Old-school Bethesda fans know that if an item is sitting there quietly, it probably has a hidden purpose. And now, with the company’s most ambitious game visiting space, players are curious to know if the same holds true for objects in Starfield.
The good news is, yes, like most Bethesda games, Starfield lets players interact with random stuff—and use them to manipulate level designs. But the game won’t tell players about this mechanic; it wants them to stumble upon it themselves. For those wondering how to grab, rotate, or throw items, this guide explains all these mechanics and offers tips for making the most of them.
How to Grab Items
To grab an item, position the crosshair over it and hold A on Xbox or E on PC. Players must be in proximity to the object to pick it up. This method applies to both interactable and non-interactable items. However, lootable things inside boxes or enemy suits cannot be moved.
Players should note that there won't be any action prompt displayed for grabbable objects. So, they will need to figure out which items they can pick up through trial and error. However, as a general rule, all explosives, barrels, and miscellaneous items can be grabbed.
How to Throw Items
After grabbing an item, hold down the X on Xbox or R on PC to throw it. The longer players hold the button, the farther they’ll toss the object. But this will also depend on the gravity level of the planet.
To make the most of this mechanic, players are recommended to throw explosives at enemies. In Starfield, there are various flammables and detonating items (usually indicated by their red or blue color) that players can grab and use as grenades or set up as traps, allowing them to easily dispatch foes while saving some ammo.
How to Rotate Items (in any Direction)
After picking up an item, hold the left and right triggers to rotate it. On PC, players should use right-click and left-click for the same effect. However, to change the rotation axis, Xbox players must press the left stick, while PC players should hit the Shift key. Rotation comes in handy when decorating the interior of a spaceship. Players can customize their ships’ cockpits by grabbing, rotating, and placing ornamental objects on the shelves or over the counters.
Starfield is available now for PC and Xbox Series X/S.