Starfield factions
Learn more about the Starfield factions of the Settled Systems, including the United Colonies, Freestar Collective, and the Crimson Fleet.
There are plenty of Starfield factions vying for control and influence throughout the Settled Systems. They come in all flavors, from the space pirates of the Crimson Fleet to the NASA-punk explorers of Constellation. Some, like the Freestar Collective, seek freedom and liberty, while groups like the Xenofresh Corporation are prepared to do anything to boost their profits. In total, there are 9 major factions, and likely many smaller groups.
As with previous Bethesda Game Studios releases, you can join all of the major Starfield factions and complete missions for them, but we’re not sure you can join the minor factions. For example, the House Va’ruun is described as a dangerous group of religious zealots so they’re more likely to serve as a hostile faction, but one or two quests might put you in their good books.
As well as the traditional factions that will play a major role in the main quest of Starfield, there appear to be several smaller factions that you can join from the very start of the game based on choices during character creation.
Here are all the known Starfield factions:
For more guides to this upcoming galactic adventure, see our accompanying pieces on Starfield ships, Starfield planets, Starfield aliens, and the Starfield map.
Constellation
Constellation is a faction the player joins as a fresh recruit and is integral to the main story of the game. This group of intrepid space explorers wants to uncover the remaining mysteries of the universe from their small base in New Atlantis on the planet of Jemison.
When the player joins Constellation, the group is investigating an alien device. All we know from the Starfield release date trailer is that something called “The Eye” might be related to this anomalous and advanced technology. Constellation wants to track down the remaining Artifacts to complete the device, and ultimately answer the question: “What’s out there?”
Here are all the known Constellation faction members:
Interested in learning more about Constellation? Check out our full Constellation faction guide.
United Colonies
This space republic has the largest military presence in the Settled Systems and sees itself as the ideal government and political force of the future. The UC’s capital city is New Atlantis on the planet of Jemison in the Alpha Centauri system, but it oversees many colonies across the Settled Systems.
The United Colonies is the biggest force, but it’s not the only major governing body in Starfield. Just 20 years before the events of the main story, the United Colonies was at war with the Freestar Collective in a conflict that’s known as the Colony War. The two massive groups are now at peace, but will it last?
Here are all the known United Colonies faction members:
- Fleet Admiral Pascual Logan
- Lieutenant John Tuala
- Kibwe Ikande
Interested in marching for the United Colonies? Check out our full United Colonies faction guide.
Freestar Collective
The other major force in the Settled Systems is the Freestar Collective. This confederation of three star systems is united by their belief in the sanctity of personal freedom and individuality. Its capital city, Akila, is walled to protect it from marauding alien creatures called the Ashta which are a cross between wolves and velociraptors.
We don’t know much about the Freestar Collective’s past other than its war with the United Colonies, but we do know that Akila City was founded in 2167 by someone called Solomon Coe – that’s 163 years before the events of the main story.
This faction has a very cowboys-in-space vibe with even the defenders of their capital being called the Freestar Rangers.
Interested in becoming a defender of liberty for the Freestar Collective? Check out our full Freestar Collective faction guide.
Crimson Fleet
The Crimson Fleet is a nebulous faction of space pirates that maraud the inky black abyss in search of loot. Unlike the Raiders of the Fallout series, you can actually join the Crimson Fleet and complete missions for its leadership. The Crimson Fleet’s members can be identified by their reddish armor, Jolly Roger-like flag, and skull-shaped face masks.
The pirates of the Crimson Fleet have extended far beyond the Kryx system, and have established footholds in the Sagan, Cheyenne, Lunara, and Narion systems. We first encountered this faction during a Starfield trailer on the moon of Kreet as part of a combat encounter. Interestingly, you can join the Crimson Fleet and betray them rather than simply progressing its cause, although this group promises death to anyone who wishes to leave it.
Interested in becoming a space pirate for the Crimson Fleet? Check out our full Crimson Fleet faction guide.
Ryujin Industries
Not much is currently known about Ryujin Industries apart from the fact that this mega-corporation has a lot of power in Neon, one of the more mysterious Starfield cities. We do know that the player can choose to join Ryujin Industries by applying for a job there. Will Shen, lead quest designer for Starfield, thinks that this faction “has one of the best starts of any of the factions. […] Apply for a job and we’ll see if you cut the mustard.”
Interested in climbing the corporate ladder? Check out our full Ryujin Industries faction guide.
Xenofresh Corporation
The Xenofresh Corporation is responsible for the transformation of Neon City from a fishing outpost to a Vegas-like pleasure city. Xenofresh discovered that the fish it was catching had psychotropic qualities, and started manufacturing and selling a drug made from this substance. The resulting illegal substance was called Aurora and subsequently banned from everywhere but Neon.
Interested in sampling and distributing Aurora? Check out our full Xenofresh Corporation faction guide.
Ecliptic Mercenaries
The Ecliptic Mercenaries appear to be a group of heavily-armored thugs and could well serve as an obstacle to the player, or a private military company for a number of major factions.
Want to learn more about the eclipse-motif bearing mercs? Check out our full Ecliptic Mercenaries faction guide.
Violent Spacers
Little is known about this group of human enemies, though their name gives us the impression you won’t be making friends with them.
Nonetheless, we have gathered everything we know about them into a Spacers guide.
House Varun
Nothing is known about this group of human enemies apart from the fact that this is a group of religious zealots.
However, we can infer a few things about them from their name, so be sure to check out our full House of Varun guide.
Sanctum Universum
Sanctum Universum is a small religious group you can join by picking the ‘Raised Universal’ trait during character creation. Remember though, relationships with certain Starfield religions locks you out of opposed NPC interactions.
Enlightened
The Enlightened is a small religious group you can join by picking the ‘Raised Enlightened’ trait during character creation.