How many planets are there in Starfield? The game promises to be a massive space RPG with over 1,000 planets for players to explore.
And with so many worlds to explore, you're sure to find something to keep you busy. You can build outposts, hire a crew and harvest resources to make your mark on the galaxy. However, not all Starfield planets are created equal. Some are home to lovely cities and diverse factions, while others could be lifeless or inhabited by unknown alien species.
An impressive aspect of Starfield is that even the most barren planets can hold secrets worth uncovering, as the Constellation faction knows well. So in this article, we'll take a look at Starfield planets and worlds, going over everything we know so far. We'll also touch on what you can expect to do on these planets, such as exploring, in search of a specific creature, building bases and so on.
All Starfield Planets
As aforesaid, some planets will be lush and verdant, while others will be barren and desolate. Some will be home to advanced civilizations while others will be untouched by intelligent life. Some of the most important Starfield planets and systems are:
Sol System
The Sol System is our own solar system, and it will be one of the first systems that players will be able to explore in Starfield. It will also include some (if not all) of the planets that we already know as well as some new discoveries. Yes, you can visit Earth but it's nothing like you would imagine, being a barren wasteland now rather than featuring the lush vegetation and sprawling megacities you would have hope to see.
And while Earth faces challenges, life on Mars is thriving. The Red Planet is part of the United Colonies space and is home to some of the largest mining and industrial projects in civilised space. In Starfield, Mars is a desert world that is home to a variety of ruins and artefacts from ancient civilisations. It's also a popular destination for scientists who are looking for evidence of life on other planets.
Other planets in the Sol System: Io (Barren Moon), Jupiter (Gas Giant), Luna (Earth's Moon), Mercury (Small Barren Planet), Neptune (Gas Giant), Pluto (Small Barren Planet), Saturn (Ringed Gas Giant), Venus and Uranus.
Alpha Centauri System
The Alpha Centauri system is closest star system to our own and features prominently in Starfield. In the game's story, it is the capital of the United Colonies faction. The system has four planets, one of which has two moons, and a gas giant that orbits the outer edge with five moons.
The four planets in Alpha Centauri are Jemison, Gagarin, Chawla and Olivas. Gagarin is one of the habitable planets in Starfield, featuring plenty of flora and fauna for you to scan and gather resources, making it a prime candidate location for you to consider building an outpost on.
Jemison on the other hand, stands out as one of the most significant worlds in Starfield. With a mild climate and an atmosphere that resembles that of Earth, it has emerged as a de facto replacement for humanity's original home and is the location of the United Colonies' capital city, New Atlantis.
Narion System
This is a mysterious star system that can be seen in the brief glimpse of Starfield's galactic map. It is located in the vicinity of Sol and Alpha Centauri, and while we don't know much about it, we do know that it has at least one planetary body: a moon called Vectera.
Vectera is a small, rocky moon with a thin atmosphere. It is likely to be a harsh and unforgiving environment that may also be home to valuable resources. Players who venture to Vectera will need to be prepared for the challenges that await them.
Other Notable Planets and Systems
Jaffa is also another system that is home to a variety of ruins and artefacts. It's a popular destination for archaeologists who are looking to learn more about the history of the galaxy.
Volii is another system that is home to a variety of dangerous creatures. It's a popular destination for players who are looking to battle some of the game's mightiest creatures.
Another interesting planet to visit is Akila. This is the capital of the Freestar Collective faction, but we know little about its characteristics or biosphere. The massive walls that surround the capital city, Akila City, suggest that the planet may be home to some hostile local wildlife. However, the planet's location in the Cheyenne system suggests that it may also be a temperate world with a rich ecosystem.
Star Systems in Starfield
Here's a list of the most important systems we've encountered so far in Starfield:
- Alpha Centauri
- Narion
- Volii
- Aranae
- Porrima
- Sol
- Linnaeus
- Groombridge
- Lunara
- Cheyenne
- Charybdis
- Olympus
- Sagan
- Jaffa
- Syrma
- Nirvana
- Kryx
- Procyon A
- Algorab
Are Starfield Planets Procedurally Generated?
That depends on where you land. Big landmarks like cities will not be procedurally generated. We're talking about the likes of New Atlantis, Akila City, and other notable locations during the main story of Starfield.
However, a sizable portion of planets are procedurally generated. Let's take Jemison, for example, the home of New Atlantis; if you choose a landing spot outside the city, a seed (a code for a randomly generated world) will determine what that location will look like depending on various factors that include climate, what type of terrain you're landing on, the resources available for mining, and what type of flora/fauna inhabits the world.
Are Starfield Planets Fully Explorable?
To follow up on the previous question - technically, yes, but also no. While you can land on almost every planet and explore them at your leisure, you won't be able to seamlessly go from one spot to another.
Going back to the Jemison and New Atlantis example. If you land in the city and want to move to the wilderness, you'll have to head to orbit and then select a landing area outside New Atlantis, thus generating a seed in that spot. If you wish to mine for resources elsewhere, you must do the same and pick another landing spot while in orbit.
How Big Are Planets in Starfield?
It really does depend. The amount of Starfield planets available to explore is almost unmeasurable and can range from big, lush, rich in resources and wildlife to vast, barren rocks filled with nothingness.
So in short, there are massive and relatively small planets.
While you are here, why not check out some of our other articles and guides like Starfield - Food and Drink, or Starfield - Builds Hub ?
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