Julio Neves
Bethesda’s space epic Starfield continues to evolve with the release of update 1.14.74, bringing a host of fixes, enhancements, and new features for players on both Xbox and PC. Whether you’re a veteran starfarer or just beginning your journey among the stars, this update offers some key improvements aimed at enhancing gameplay, performance, and quest progression. Let’s dive into everything this update has to offer.
Update Highlights: What’s New in Version 1.14.74
Update Status:
As of today, Starfield update 1.14.74 is live and available to all players on Xbox and PC. Initially rolled out as a “Beta” on PC, this update has now been fully released, ensuring that the improvements reach the entire Starfield community.
A noteworthy addition includes enhanced functionality for the Creation Kit, which now supports the generation of lipsync animation data. This tool, essential for modders, empowers creators to deliver even more immersive and polished content for the Starfield modding scene.
Here’s a quick look at what’s included:
- Lipsync Animation: Modders can now generate lipsync animation data using the Creation Kit.
- Uncapped Frame Rate on Xbox Series X: After much anticipation, players on Xbox Series X can once again enjoy the game with an uncapped frame rate option, offering smoother visuals.
- Performance Improvements: Across the board, the update addresses general stability issues and improves the overall performance of the game.
General Changes
Bethesda has refined several core aspects of Starfield to improve the overall experience for players. These updates address performance, achievement tracking, and various small but impactful quality-of-life fixes.
Performance and Stability
- Improved general stability and performance across all platforms.
- The Message of the Day now consistently displays for Xbox players, ensuring important updates and tips are always visible.
- Fixed an issue where some console commands failed to disable specific achievements as intended.
Steam Fixes
- Ownership for the Shattered Space expansion is now displayed correctly for Steam users.
Gameplay Tweaks and Fixes
Gameplay is the heart of Starfield, and this update tackles several community-reported issues to enhance how the game feels and functions. From stealth mechanics to bounty missions, players should notice a smoother and more immersive experience.
Combat & Stealth
- The Annihilator Particle Beam damage-over-time effect no longer triggers unnecessary reactions from companions.
- The stealth bar has been improved, offering better functionality when interacting with crowd NPCs.
Ship Mechanics
- Resolved an issue where destroyed ships could load without collision, ensuring smoother space exploration.
- Fixed a bug where loading a save with missing content could teleport the player to undesirable locations.
Tracker’s Alliance Bounties
The Tracker’s Alliance system received significant updates to improve bounty hunting gameplay:
- Roach now accurately tracks completed bounties.
- Bounty targets now spawn in additional locations, including Akila, Gagarin, and Cydonia.
- Extorting or bribing targets is no longer a guaranteed success, adding a layer of challenge.
- Bounty targets feature greater variety in appearance and are removed from areas once dealt with.
- Fixed a loophole where players could earn extra credits by extorting and then killing targets.
Quest Fixes and Improvements
Quests are integral to Starfield’s narrative depth, and this update addresses several progression-blocking bugs and quality-of-life issues across various missions.
Major Quest Fixes
- The Starjacker: The quest now correctly updates the objective when players board the Junker Watchdog.
- Legacy of the Fang: Fixed a bug where the key might fail to open the door if players left the area prematurely.
- The Duel: Players who attack Danika and get arrested can now still speak to her to complete the quest.
- A House Divided: Keycards from Madri are obtainable after the quest, and Radiology center doors stay unlocked if the area is exited and re-entered during the mission.
Zealous Overreach
This quest received multiple fixes for smoother progression:
- Va’ruun Zealots killed before starting the mission no longer block the quest from progressing.
- Resolved a bug where starting “Conflict in Conviction” simultaneously could prevent speaking to Razma or Viktor.
- Vortex Phantoms now spawn further away to avoid disrupting the negotiation scene.
Other Quest Updates
- What Remains: Fixed a non-interactable hatch issue on The Oracle when certain creations were installed.
- The Scaled Citadel: Anasko’s ID Key is now appropriately flagged as a quest item.
Original Beta Details
Before its full release, update 1.14.74 was available in beta form exclusively to PC players, allowing Bethesda to test and refine changes before rolling them out to a wider audience. During this testing phase, PC players gained early access to the update’s performance improvements and features like the uncapped frame rate on Xbox Series X.
What to Expect Moving Forward
Bethesda continues to work on expanding and refining the Starfield experience, with updates like this reinforcing the studio’s commitment to player feedback. For Xbox players, the return of the uncapped frame rate on the Series X is a major win, providing a more fluid and immersive experience. Meanwhile, modding enthusiasts can look forward to more robust tools, thanks to enhancements to the Creation Kit.
Stay tuned for future updates and expansions, including the upcoming Shattered Space DLC, which promises to add even more adventures to the vast galaxy of Starfield.
For players ready to jump back into the cosmos, update 1.14.74 is live and ready to install. Make sure your game is up-to-date, and prepare for smoother gameplay, fewer bugs, and an overall enhanced experience.
