Starfield REV-8 vehicle
The REV-8 buggy/rover is Starfield's first vehicle, and comes with a huge number of features including weapons, thrusters, and more.
The Starfield REV-8 was the first Starfield vehicle to be introduced to the game. Launching with the 1.13.61 Starfield update, the REV-8 rover (also called a buggy) is available to all players from any Ship Technician at a major Starfield city.
No ship module is required to be installed onto the ship, but a player will need to spend 25,000 Credits in order to unlock the REV-8.
Once the REV-8 has been unlocked, it will spawn outside of the player’s active home ship immediately, and will subsequently spawn in front of the ship after landing on any planet.
This does mean that the REV-8 will spawn in areas where it isn’t particularly useful, such as the landing pad in the city of Neon.
How to get the Starfield REV-8
As described before, all you need to acquire the REV-8 is to seek out any Ship Technician at a major city, whereupon a new dialogue option will be presented:
“I’d like to purchase a vehicle.”
On clicking this option, you should be directed to a new window where the price will be advertised.
On purchasing the vehicle, you will be informed as to how it can be found.
From there, you can exit the dialogue, and you will find your REV-8 just in front of your home ship.
If you don’t see your REV-8, there’s a very good chance you’ve encountered a bug. From what many in the community have found, disabling your Starfield mods (including any Creations content) permits the REV-8 to spawn. You can then save and re-enable all of your mods and Creations content without breaking the vehicle.
Starfield REV-8 controls
The REV-8 buggy uses the W key on keyboards to move forwards and will follow the player’s line of sight. On controls, the left analog stick solely controls both acceleration and turning.
From out personal experience, the land vehicle is much smoother to control on an Xbox controller rather than with a mouse and keyboard.
Be warned, the REV-8 deals damage if you hit anyone, so be careful around NPCs and companions.
In the event the vehicle lands on its side or upside down, it will automatically right itself.
Starfield REV-8 control scheme:
Xbox controller / PC
- LT / Right Click = Aim
- RT / Left Click = Fire mounted weapon
- RB or L3 / Shift = Forward thrust
- Y / Spacebar = Vertical thrust
- Hold B / Hold E = Exit vehicle
Starfield REV-8 weapons
The Starfield REV-8 comes with a laser cannon equipped by default. At present, there are no known methods to change the weapon to a ballistic or explosive option.
The default weapon has an ammunition capacity of 100 before it needs to be reloaded, and consumes 12.5 “bullets” per shot, meaning that you can fire 8 shots before the weapon needs to be recharged.
Fortunately, as the mounted gun is an energy weapon, you do not need to purchase any ammunition and, much like ship weapons, you only need to wait a few seconds before it is ready to fire again.
Starfield REV-8 customization options
At present, the only option you can customize is the REV-8’s paintwork. You can alter this by speaking to any Ship Technician and select the view vehicles option. Much like with ship painting, Starfield vehicles use the exact same system, but for the entire vehicle.
It is not currently possible to add trinkets, trophies or other decorations to your vehicle, though this could be possible in a future update or Starfield mod.
REV-8 tips and tricks
Water vehicle
Because the swimming mechanic was disabled in Starfield, the REV-8 will in fact float when it comes into contact with a body of water. However, rather than be destroyed, take damage, or sink, the buggy will continue to function normally. As a result, it is possible to drive through the water and utilize the rocket thrusters for an extra boost, effectively making the REV-8 not just the first Starfield ground vehicle, but also the first water vehicle.
Crime
One thing to be extremely careful of when using the REV-8 is where you boost, drive, and land if using the vertical thruster. The REV-8, unsurprisingly, deals damage if you hit an NPC or object at a high enough speed, or land on them.
This makes it incredible easy to commit a Starfield crime and accrue bounty if you use the buggy near a major settlement. You also run the risk of hurting your Starfield romance prospects if, for example, you repeatedly run over Sarah Morgan.