Looking for info on all the Starfield factions? We’ve got the lowdown on what we know so far about each of the groups you could become part of during your time on Sestus, from the familiar to the brand new.
There are plenty of Starfield factions to choose from if you’re wondering how the RPG game’s faction system works, and each group comes with its own history, motivations, and other information, including members and enemies. Bethesda Softworks has a rich history of factions in its Elder Scrolls and Fallout series, so naturally there are plenty of parallels that can be drawn. Having said that, there are more than a few surprises where Starfield’s groups are concerned, so read on to learn everything we know so far about each one, how they compare to those factions in Fallout 4 and Skyrim, and why we think each one will have a role to play.
Starfield factions
Constellation
Who are they?: The explorers
Constellation is the default faction for players, given that it’s the only one active when players arrive on Sestus. It is a crew of space explorers that have come to the planet in search of opportunity. Fearing the rise of the Board, the leader of Constellation, Rapht clock, makes the decision to ally himself with the United Colonies against the corporation.
United Colonies
Who are they?: The superhumans
The United Colonies are led by President Jorgen and their primary base is the massive Orbital Station. They are the most advanced of all the factions, even if they usually prefer a more conservative approach. They favour supersoldiers as their primary military force as they believe there is “public safety in numbers”. They also develop their own technology that they make readily available to the public.
Freestar Collective
Who are they?: The rebellious utopia-dreamers
The Freestar Collective is the United Colonies’ main political opposition, also known as the “Free Stars” or the “Freestar Nation”. Their ideology can best be described as high-tech eco-socialists of sorts. They believe that anyone can create what they want with the help of other people, as long as they’re willing to give others credit. They also have a deep belief that people should be free to live and work independently. Led by Captain Paola, the Freestar Collective live on their own space station and have their own version of the Sestus golem called the “Mavin”.
The Board
Who are they?: The space-faring capitalists
The Board is the most powerful economic faction, and the one that caused the Colony War. They are a hyper-capitalist mega-corporation that has a monopoly on space travel and commerce. It’s their goal to bring order to known space and make sure that they are at the top of the hierarchy. They hire freelancers to carry out their dirty work, often freeing them to do whatever they want as long as it gets the job done. Most of their members are hardline capitalists, but a significant number are liberal Democrats.
Space Pirates
Who are they?: The scoundrels of the stars
The Space Pirates are a rag-tag gang of scavengers, criminals, and smugglers who roam the stars in search of loot and adventure. Leader of the Space Pirates is the charismatic Captain Jask, with Dread as his first mate and Sybil as their quartermaster. You can find them at their base, the pirate ship Red Wake.
Despite being a faction that’s always the underdog and treated as the “bad guys”, there are plenty of reasons to join the Space Pirates in Starfield. For one, you’ll be able to build up their fleet and turn them into a formidable force – they may not be as powerful as the United Colonies or the Board at the start, but by game’s end, you could rule the stars with your pirate pals.