Starfield outposts guide – how to build an outpost

Wondering how Starfield outposts work? Following on from the success of base building in Fallout 4 and, to a degree, Elder Scrolls V Skyrim, Bethesda Game Studios’ upcoming space RPG looks set to reintroduce the mechanic in a fresh way.

Outposts are going to have a variety of uses and will be a vital part of your missions to explore Starfield planets across and beyond the Settled Systems. Here then is a rundown of what Starfield outposts are, what they do, where you can set them up, and how to build them.

What is an outpost in Starfield?

An outpost is a player-made building, structure, or complex that can be built on planets or moons. An outpost can serve a variety of purposes. They can help gather important materials and fuel, can be used to make money, or can even serve to upgrade your gear, starships, and other outposts. You can build an outpost almost anywhere on any planet, and even connect outposts together to form trade routes.

Where can outposts be built?

Outposts can be built almost anywhere, it seems. With over 1000 planets to explore in Starfield, you’ll have an enormous choice of locations to choose from. Once planetside, you can begin building your outpost at any location.

Presumably though, pre-generated structures or settlements will have a radius around them within which you’ll be unable to build. It’s also unclear if certain planets will be totally off-limits for building. Jemison and its capital of New Atlantis City may be off-limits locations as a faction capital. The same probably applies for all major installations, so don’t expect to be able to create a suburb next to the Freestar Collective faction’s bustling Akila City, for example.

It’s also currently unclear if and how different atmospheres, climates, terrains, and weather patterns might affect your outposts, so be sure to scout around a bit on any new planets before you start laying foundations.

How to build an outpost

To build an outpost, you’ll need to place a beacon, followed by the desired structure modules. The outpost beacon is your first step in outpost construction. To place one, open your scanner, and use the X button or equivalent to plant it on the ground. The beacon appears to act as your main console for the outpost, which will allow you to name it, and open up access to other menu screens to manage and maintain your base.

Once you’ve got the beacon down, you can start placing different building blocks and modules to create your outpost. It’s worth noting that modular design is the king here, and while you’ll be able to choose from a range of aesthetics and styles, you’re unlikely to have the same fine-tuning available to you as the Starfield character creator offers.

You’ll be able to then place and connect modules from either the first-person perspective, or through an overhead isometric camera view if you enter build mode. The latter is likely to be easier for larger and more complex structures, but it won’t necessarily offer as clear an insight into the style and internal layout of different modules.

There’s also a build limit you’re going to need to remain aware of, which will limit the maximum size of an outpost. We don’t yet know if there’s going to be any way to expand or extend this build limit in-game, but this may be a question we get an answer to as we approach the Starfield release date.

Outpost structures and modules

There’s a lot of structures and module components that you’ll be able to build to create unique designs or focuses for your outposts. We haven’t seen them all yet, but there are a few named modules that have so far been confirmed. These are all the structure pieces and modules we know are definitely going to be available so far:

• Four Wall Hab
• Extractor
• Hallway – Industrial
• Hydroponic Hab A
• Hydroponic Hab Round
• Military Hab
• Outpost Airlock
• Science Hab Small
• Small Hex Hab
• Watchtower

There are no doubt far more pieces than these, but even from this limited list, it’s clear that outposts are going to be versatile structures. Some, like the Outpost Airlock will probably be requirements for a functioning outpost, while Science Hab or Military Hab modules will offer unique upgrades or special uses for resources. We know that all of these modules will have build costs though, so you’ll need to make sure you gather up plenty of materials like iron and aluminium to construct everything you need.

Running outposts in Starfield

Operating and maintaining an outpost is arguably where the bulk of the challenge will lie. There are two main factors to consider when running an outpost: the maintenance of the outpost itself, and the running of its machinery, modules, and equipment.

Maintaining an outpost

From what we’ve seen so far, outposts will have certain upkeep requirements. Some structures are going to have an operating cost to keep them functioning. This will likely mean you’ll need to provide a constant supply of energy, as well as make materials available for the module or equipment piece to use.

There’s also likely going to be a need to repair outposts if they’re damaged by hostile attackers like Crimson Fleet faction pirates or harsh weather conditions on the planet. This will also require fresh materials. It’s not yet clear if you’re able to delegate repair duties though, so that they’re taken care of automatically.

Running an outpost

For day to day outpost operations, you have two options. The first is to operate modules or equipment manually, and this is probably what you’ll need to do when first starting out on an outpost’s construction. You’ll want to carefully consider setting up a power grid at this stage too, as an expansive and robust energy system will save you headaches later on as you build power-hungry structures.

Once you’re set up though, the best way to handle an outpost is to assign Starfield crew members to it. Crew members are NPCs you can hire to perform tasks for you, and if you assign them to an outpost, they’ll run machinery and operate in modules for you. You might even be able to assign crew members to repair outpost structures or even defend an outpost. We also know that some modules will specifically require a crew member to function, so it’s really worth investing in crews.

Lastly, we know that you’ll be able to establish trade routes between outposts. It isn’t exactly clear how this will work yet, but it’s likely a late-term goal to aim for to start generating some serious money and materials from your facilities.

That’s everything we’ve got for you on Starfield outposts, how to build them, and how to run them. They’re an exciting and useful feature in Starfield, but they’re not the only one. Between all the Starfield factions and the Starfield story and plot, there’s loads more to discover about the game.

Where can I build outposts in Starfield?

You’ll be able to build an outpost almost anywhere in Starfield. Though you might not be able to build on major planets, or next to major settlements like New Atlantis, there are over 1000 planets to explore where you can set down your foundations.

How do I build an outpost in Starfield?

To build an outpost in Starfield, you need to open the scan menu and place down a beacon. From here, you can start building infrastructure and modules.

What is an outpost in Starfield?

An outpost is a player-made structure in Starfield that acts as a base of operations on a planet. Outposts can harvest raw materials, generate income, and offer special upgrades for gear and starships.