Starfield Revealed: Uncovering the Enigmatic Earth and Its Extraordinary Fate

Prior to the release of Starfield, not much was known about Earth's fate. Many were left wondering if it would be possible to explore the planet in Bethesda's vast space exploration game. However, the mystery has been unveiled - the fate of humanity's origin has finally been disclosed.

Interestingly, Earth's story plays a crucial role in the events leading up to Starfield, shedding light on how humanity made its mark in the galaxy. From the beginning of the game, players have the opportunity to visit the remnants of Earth. Sadly, they will not encounter many lifeforms there, as a series of unfortunate events unfolded several centuries ago.

Warning: The following guide contains major story spoilers for Starfield.

How to Visit Earth in Starfield

To explore Earth in Starfield, players can easily travel to the SOL star system, which is located in close proximity to Alpha Centauri. Initially, players will have the opportunity to visit Earth after delivering the first Artifact to Constellation during the early stages of the game. However, it is only during the Unearthed main story mission toward the conclusion of the game that players will discover the true fate of the planet and the reasons behind humanity's decision to abandon it.

What Happened to Earth in Starfield?

At the conclusion of the In Their Footsteps primary mission, players will be presented with a key by the Emissary. This key grants access to the Nova Galactic Research Station situated on the moon. The research station serves as an educational platform where players can acquaint themselves with a remarkably advanced AI system. Initially, suspicions arise about the AI potentially contributing to the downfall of Earth. However, as the narrative unfolds, players discover a vital connection between the AI and a groundbreaking grav drive experiment. This discovery leads them to embark on a journey to the esteemed NASA facility situated in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

In that place, players will be introduced to the fascinating story behind humanity's inaugural Grav Drive and the circumstances that paved the way for its development. Briefly, during an exploration mission on Mars, humanity chanced upon one of the enigmatic Artifacts. As soon as Doctor Victor Aiza made contact with it, he embarked on an enigmatic odyssey: a bewildering 12-day stretch of inexplicable lost time. It was during this peculiar juncture that he encountered a version of himself hailing from an alternate universe, ultimately gaining insight into the intricacies of grav drive construction.

As a result of Aiza's grav drive prototype, Earth's atmosphere gradually dissipated, rendering the planet uninhabitable and compelling humanity to evacuate. Between 2149 and 2199, billions of individuals were left behind, facing certain death. Adding to the tragedy is the knowledge that Aiza was fully aware of the consequences when developing the Grav Drive, yet proceeded with the project in the name of scientific progress and the betterment of society.

Experience Starfield on PC and Xbox Series X|S today.