Explore the barren planets of Starfield at 60 fps on Xbox Series X starting this month

Starfieldexcellent puzzle game Digipick, surrounded by 80 hours of sci-fi mediocrity, gets a performance update on Xbox Series X that unlocks frame rates above 30 fps. StarfieldThe May update adds an option to target 30fps, 40fps, 60fps, or unlimited framerate — for displays that support VRR running at 120hz. Displays without VRR will have a choice of 30 fps or 60 fps.

The May update also includes the ability to prioritize visual effects or performance at any target frame rate. Visual mode means the game will do its best to maintain high resolution and full detail in lighting, special effects and NPCs, while performance reduces the resolution and clarity of those same details. Of course, both modes adjust the game’s base resolution along with heavy screen action.

Bethesda recommends performance mode when playing at 60 fps and above. For Xbox Series X players with 120hz VRR displays, Starfield‘s settings now default to 40fps, prioritizing visuals.

May 1st display updates bring the Xbox Series X version Starfield closer to its PC counterpart in terms of customization options. The Xbox Series S edition remains limited to 30fps. This is the version I was playing when I reviewed Starfield last year, and while the frame rate upgrade won’t make the game any less boring, its fight scenes would definitely benefit from a boost to at least 40fps. It’s a shame that the most popular console in the Xbox series not seeing any frame rate in today’s update.

Additionally, in the May update, StarfieldSurface maps have been reworked to improve readability on all platforms. The new design shows top-down 3D images of terrain, buildings, and objects like trees and rocks, which makes a lot of sense for, you know, a map. The original surface map tries to make landscapes of white dots on a bright blue background, so this is a welcome improvement. The update also allows players to customize their difficulty options on land and in ship battles, and adds navigation markers to the environment when walking around a planet.

It is Bethesda’s fourth and largest Starfield update since the game came out in September 2023. Everything is scheduled to go live by May 15th.