Starfield cities
Starfield cities are the hub of humanity in Bethesda’s space-faring title, so let us be your tour guide to the multiple thriving metropolises.
Sure, the expanse of space is fine, but we’re pretty sure the action is in Starfield cities in Bethesda’s much-anticipated deep-space RPG. Here is where you find the factions, the traders, and if we know Bethesda as we do, probably somewhere you can get a stiff drink. Maybe best not to pilot your ship afterwards, eh?
For more help getting to know your way around this massive universe, check out our guides to the Starfield map, Starfield ships, Starfield ship types, Starfield ship manufacturers, and Starfield outpost. Or, if you want to find out who you might bump into in the city, try our Starfield NPC list and Starfield aliens guides.
Starfield cities and capitals
This far ahead of release, we only know three Starfield cities. They are Akila City, Neon, and New Atlantis. We got a brief glimpse of these locations in the Starfield trailer. Each of these three cities serves as a capital for a certain faction of the game’s future humans, so we’re pretty sure you’re going to know these places like the back of your hand before too long.
Starfield cities look to be some of the most populated places in the Settled System, so we’re pretty sure a bulk of the narrative is going to take you on a whistle-stop tour of these varied locations. From the long trailer at 2022’s Starfield showcase, we got a glimpse at the colourful streets of what we assume is Neon, the watery world that New Atlantis belongs to, and the dusty dryness of Akila City.
Akila City
Akila City is the home of the Starfield Freestar Collective and the city that looks the most like it’s on Tatooine we’ve seen so far. It’s dusty, dilapidated, and dry, so we’re not surprised if your classic good guys call this place home – they always love a challenge.
It also sounds like a place where fighting to survive is part of the ethos, with developer commentary telling us “the city itself is home to a variety of people, but they all have one thing in common: they believe in the sanctity of personal freedom and individuality.” Considering that statement, we don’t expect Akila City to have a positive relationship with any galactic federation imposing rules.
Neon
Neon is the Starfield universe’s Vice City, built up from a small fishing port into a hustling and bustling city full of secrets. We don’t know what planet Neon belongs to, but due to its positioning above the water, we assume it’s an aquatic one. With Bethesda always keen to deal with adult topics, Neon seems to be the drug capital of its system, with local access to a powerful narcotic unavailable anywhere else. It’s no wonder both Starfield Ryujin Industries and the Xenofresh Corporation call Neon home.
New Atlantis
New Atlantis is the biggest city to exist in a Bethesda game to date, with Todd Howard telling us, “it has all the services you would expect, and you can work on your ship there.” There’s also the fact that New Atlantis is home to the Starfield Constellation, one of the primary factions in this space-faring epic. We feel like you’re going to get to know New Atlantis very well during your journey, so fly over to the planet Jemison as early as possible to get a lay of the land.
How many Starfield cities are there?
Considering Todd Howard has confirmed there are over one thousand Starfield planets, we’re expecting quite a few cities in Starfield. Of course, not all of these planets are set for civilisation, but with the human experience such a pivotal part of the story in this title, we’re sure there’s plenty of humanity for you to find as your power around the galaxy. As soon as we get an exact number, we’ll be back to update this guide.