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When Bethesda Game Studios set its sights on the stars for a new RPG adventure,Starfieldwas born. Humankind has become a spacefaring people by the year 2330, exploring different planets and settling in new star systems. Some special organizations, such as Constellation, take it upon themselves to investigate other mysteries of the universe.
Constellation’s discovery and collection of special Artifacts ultimately lead to encounters with the Starborn, mysterious and powerful beings who pose a threat. But who are the Starborn, and where do they come from? Why are they so powerful, and what do they want with the Artifacts?
This article contains major spoilers for the story of Starfield.
The Starborn, Explained
As you seek out Artifacts, you will come acrossancient Temples exhibiting similar phenomena to the Artifacts, and you will gain special Powers. While you are still human, this is a new realm of mystery that your team at Constellation has varying opinions about. Eventually, you willstart encountering random Starborn while working with Constellation.
Unfortunately, the continued search for Artifacts will draw the attention of an aggressive and violent Starborn calledthe Hunter. With the Hunter’s introduction, it becomes clear thatthe Starborn aren’t trying to befriend Constellation, and can be dangerous foes.
When reaching certain Artifacts, you will be ambushed by a Starborn who wants to claim the Artifact first. Random encounters while traveling on some planets will haveStarborn Guardian shipslanding near your location, with an entourage of Starborn leaving the ship.Any time you encounter a Starborn, they are enemies.
Starborn can use a technology or Power that cloaks them, making them become nearly invisible to the eye. Any time you defeat a Starborn,they burst into particles of light, and you are rewarded with Quantum Essence.
It’s clear thatthe mysterious Starborn aren’t entirely human, but they aren’t a completely different alien species. They also aren’t a group with consistent values or beliefs. As you begin interacting with some Starborn, you’re able to tell they are pursuing their own goals, asthere is active infighting between Starborn.
What Exactly Are The Starborn?
The Starborn, in a sense, are a group of ascended human beings. To become Starborn, a person must collect all Artifacts in their universe in order to reach something called the Unity. If they choose topass through the Unity, they are reborn in a different universe.
Rebirth through the Unity can be done multiple times, and the Starborn become stronger each time they do it. The Hunter even sayshe’s been able to enter the Unity “hundreds and hundreds” of times, positioning himself as a very powerful being.
You, too, canbecome a Starborn through the same process. This is what kicks offyour New Game Plus, as you can start over in a new universe after reaching the Unity.
What Is The Unity?
The Unity is the mystical (or maybe metaphorical?) center of the universe. It can only be reached by bringing all the Artifacts together and constructing the Armillary, therefore opening a one-way-ticket to the Unity.
It is unclear who exactly created the Artifacts and the Temples, or what their true purpose was. Therefore, it is also unclear exactly who, or what, created the Unity in the first place, or if it has always existed. It may have been some god, humans from the distant future, a highly advanced alien species, or something else altogether. Either way,the Artifacts, Temples, Starborn, and the Unity are all connected.
Interestingly,the existence of the Artifacts is what led humankind into the starsto begin with. The first grav drives were developed using the power of an Artifact.
Access to the Unity is a cause for some of the divide between Starborn. As it can only be reached by bringing together all the Artifacts in a universe, Starborn will fight each other for total control over these special items. Further,the Starborn are divided on who should be allowed to reach the Unity at all.
The Hunter’s philosophy is one of domination and power.The Hunter believes anyone strong enough earns the right to reach the Unity, as he himself has reached it numerous times due to his own strength.
Another Starborn known asThe Emissary, however, believeshumanity should not be allowed to reach the Unity, because there doesn’t need to be more Starborn jumping between universes, vying for power over each other. The Emissary points to too many innocent lives lost as the reason for their caution.
As a group of ascended human beings, you might think the Starborn would have a bit more sense. Instead, they tend to resort to violence any time you meet them. Not all Starborn are necessarily evil. Heck, you might even run intoa Starborn that just wants to trade with you.
