Starfield factions
Learn about the Starfield factions of the Settled Systems, including the United Colonies, Freestar Collective, Ryujin Industries, 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.
As with previous Bethesda Game Studios releases, you can join many of these Starfield factions and complete missions for them, but we’re not sure you can join all of them. For example, the House Va’ruun is described as a dangerous group of religious zealots so they’re more likely to be a hostile faction.
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 the character creation.
Here is a table showing all the Starfield factions:
- Constellation
- United Colonies
- Freestar Collective
- Crimson Fleet
- Ryujin Industries
- Xenofresh Corporation
- Ecliptic Mercenaries
- Violent Spacers
- House Va’ruun
- Sanctum Universum
- Enlightened
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 a spheroid alien artifact that’s causing some people to have visions and wants to track down the remaining pieces to figure out what it all means.
The known Constellation faction members are Barrett, Sarah, and Vasco.
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 it’s an uneasy alliance.
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.
Crimson Fleet
The Crimson Fleet is a nebulous faction of space pirates that marauds 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 is the first faction you come into contact with and its 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. The player first encounters this faction on the planet of Kreet, during 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.
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 City. We do know that the player can choose to join Ryujin Industries by applying for a job there.
Xenofresh Corporation
Xenofresh Corporation is responsible for the transformation of Neon City from a fishing outpost to a Vegas-like pleasure city. The fishing company discovered the fish it was catching has psychotropic qualities and started manufacturing and selling a drug made from this substance called Aurora. We don’t know if the Xenofresh Corporation is joinable or not.
Ecliptic Mercenaries
Nothing is known about this group of human enemies.
Violent Spacers
Nothing is known about this group of human enemies.
House Va'ruun
Nothing is known about this group of human enemies apart from the fact that this is a group of religious zealots.
Sanctum Universum
Sanctum Universum is a small religious group you can join by picking the Raised Universal trait during character creation.
Enlightened
The Enlightened is a small religious group you can join by picking the Raised Enlightened trait during character creation.