
  • buffStarborn ships: Starborn ships now reward the player with Quantum Essence when destroyed.
  • newQuantum Entanglement Device: Added the Quantum Entanglement Device to transfer select items when traveling through the Unity.

🛠️Crafting & Equipment(5)

  • newX-Tech: Added X-Tech crafting support to Weapons and Armor for legendary effect customization.
  • newWeapons: Added additional quality tiers for weapons and suits.
  • newLegendary effects: Added Rank 4 Legendary effects for weapons and suits.
  • newUpgrade modules: Added Upgrade modules to improve specific attributes of weapons and suits.
  • newWeapon skins: Added new weapon skins applicable at workbenches.

🚀Ships(8)

  • newShip optimization terminal: Added a buildable ship optimization terminal to improve ship attributes using X-Tech.
  • newShip Equipment: Added Ship Equipment schematics that can be discovered and used in the ship builder.
  • newShip Camera: Added a third 3rd-person ship camera distance for better visibility.
  • newLanding Camera: Added an 'Always Show Landing Camera' setting for landings at known locations.
  • changeShip Repair UI: Visual improvements to the Ship Repair user interface.
  • fixShip Builder: Fixed an issue preventing unique or stolen ships from being renamed.
  • fixShip Builder: Fixed an issue where duplicate ship models persisted on landing pads after modification.
  • newHopetech All-In-One Berth 2x2: The furnished Hopetech All-In-One Berth 2x2 is now accessible in the Ship Builder.

🏠Outposts(4)

  • newShared Outpost Container: Added a Shared Outpost Container to house and access inventory across multiple outpost locations.
  • buffOutposts: Added Production Rate information to the outpost UI.
  • buffOutposts: Added a more precise placement mode for outpost objects.
  • fixWeapons Workbench: Improved placement of Weapons Workbenches in houses and ships.

🌌New Content & DLC(10)

  • newTerran Armada: Released the Terran Armada DLC.
  • newAnchorpoint Station: Added Anchorpoint Station as a new Point of Interest in the Algorab system.
  • newMoon Jumper: Added the Moon Jumper as a new playable vehicle.
  • newChâteau des Étoiles: Added the 'Château des Étoiles' as a new player house.
  • newMuria Siarkiewicz: Muria Siarkiewicz is now available as a recruitable crew member.
  • newColony Wars Action Heroes: Added Colony Wars Action Heroes collectibles and buildable display cases.
  • newPoints of Interest: Added new dungeons, space encounters, and points of interest throughout the Settled Systems.
  • changePoints of Interest: Adjusted distribution and cooldown timers for point of interest placement on planets.
  • newRev-8: Added new photomode poses for the Rev-8 vehicle.
  • changeThe Oracle: Updated the music for The Oracle in Shattered Space.

📜Quests(8)

  • fixFriends Like These: Fixed an issue in 'Friends Like These' preventing the return of Terrormorph data.
  • fixGuilty Parties: Fixed an issue where 'Guilty Parties' would not start after 'Background Checks'.
  • fixMissed Beyond Measure: Fixed a companion lock issue in 'Missed Beyond Measure'.
  • fixOne Giant Leap: Fixed an issue in 'One Giant Leap' where the player's helmet was invisible.
  • fixRefurbished Goods: Fixed an issue in 'Refurbished Goods' where required weapons could not be found.
  • fixRefurbished Goods: Fixed an issue in 'Refurbished Goods' where incorrect items were taken from inventory.
  • fixThe Hammer Falls: Fixed an issue in 'The Hammer Falls' where players did not receive the Star Eagle ship.
  • fixTwo Tales, Two Cities: Fixed a control lock issue when arresting Tahir in 'Two Tales, Two Cities'.

🖥️User Interface(4)

  • newDatabase: Added a Database menu for tracking locations, resources, and recipes based on character knowledge.
  • changeLarge Font Mode: UI improvements for Ship Builder and Outpost menus in Large Font Mode.
  • buffWorkbenches: Players can now use the Escape key to cancel item renaming at workbenches (PC).
  • fixScan Jammer: Fixed a typo in the Scan Jammer's description.

🐛Bug Fixes(13)

  • fixSteam: Fixed an issue on Steam where disabled DLC would re-install upon launching.
  • fixStability: General crash and stability improvements.
  • buffLoot: Improved loot quality in containers with Expert and Master level locks.
  • fixReactive Equipment: Fixed sound effect issues for the Reactive legendary effect.
  • fixNPCs: Fixed inconsistent NPC weapon damage calculations.
  • fixCombaTech: Fixed inconsistent application of CombaTech magazine accuracy bonuses.
  • buffReloading: Players can now jump while reloading the XM-2311, Old Earth Pistol, and Livingstone's Pistol.
  • fixBounties: Fixed an issue preventing bounty targets in cities from being interactable.
  • fixAudio: Fixed an issue where non-combat background music would stop playing.
  • fixPhoto Mode: Fixed issues when entering photo mode while transitioning to an interior.
  • fixPhoto Mode: Fixed an issue causing the player's right foot to display awkwardly in photo mode.
  • fixAkila City: Fixed an issue where beds in Akila City did not grant the Rested Bonus.
  • fixExplorer's Refuge: Fixed an issue where characters did not sit correctly in chairs at Explorer's Refuge.

🎨Creations(5)

  • fixA Perfect Recipe: Fixed an issue in 'A Perfect Recipe' preventing Ashta from spawning.
  • changePlushie Andreja: Updated the description for the Plushie Andreja creation.
  • changeAt Hell's Gate: Plushies can now be placed in cases in the 'At Hell's Gate' creation.
  • buffPlushie Case: Improved placement proximity for 'Plushie Case - Mount' and 'Stackable' variants.
  • fixAllied Winter Camo Skins: Fixed an issue where Allied Winter Camo Skins did not appear in the Creation menu.

Summary

Starfield's Free Lanes update is a massive expansion of gameplay systems and content. The headline feature, Free Lanes, allows players to use a new cruise mode to fly between planets and points of interest within a star system without fast traveling. This is accompanied by the X-Tech system, which introduces deep customization for legendary equipment and ships, including Rank 4 legendary effects and new quality tiers. Players can also now transfer items through the Unity using the Quantum Entanglement Device. The update also launches the Terran Armada DLC and adds significant new locations like Anchorpoint Station.

← OlderEverything in Starfield’s Free Lanes Update & Terran Armada DLCApr 7, 2026

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