Summary

  • Starfield's timeline begins in 2050 and ends at the game's outset in 2330, providing context for the game's world and characters.
  • New Atlantis, the capital city of the United Colonies, is a significant location in Starfield that was founded more than 150 years before the game starts.
  • Sarah Morgan, acting Chair of Constellation and the first companion, worked with Constellation for 11 years before the player joins the group.

Despite recent criticism, Bethesda's Starfield remains one of the best science fiction gaming adventures available. However, being that it is science fiction and takes place hundreds of years in the future, its politics, cultures, and people have all been defined by several major events that occurred before the story of Starfield begins.

In light of a nearly 300-year gap between present day and Starfield's beginning, players may be curious about the timeline of events leading up to the game. Thankfully, Bethesda included a detailed breakdown of the most significant events leading up to the beginning of Starfield on its official website, which can help provide quite a bit of context for the game's world and its most noteworthy characters.

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Starfield's Timeline Explained

Starfield's complete timeline begins in the year 2050 and ends in the year 2330, which is when the game's story begins. In 2050, humans arrived on Mars, and they began inhabiting more of space by 2100. From then on, they discovered the Alpha Centauri system and built the city of New Atlantis on its planet Jemison.

  • 2050: Humans first arrive on Mars and begin living in space by 2100.
  • 2156: Humans arrive in Alpha Centauri.
  • 2159: The United Colonies are established.
  • 2160: New Atlantis is founded and becomes the official capital city of the United Colonies in 2161.

New Atlantis is the most prominent city in Starfield and the city players probably spend the most time in, so this was a rather significant event in Starfield's history. In New Atlantis, players can find a multitude of vendors, side missions, and interesting characters, all of which serve as an effective introduction to Starfield's overall design.

  • 2167: Solomon Coe settles in Cheyenne and founds its first settlement, Akila City.
  • 2188: Coe invites Volii to join The Freestar Collective, which is officially formed in 2189.
  • 2194: The people of Narion vote to join the Freestar Collective.
  • 2196: The Narion War begins.
  • 2216: The treaty of Narion is signed by the UC and Freestar Collective, ending the conflict.
  • 2221: The Freestar Rangers are founded.
  • 2275: Constellation is formed by Sebastian Banks. The Lodge is built in New Atlantis.

Constellation is the space exploration faction that players are invited to join shortly after Starfield's introduction and the main group they spend the entirety of the story working for. Its founder, Sebastian Banks, is nowhere to be found in the game, but a story involving his whereabouts could appear in future DLC.

  • 2305: Barrett joins Constellation.
  • 2307: The Colony War officially begins.
  • 2310: Constellation comes into possession of their first Artifact.
  • 2311: The Colony War comes to an end.
  • 2315: The UC Vanguard is founded.
  • 2319: Sarah Morgan joins Constellation.
  • 2321: Walter Stroud joins Constellation and becomes its primary financial backer.
  • 2322: Former Crimson Fleet pirate Vladimir Sall joins Constellation.
  • 2325: Sarah Morgan becomes acting Chair of Constellation.

Sarah Morgan is the first companion in Starfield, as she is still the acting Chair of Constellation upon the player's arrival at The Lodge in New Atlantis. Like most of the game's companions, she is lovable and enjoyable to be around, although some players have found her ethics to be a little too strict at times.

  • 2325: Theologian Matteo Khatri joins Constellation.
  • 2326: Barrett finds the original Artifact in the Constellation archives.
  • 2326: Graduate student and gifted scientist Noel is invited to join Constellation.
  • 2327: Freestar Rangers Sam Coe and his daughter Cora join Constellation.
  • 2328: Andreja joins Constellation.
  • 2328: Constellation purchases Starstation L-868 and modifies it to become "The Eye."
  • 2330: Starfield begins.

Starfield has an extensive history, but it's more than worth studying simply for the context it adds to the game's story and characters. It's interesting to see how politics and war played a part in Starfield's factions, as well as when some of the game's most memorable characters made their mark on the game's world.

Rating block community and brand ratings Image
Starfield Tag Page Cover Art
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
Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info

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