Starfield factions list – Every faction and how to join them

A Starfield factions list is a must-have for any players looking to navigate the expansive and complex web of politics and alliances in Bethesda’s new space-faring RPG. With a huge world to explore and plenty of people to interact with, Starfield promises more big players than any previous Elder Scrolls or Fallout title.

Here, we’ll use this Starfield factions list to give you an overview of each of the factions we know about so far, as well as if and how you’ll be able to go about joining them. This’ll leave you well prepared with the knowledge you’ll need to succeed ahead of the Starfield release date later this year.

All Starfield factions

There are six major factions we currently know about in Starfield. As we come closer to release, it’s possible that we’ll learn about other factions as well, and if that’s the case, we’ll be sure to update you. For now though, here’s an overview of all Starfield factions and how to join them.

Constellation

The smallest of the main factions in the game, the Starfield Constellation faction is also one of the most important. They’re an intrepid group of explorers, intent on discovering the secrets of the universe and adventuring out into the great unknown of the galaxy. Though we don’t know how many Starfield systems they have a presence in, their small number of members, and their sharing of a home capital with another faction both suggest that their resources are quite limited. They do possess a mythical status to those who have heard of them, though.

The faction is perhaps the easiest to join. Since they’re tied to the main Starfield story, you’ll actually join them by default when you visit their headquarters at New Atlantis City. You’ll be able to join other factions after them though.

Crimson Fleet

The Starfield Crimson Fleet faction is the most outwardly hostile joinable faction we know about so far. The Crimson Fleet are space pirates, determined to fulfil their self-claimed destiny as rightful rulers of the Settled Systems. Starting out from the Kryx system, the Fleet now cover a number of starsystems, and possess a formidable amount of firepower that even the largest factions are hard-pressed to contain.

You’ll be able to join the Crimson Fleet if you want to, and there are going to be multiple routes through which to do this. It also seems like you can go and work as a double agent within the faction, reporting back to their enemies as an informant.

Freestar Collective

If you’re looking to embrace the space cowboy aesthetic, the Starfield Freestar Collective faction is likely the one for you. The Freestar Collective are the second largest faction in-game, encompassing a vast territory that revolves around the Cheyenne system and their capital, Akila City. They’re a faction that puts a heavy emphasis on personal freedoms. While this can make for a more lawless society, they still retain enough organisation to make themselves a force to be reckoned with should you find yourself at odds with them.

Joining the Freestar Collective is possible. You’ll likely need to head to their grand fortress in Akila City, The Rock, to start this. It’s unclear just what you’ll need to do from there, but much like joining the Legion or the Stormcloaks in Skyrim, you’ll probably need to first complete missions for them to earn reputation and trust. We’ll update out Starfield factions list when we have more details.

Ryujin Industries

Fancy something a bit more lucrative? Check out the Starfield Ryujin Industries faction. We don’t know much about this organisation yet, but we do know that they’re one of a handful of powerful megacorporations, with vast, though likely soft power influence across much of civilised space. Their head of operations seems to be Neon City, a fishing platform turned pleasure city. There’s some indication that they might be a pharmaceutical company, at least in part. This isn’t by any means confirmed though.

Interestingly, we know a bit more about how to join this faction. You quite literally just apply. Players will be able to apply for employment with the corporation, and upon success, carry out dirty work for their corporate overlords. Presumably, you’ll be able to rise through the ranks from here, but the details remain to be seen.

United Colonies

The Starfield United Colonies faction is the largest political and military entity in-game that we know about so far. The United Colonies stand for law and order, with a vast and wealthy capital city called New Atlantis City that displays the manpower and resources they have to back it up. Think of them as your standard Space Republic type of faction. We know they’ve got a significant amount of territory, expanding even into the Sol system and mining operations on Mars. The UC are also direct rivals to the Freestar Collective. The two were at war some time prior to the present day in Starfield’s campaign, and now sit in an uneasy alliance.

We aren’t certain how to join this faction yet, but it’s likely a similar story to the Freestar Collective, where you’ll head to their capital and speak with the right people. How far you’ll be able to go within the United Colonies is also currently unclear.

Xenofresh Corporation

Lastly, we have the Starfield Xenofresh Corporation faction. Like Ryujin Industries, who they’re presumably rivals with, Xenofresh are a megacorporation. They’re responsible for the creation of Neon City, and likely still hold a significant presence there. It’s unclear if that’s their base of operations though. Xenofresh are also responsible for the creation of an illegal narcotic called Aurora, so they likely have ties to criminal syndicates like the Crimson Fleet.

You’ll be able to join these guys too, though we don’t know how yet. However, we know that you’ll end up working in a drug lab as part of the process, so it’s probably fair to surmise that you’ll be carrying out plenty of dirty work for the company in order to gain a foothold within the organisation. Developers have called it “one of the best starts in the game”.

Minor factions in Starfield

That covers all the big players, but we know there are plenty of smaller groups in Starfield that you’ll be able to meet and interact with. We’ve seen some of them during Starfield showcases, but have yet to learn a whole lot about any of them, outside of a few choice details.

We know that many of these factions will be out on the fringes of space. You’ll find them beyond the star systems housing the most major settlements. They may not be joinable like the other factions, and some might even be closer to a loose confederation of alliances than unified entities. It’s not even yet clear if they’ll have their own unique Starfield weapons or Starfield armor, like many of the greater civilisations seem to. It is likely however that you’ll have more than a few Starfield missions involving them. You may even be able to pick up quests from some of them directly.

Here are all the minor factions in Starfield that we know about so far:

• House Va’Ruun – A fanatical space cult.
• Enlightened – A religious organisation.
• Sanctum Universum – Another religious organisation, tied to the Church of The Universal.
• The Great Serpent Worshippers – The third of the three religious sects.
• The Ecliptic Mercenaries – A mysterious and elite group of mercenaries for hire.
• The Red Mile – A faction of “runners”, likely smugglers. They operate off of the planet Porrima 3 in the Porrima System.
• The Spacers – Dangerous marauders and bandits who prey on any who cross their path.

We don’t yet know much about the dynamics between these minor factions, or their relationships to the major ones. There’s a good chance that the three Starfield religion factions and the fanatics at The House of Va will have some fearsome rivalries brewing.

That’s everything we’ve got for our Starfield factions list. Armed with these essential overviews and details on joining, you’ll be better informed when you jump into the game. If you want a more detailed breakdown of any faction though, be sure to check out our guides on each of them. There are plenty of other core mechanics to get to grips with too. Make sure you understand how the Starfield character creator works and what all the Starfield traits are before you hop into the game’s character creation and begin your adventure.

How many joinable factions are there in Starfield?

So far, we know of six factions in Starfield that you’ll be able to join.

Who is the largest faction in Starfield?

The United Colonies are the largest faction in Starfield by territory, population, and military power.

Who is the smallest faction in Starfield?

The Constellation are the smallest faction in Starfield, consisting of only a few members.