Bethesda’s brand-new RPG is filled with opportunities for personalization, including your main tool of exploration, your Spaceship.
Starfield is an open-world space exploration RPG that stresses player freedom. Not only can you create your own unique character, but you can also make meaningful choices that resonate with your ideals.
This level of personalization also extends to the ships you use in the game, where you can use your creativity to build a truly unique spaceship.
In Starfield, not only can you build your own spaceship from scratch, but you can also purchase new ones and customize them at will. This includes changing colors and swapping parts of your ships.
If you’re curious about the full extent of ship modification in Starfield, then you can check out our in-depth guide on Ship Customization. However, if you’re on a budget, you can replace your existing ship’s modules with upgraded versions with better stats.
That said, upgrading ships in Starfield can be confusing as the game doesn’t provide clear instructions on the subject. Instead, you’re left with figuring out how things work through trial and error. This guide aims to ease that learning process and help turn your hunk of junk into a worthy spacefarer.
List of Upgradeable Ship Parts
Your ship stores various modules, each with a specific function. Carefully choosing your modules is key, as modules have mass, which affects your ship’s speed. Some modules are purely cosmetic and serve no purpose outside the aesthetic (not that there’s anything wrong with that). Below is the list of every upgradable module of your ship.
- Shield Generator: Protects your ship against damage.
- Cowling: Modifies the shape and size of your ship.
- Fuel Tanks: Stores resources needed for movement and grav jumps.
- Docker: Allows movement to space stations or other ships and serves as a bridge between them.
- Grav Drive: Allows your ship to Grav Jump, moving to another system. Upgrading allows jumps to further destinations
- Weapons: The weapons of your ship that are used during space combat. Your ship has three weapon slots, and there are different kinds of weapon modules, including missile systems, lasers, and cannons
- Hab: These are the living quarters. They increase the number of crew and passengers your ship can carry. Hab modules also allow you to build different workstation rooms on your ship.
- Cockpit: The control center of your ship. Here, you’ll find the pilot’s seat, a number of workstations depending on the module’s size, and cargo space.
- Engine: Engine modules determine the speed of your ship.
- Cargo Hold: Acts as your ship’s inventory space. The space holds items that are to be smuggled, delivered, or stored.
- Reactor: Your ship’s power source. Determines the amount of components you can use in your ship.
- Bay: Your ship’s entry and exit when on a planet’s surface.
- Landing Gears: Allow your ship to land on different surfaces and terrains.
How to Upgrade Ship Parts
Now, let’s talk about accessing the menu that lets you upgrade your ship. Firstly, you can find a Ship Services Technician near every spaceport. There is one in the first area of New Atlantis. Along with repairs and full ship purchases, these NPCs also offer upgrades for your ship.
When talking to the technician, select “I’d like to view and modify my ships.” Then, select your ship and open the Ship Builder menu, or select Upgrade Ship.
The Ship Builder lets you add new modules that you can buy. Whereas the Upgrade menu lets you upgrade the modules you already own. After you’re done upgrading your desired modules, press the Flight Check command in the Ship Builder.
Remember that not all upgrades work well together, and the game has a way of letting you know whether they’ll cause problems during flight. Here’s how you’ll know that your modified ship is ready for flying:
- If your ship is Normal, then it is good to go – and you can save it.
- If you get Yellow Warnings, you can still save your ship, but you might experience issues such as flying being extremely sluggish.
- If you get Red Warnings, then it means that there are critical errors that will not allow your ship to fly, and therefore, you cannot save it.
