Starfield character creation: everything we know so far

Everything you need to know about Starfield character creation

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

InStarfield, character creation is set to be a big part of the game.

As with any open-world Bethesda RPG, you won’t be playing a stock protagonist, rather, you’ll be crafting your protagonist from the ground up, choosing their appearance, background, and skillset from a wide variety of options. This variation and scope for customization is part of what makes Bethesda’s previous titles, likeSkyrimandFallout 4some of theBest RPGsto date; allowing you to create an avatar who is truly your own.

We already know thatStarfieldwill have aseriously ambitious scale, boasting thebiggest cities that Bethesda has ever made. However, as satisfying as it is to explore great environments,Starfieldplaces equal emphasis onwhoit is doing the exploring. Fortunately, as revealed inE3 2023’s 45-minute-longStarfield Direct, Bethesda doesn’t plan to skimp on character creation. Here’s every nugget of information we could glean from the preview.

Starfield character creation: Appearance

As you make your way throughStarfield’ssprawling game world, you’ll need to make sure that you’re doing so with a character who best reflects what you want out of the game.

As important as Skills and Perks are, it’s equally crucial to make sure that your character looks exactly how you’d like them to. Here’s what you can expect fromStarfield’scharacter creator when it comes to appearance:

Body options

The first major element that you’ll be able to customize is your character’s body type. So far, we know you can choose between a variety of physiques, walk styles and skin tones. You can also use the radial wheel to adjust your character’s thinness, stockiness, or muscularity.

Face options

As you might expect from a Bethesda title, there is plenty of scope to customize your character’s face, too. The usual options of skin tone, head shape, hair, hair color and eyes all seem to be available as you decide exactly what kind of face your character will present to the world.

Get the best Black Friday deals direct to your inbox, plus news, reviews, and more.

Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable Black Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content.

In addition,Starfieldallows you to blend facial morphs together, allowing you to give your character a totally bespoke facial structure. There is also a range of dermasthetic and makeup options

Starfield character creation: Background

Reminiscent of the classic Bethesda RPGFallout 3,Starfieldwill allow you to select a background that will come with three skills, giving your character an edge in their chosen fields. There seems to be a wide range of different backstories to choose from, ranging from Diplomat to Gangster.

At first glance, it’s clear that Skills offer advantages that can significantly change how your character plays. For instance, the Chef background gives you access to ‘Gastronomy’, allowing you to craft specialty food and drinks. Conversely, the Cyber Runner background gives you the ‘Security’ skill, which seriously buffs your hacking abilities – particularly exciting if you want to channel some of thatCyberpunk 2077energy into your playthrough.

On top of that, your choice of background gives you access to extra dialogue options based on your talents. The Starfield Direct that aired in June showed off a unique piece of dialogue for a character with the Beast Hunter background, who was able to impress a diner at a restaurant with their specialized hunting knowledge.

Starfield character creation: Traits

The final aspect ofStarfield’scharacter creation is Traits. These seem to function very similarly to traits fromFalloutNew Vegasby adding nifty tweaks and quirks to your character. Sometimes they can be as much help as a hindrance, but they never fail to add flavor to a playthrough. At the start of the game, you can select three of these.

‘Introvert’, for instance, buffs your Starfield character’s endurance when adventuring alone, but debuffs it when you’re working alongside other human companions. Meanwhile, ‘Kid Stuff’ means that you have NPC parents that you can visit, but who demand 10% of your income. In a loving homage toElder Scrolls: Oblivion,you can select the “Hero Worshipped” trait, which will give you a follower in the form of anincessantly annoying NPC.

Traits can also impact how NPCs react to your character in the world. For instance, those with the “Seprent’s Embrace” trait will find allies instead of enemies when interacting with those who share your character’s faith.

Now you know exactly what to expect from character creation inStarfield. If you’re planning on pre-purchasingStarfield, it may be worth having a look at theStarfieldpre-order editions that have just been revealed, so you can know exactly what bang you’ll get for your buck.

An editor and freelance journalist, Cat Bussell has been writing about video games for more than four years and, frankly, she’s developed a taste for it. As seen on TechRadar, Technopedia, The Gamer, Wargamer, and SUPERJUMP, Cat’s reviews, features, and guides are lovingly curated for your reading pleasure.

A Cambridge graduate, recovering bartender, and Cloud Strife enjoyer, Cat’s foremost mission is to bring you the best coverage she can, whether that’s through helpful guides, even-handed reviews, or thought-provoking features. She’s interviewed indie darlings, triple-A greats, and legendary voice actors, all to help you get closer to the action. When she’s not writing, Cat can be found sticking her neck into a fresh RPG or running yet another Dungeons & Dragons game.

I reviewed the PS5 Pro and recommend these 7 enhanced games to try first

Valve just single-handedly upgraded content creation for PC gamers – Steam’s Game Recording feature is now available to all

Latest Google Pixel update includes surprise launch of Android 15’s best battery feature