Following June 9’s Xbox Showcase, Starfield lastly acquired its Creation Equipment and Creations suite, permitting PC and Xbox gamers to obtain official and community-built mods straight in-game. It’s nonetheless early days for positive, however there are already plenty of nice mods price your time that it is best to try ASAP.
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One twist, in fact, is that each paid and free mods can be found within the Creations hub. Should you’re not sure what to spend cash on, or don’t want to pay for mods, nonetheless, there are some nice free ones to get began with. I’ve rounded up six free mods that’ll subtly however meaningfully enhance your Starfield expertise. Should you’re simply on the lookout for some mild modifications or are new to modding generally, these are an incredible place to start out.
Make the galaxy look higher with Colour Filter Elimination and Darker Nights
I’m completely digging a pair of mods that dramatically improves the visible look of the sport on each PC and Xbox. The primary is GTA_R0CKS’ “Colour Filter Elimination.” This mod peels away Starfield’s meh coloration filters pl, lending itself to a a lot cleaner picture.
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“Colour Filter Elimination” pairs delightfully properly with HopeFulWishing’s “Darker Nights.” This mod lowers the sport’s ambient lighting to make for a darker, extra imposing picture that, throughout evenings on planets and moons, permits darkness to truly blanket and smother the surroundings. All the things feels notably spookier, and in my expertise it hasn’t been too laborious to see issues. In truth, it makes the sport extra compelling. Recognizing distant constructions within the distance, for instance, feels extra ominous as you possibly can’t essentially make the whole lot out.
What about “Pitch Black Nights?”
Should you’re fishing across the Starfield Creation suite, you’ll probably come throughout one other mod from HopeFulWishing: Pitch Black Nights.” This mod makes the surroundings even darker. In my expertise, nonetheless, it’s too darkish. If you wish to go for some ominous, liminal, house pictures of deserted constructions, it may be neat to activate once in a while. However for normal gameplay, I advocate “Darker Nights.”
Whereas “Darker Nights” is nice by itself, the mod is made even higher by a easy flashlight mod that will increase the quantity of sunshine you emit.
“Vanilla Flashlight Improved” is a substantial enchancment
Litbeep’s “Vanilla Flashlight Improved (VFI),” out there on PC and Xbox casts far more mild along with your flashlight, making it really helpful for seeing additional in darkish areas. This combines very well with “Darker Nights” and the “Colour Filter Elimination” to make for some glorious night-time planetary exploration. The mod additionally removes the banding impact that the inventory flashlight has, so it’s not solely extra mild, it’s a cleaner flashlight texture too.
“Headshot kills any actor” makes for higher fight and extra realism
This mod from SKKmods not solely improves the common circulation of fight in Starfield, it will probably additionally release the inflexible nature of many quests by letting you lastly kill important NPCs (sure, I do know which one you’re desirous about proper now, and I’ll reply that query in only a second).
To activate this mod, you’ll want to make use of the merchandise added to your stock as soon as the mod is put in. This merchandise gives you a menu that allows you to select who might be killed with a headshot, from common enemies, to friendlies, to your self, and to important NPCs.
On that word, if you happen to kill an important NPC, you’ll probably break any quest they’re related to. So that is actually greatest for sandbox play, or you possibly can go away the “Important actor headshots” toggle off and revel in the advantages of headshot kills for normal hostile characters.
And sure, when “Important actor headshots” is toggled on, you can kill the board of Paradiso. Is that this the proper strategy to cope with this example? Nicely I ain’t writing a information on morality right here, however I can say in my exams it positive did make me really feel a sure approach.
“Shade’s Stealth Takedowns (Knock-out or Deadly)”
Shadedness’ takedown mod instantly modified how I used to be taking part in Starfield, lastly inching the sport towards extra immersive sim territory—which I’m completely all about. This mod provides a brand new “Takedown” ability within the Bodily Abilities tree, with 4 ranks to ascend by way of. Now you possibly can sneak into an enemy base and take down enemies from behind with out a lot fuss. When used with the “Sense Star Stuff” means, it nearly seems like taking part in Dishonored…in house.
Do try Shadedness’ different mods as properly, as they deal with and enhance just a few essential areas of Starfield.
“Starshards” assist you to unlock new abilities quicker
“Starshards” by _Ravageron is a neat little mod that spawns varied, properly, starshards on planets so that you can accumulate. Not solely does this add an additional exercise to planetary exploration, you’ll additionally get a ability level for each three shards you accumulate. This can come in useful if you happen to’re planning on including extra abilities to the ability tree.
The Creations mod suite is quickly rising, so there’ll undoubtedly be extra mods price your time sooner or later. However enhancements to the visible fashion of the sport and its fight can go an extended strategy to making Starfield really feel good and recent once more.