Given the incredible scope of nearly every aspect of the game, it's hardly surprising that Starfield features a massive upgrade system for the player's fleet of ships. From the moment players step foot on the game's first ship, the endless possibilities become readily apparent. Starfield is clearly designed to allow players to truly create their personal dream spaceship.
The upgrade system, which works with several different modules, can be slightly overwhelming at first. Even finding the exact location of the system can be a challenge. This guide will strive to break down the process into simple, easy to follow steps, allowing every new member of Constellation to quickly venture out among the field of stars, and hopefully beyond.
Where to Upgrade Ships in Starfield
The easiest way to upgrade the various modules on a ship in Starfield is to locate the Ship Services Technician at a landing/launch pad. The first technician the player will encounter during Starfield' s main story will be found at the New Atlantis pad. To find him, look for the green Trade Authority kiosk and a large 'Ship Services' sign. The technician will be standing directly to the left of the kiosk.
Outside of New Atlantis, the Ship Services hub will nearly always be found near the landing areas outside major cities. The image above depicts the service location outside of Cydonia, a major city on Mars. Keep an eye out whenever landing in a new destination, as these hubs offer much more than upgrades.
How to Upgrade a Ship in Starfield
To upgrade a ship, approach the Ship Services Technician and initiate an interaction. Select the "I'd like to view and modify my ships" option from the list. This will take the player into the Ship Overview screen, which is where players can access both the Ship Builder, and the Ship Upgrade systems.
At the bottom right of the Ship Overview screen, players will find a selection of prompts. Press A to enter the Ship Upgrade system.
Once in the upgrade menu, notice the row of upgradeable modules near the bottom of the screen. Players can upgrade the following categories:
- Weapon Zero: The main weapons system, controlled with the right trigger button.
- Weapon One: The secondary weapons system, controlled with the left trigger button.
- Weapon Two: Final weapons system, controlled with Y (Missiles on the Frontier).
- Engines: Determines the ships speed and acceleration. Overall mass will affect performance.
- Shields: Generates the protective barrier around the ship
- Grav Drives: Determines how far the ship can jump between systems.
- Reactors: Determines the ships available power.
It can be hard to tell, but the player must press right on the d-pad to access more options in the upgrade menu. It is easy to miss the Grav Drives and Reactors sections.
Each module can have many options on offer. Make sure to study the positive effects (displayed in blue) and the negative effects (displayed in red) of each selection. The price of each item is displayed to the right of its name. The entire cost of the upgrade will be calculated and subtracted at the very end of the process.
As players continue to progress through Starfield, more powerful upgrades will become available. Eventually, it will become possible to own a fully customized fleet, unrivaled by anything found in the field of stars.
Starfield is available now on Xbox Series X/S and PC.