The anticipation surrounding the upcoming Starfield DLC, Terran Armada, is palpable as we edge closer to its release. With just a few days remaining, new insights have emerged that shed light on both the paid expansion and the accompanying Free Lanes update. These revelations come in the form of 20 new Steam achievements, which offer tantalizing hints about the gameplay enhancements and features we can expect. While some achievements align with previously announced content, others introduce intriguing elements that remain shrouded in mystery. Readers should note that this article may contain mild spoilers regarding the expansion.
Achievements and Gameplay Insights
Bethesda has previously provided a comprehensive overview of what players can anticipate from the Starfield Free Lanes update and the Terran Armada expansion. However, the studio is known for keeping certain secrets under wraps. A closer examination of the newly unveiled achievements reveals a mix of expected and unexpected challenges. Among the more straightforward achievements are three tied to completing five, 15, and 30 Incursions, which will see players engaging in skirmishes against the Terran Armada, the DLC’s primary antagonists who assert their identity as the “true” descendants of Earth.
In addition, several achievements are linked to Delta, a reprogrammed robot from the Terran Armada. Described by design director Emil Pagliarulo as “Not evil… but definitely not good,” Delta introduces a new dynamic to gameplay. The ‘Overclocked’ achievement, awarded for fully upgrading Delta, suggests that players will have opportunities to enhance the robot’s capabilities as the narrative unfolds. There are also achievements related to convincing Delta of your worthiness as a Captain, as well as one that may be earned by failing to do so.
If Delta represents Bethesda’s initial step towards facilitating an ‘evil playthrough’ of Starfield, the ‘Contract Killer’ achievement could serve as a second. This achievement is granted upon eliminating ten targets for “the Arbitrator,” a character whose moral standing remains ambiguous. The implications of this achievement hint at a darker narrative thread within the expansion.
Another noteworthy achievement, ‘Master of Magnetism,’ involves using a magnet to destroy a robot “in New Babylon.” This location has not been previously mentioned, suggesting it may be a new city, planet, or even the flagship of the hostile faction. Interestingly, there is an existing personnel spaceship named ‘Babylon’ in Starfield, although any connection remains speculative.
Additionally, the achievement ‘This for That’ hints at a more interactive outpost system, allowing players to build and subsequently hand over an outpost to a faction. This feature echoes a similar mechanic from Fallout 4’s Nuka-World expansion, where players could transform claimed settlements into raider outposts, indicating a potential for deeper engagement with the game’s world.
Among the achievements, ‘Just Like Grandma Used to Make’ appears to reference a long-standing random encounter with a familiar old lady, adding a touch of nostalgia for players. Others, such as ‘Stay of Execution,’ suggest narrative arcs that players will navigate during the DLC, with implications of preventing one character from meeting an untimely end.
Starfield Terran Armada is set to launch on Tuesday, April 7, priced at .99, accompanied by the Free Lanes update, which will be accessible to all players. For those contemplating a return to Bethesda’s interstellar adventure, this expansion presents an opportune moment to dive back into the cosmos.
