Summary

  • Starfield beta update 1.8.87 is now available for download on PC. The patch fixes a bug that caused asteroids and other celestial objects to follow players around.
  • The new beta update also patched an infinite weapon exploit that's been present in the game from day one.
  • Starfield beta updates are only available to Steam players. PC Game Pass and Xbox Series X/S versions of the game are expected to receive this patch in the coming weeks.

Bethesda rolled out another Starfield beta update on December 1. Identified by version number 1.8.87, this newly introduced release arrived less than two weeks after the Starfield update 1.8.86 added an eat command and DLSS support to the space-faring RPG, among other changes.

The most notable bug fix bundled with the new update addresses a bizarre glitch that would sometimes provide Starfield players with unexpected traveling companions in the form of asteroids and some other types of celestial objects. While the root cause of that bug remains unclear, the issue itself has been present in the game from day one, as confirmed by a number of past player reports on the matter dating back to September.

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Starfield: All Patch Notes

Find all update information for Starfield, starting with the Day One patch notes, and continuing through each significant update.

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New Atlantis Can Still Follow Players Around on Starfield Version 1.8.87

The fix for this peculiar problem that's included in the Starfield beta update 1.8.87 is officially described as a partial solution, with Bethesda noting that the patch will only eliminate the cases of space matter being stuck behind the player. On the other hand, the most egregious instances of this Starfield bug that sometimes cause New Atlantis to follow players around are yet to be addressed. The official changelog attached to the patch says that the full fix for this strange glitch is only coming in a future update.

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The December 1 update also patches out an exploit that allowed players to easily stockpile guns by building a Weapon Case in an Outpost, then saving and reloading the game. Doing so prior to this patch consistently caused Starfield to spawn random guns in any such containers. Since the case itself requires just one Polymer and two Titanium pieces to build, the glitch itself effectively offered infinite weapon generation, allowing players to keep reloading the game until they were happy with their rolls in each new container.

Given how the 1.8.87 build of Starfield is currently in beta, the infinite weapon exploit can still be leveraged by anyone who cares to do so. For clarity, the game's experimental patches are exclusive to the Steam version of the RPG and require players to specifically opt into the Starfield beta channel by right-clicking its library icon, selecting Properties, and then enrolling into its early access update program found under the Betas menu.

The PC Game Pass and Xbox Series X/S versions of the game are expected to receive this newly introduced patch in the coming weeks. For context, the previous Starfield beta update spent nine days in testing before Bethesda rolled it out to everyone.

Starfield Beta Update 1.8.87 Patch Notes

Gameplay

  • Addressed an issue that would cause space matter to become stuck to the player's ship during space travel. Loading a save will now remove the space clingon. Please note: This fix should address any space matter being stuck in your travels, but not in instances where player ships have New Atlantis attached. A fix for that will be released in a later update.

Outpost

  • Fixed an issue that prevents random guns from spawning in a newly created Weapon Case after loading a save.
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10 /10

Starfield
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Action
RPG
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Systems
PC-1 Xbox-1
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Top Critic Avg: 85 /100 Critics Rec: 83%
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Released
September 6, 2023
ESRB
M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood, Suggestive Themes, Use of Drugs, Strong Language, Violence
Developer(s)
Bethesda
Publisher(s)
Bethesda
Engine
proprietary engine
Cross-Platform Play
no multiplayer
Cross Save
no
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WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
PHYSICAL
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Starfield is the first new universe in 25 years from Bethesda Game Studios, the award-winning creators of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Fallout 4. In this next generation role-playing game set amongst the stars, create any character you want and explore with unparalleled freedom as you embark on an epic journey to answer humanity’s greatest mystery.
The year is 2330. Humanity has ventured beyond our solar system, settling new planets, and living as a spacefaring people. From humble beginnings as a space miner, you will join Constellation – the last group of space explorers seeking rare artifacts throughout the galaxy – and navigate the vast expanse of the Settled Systems in Bethesda Game Studios’ biggest and most ambitious game.

Genre(s)
Action, RPG
How Long To Beat
20 Hours
File Size Xbox Series
101 GB (September 2023)
Metascore
86