Following June 9’s Xbox Showcase, Starfield lastly received its Creation Equipment and Creations suite, permitting PC and Xbox gamers to obtain official and community-built mods immediately in-game. It’s nonetheless early days for certain, however there are already quite a lot of nice mods value your time that it’s best to take a look at ASAP.
Learn Extra: Shattered House Appears to be like Like The Dose Of Character Starfield Wants
One twist, after all, is that each paid and free mods can be found within the Creations hub. When you’re not sure what to spend cash on, or don’t want to pay for mods, nevertheless, 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. When you’re simply searching for some mild modifications or are new to modding generally, these are an ideal place to begin.
Make the galaxy look higher with Coloration 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’ “Coloration Filter Elimination.” This mod peels away Starfield’s meh coloration filters pl, lending itself to a a lot cleaner picture.
Learn Extra: How To Set up And Use Starfield’s Official And Fan-Made Mods
“Coloration 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 really blanket and smother the setting. The whole lot feels notably spookier, and in my expertise it hasn’t been too laborious to see issues. Actually, it makes the sport extra compelling. Recognizing distant constructions within the distance, for instance, feels extra ominous as you’ll be able to’t essentially make the whole lot out.
What about “Pitch Black Nights?”
When you’re fishing across the Starfield Creation suite, you’ll possible come throughout one other mod from HopeFulWishing: Pitch Black Nights.” This mod makes the setting even darker. In my expertise, nevertheless, it’s too darkish. If you wish to go for some ominous, liminal, area pictures of deserted constructions, it may be neat to activate every so often. However for normal gameplay, I suggest “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),” obtainable 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 “Coloration 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 move of fight in Starfield, it may possibly additionally unlock 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 permits you to select who may be killed with a headshot, from common enemies, to friendlies, to your self, and to important NPCs.
On that word, when you kill a vital NPC, you’ll possible break any quest they’re related to. So that is actually finest for sandbox play, or you’ll be able to go away the “Important actor headshots” toggle off and luxuriate 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 case? Properly I ain’t writing a information on morality right here, however I can say in my assessments it certain 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” talent within the Bodily Expertise tree, with 4 ranks to ascend via. Now you’ll be able to sneak into an enemy base and take down enemies from behind with out a lot fuss. When used with the “Sense Star Stuff” skill, it nearly appears like taking part in Dishonored…in area.
Do take a look at Shadedness’ different mods as properly, as they tackle and enhance a number of crucial areas of Starfield.
“Starshards” aid you unlock new expertise sooner
“Starshards” by _Ravageron is a neat little mod that spawns numerous, properly, starshards on planets so that you can gather. Not solely does this add an additional exercise to planetary exploration, you’ll additionally get a talent level for each three shards you gather. This may turn out to be useful when you’re planning on including extra expertise to the talent tree.
The Creations mod suite is quickly rising, so there’ll undoubtedly be extra mods value 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.