StarfieldThe excellent Digipick puzzle game, surrounded by 80 hours of sci-fi, is getting a performance update on Xbox Series X that unlocks frame rates above 30 fps. StarfieldThe May update adds the option to target 30 fps, 40 fps, 60 fps, or uncapped frame rates for displays that support VRR running at 120 Hz. Non-VRR displays will have a choice of 30fps or 60fps.
The May update also includes the ability to prioritize visuals or performance per frame rate target. Visual mode means that the game will do its best to maintain high resolution and full detail in lighting, special effects, and NPCs, while performance degrades the accuracy and clarity of those details. Of course, both modes adjust the game’s base resolution in addition to heavy screen motion.
Bethesda recommends performance mode when playing at 60 fps and higher. For Xbox Series X players with 120hz VRR displays, Starfield‘s settings now favor visuals up to 40 fps by default.
The May 1 screen updates bring the Xbox Series X version Starfield it’s closer to its PC counterpart in terms of customization options. The Xbox Series S edition is limited to 30 frames per second. This is the version I played reviewed Starfield last year, and while the frame rate boost doesn’t make the game any less smooth, its fight scenes would definitely benefit from being boosted to at least 40 fps. It’s a shame the most popular Xbox Series console The frame rate is not seeing any love in today’s update.
Additionally, in the May update, Starfield‘s surface maps have been overhauled to improve readability on all platforms. The new design shows top-down 3D images of terrain, buildings, and objects like trees and rocks, which makes a lot of sense for a map. The original surface map tries to create landscapes of white dots on a bright blue background, so this is a welcome improvement. The update also allows players to customize difficulty options in ground and ship battles, and adds navigation markers to the environment while traversing the planet.
This is Bethesda’s fourth and largest Starfield update since the game was released in September 2023. All of these are scheduled to be released by May 15.
