The Enigmatic Ending of Starfield Explained

Unlocking the Mysteries of Bethesda’s Starfield Ending, Spoilers Ahead!

If you’ve ventured into the vast cosmos of Starfield, you’ve embarked on an odyssey to unravel the enigmas concealed within the known universe. However, as you reach the culmination of Bethesda’s latest masterpiece, you might be left pondering the profound revelations that await. Fear not, for we are here to guide you through the enigmatic ending of Starfield, delving into the cosmic secrets that lie beyond.

The Genesis: Starfield’s Story Summary

Starfield’s captivating journey commences on the planet of Vectera, where players assume the role of resource-mining pioneers. Amidst their excavation efforts, a peculiar artefact emerges, capturing the attention of our protagonist. Upon contact with this enigmatic relic, an otherworldly vision unfolds—a mesmerizing journey through the cosmos itself. This astonishing event draws the interest of Barrett, who leads players to The Lodge in New Atlantis, the headquarters of an organization known as Constellation.

Constellation’s primary mission is the exploration of the universe and the pursuit of new frontiers for humanity. However, their recent fixation revolves around the very artefacts that players have come into contact with. As the hero’s vision becomes known, Constellation’s leader, Sarah Morgan, inducts them into the organization, tasking them with the quest to unearth more artefacts and bring them back to Constellation’s sanctuary.

What follows is a thrilling odyssey as players traverse diverse and memorable cities, interact with various Constellation members like Sam Coe, and immerse themselves in an array of sidequests, all while harnessing mystical powers bestowed upon them by the artefacts. However, amidst this routine exploration, a chance encounter with a mysterious extraterrestrial race, known as the Starborn, alters the course of the narrative.

Who Is The Hunter and The Emissary?

As your cosmic expedition unfolds, you will cross paths with enigmatic figures. One such figure is the relentless Hunter, driven by an insatiable urge to claim fragments of The Unity for personal gain. This relentless pursuit leads the Hunter to relentlessly hunt down members of Constellation.

It is eventually revealed that the Hunter is a twisted iteration of Father Aquilus, who attained the status of Starborn after traversing The Unity. However, his motivations take a far darker turn than the version of Father Aquilus encountered in your universe.

The other enigmatic figure is the Emissary, an enigmatic entity shrouded in profound knowledge of the artefacts. This revelation is one of the game’s most striking twists, as the Emissary is unveiled as a member of Constellation, a figure from an alternate universe—a truth contingent upon the choices you make during the game.

The Shifting Identity of the Emissary

The identity of the Emissary is contingent upon the specific decisions you make in the mission ‘High Price to Pay.’ As the Hunter launches an assault on The Lodge, you face a pivotal choice: defend the Constellation headquarters or rush to The Eye to aid in the battle. Whichever path you choose results in the demise of one of Constellation’s members—Sam, Sarah, Barrett, or Andreja.

In a startling revelation, the Emissary unveils themselves as the Starborn counterpart of the fallen Constellation member from an alternate universe. Thus, the Emissary is reborn, forever altered by the cosmic forces of The Unity.

The Momentous Choice: Ending of Starfield Explained

The concluding act of Starfield transpires on Masada III, with its outcome hinging on the player’s previous choices. After clashing with The Emissary’s forces, The Hunter’s forces, or a combined adversary fleet in space, the battle extends to Masada III’s surface and a concealed temple buried deep below.

As players descend deeper into the temple’s depths, they experience various multiversal anomalies, each offering glimpses into pivotal moments—such as their initial contact with the artefact and their theft of one from the collector. These flashbacks culminate in a final confrontation with a Starborn entity, where players must choose to either engage in dialogue or take a more confrontational approach.

Upon securing the final artefact, players gain the ability to construct “The Armillary” on their spacecraft and execute a Grav Jump to The Unity. This celestial leap propels them into a galactic void, dominated by a colossal star-like orb. As players approach the figure in front of this celestial entity, a revelation unfolds—it is The Unity itself, manifesting in the form of the player character.

The Unity imparts a profound choice: players may step into The Unity, become a Starborn, and embark on a journey to a different universe. This decision, however, necessitates the abandonment of everything and everyone from their home universe, exacting a toll on their very essence during the transition. The Unity also provides a glimpse into the future of the player’s original universe, based on the outcomes of various Faction quests, each boasting multiple endings.

The journey does not necessarily conclude here. Players may choose to abstain from The Unity, permitting them to continue exploration, complete quests, and establish outposts in the universe where their adventure commenced. At any juncture, they can opt to re-enter The Unity, initiating a cycle akin to a “New Game Plus” mode. In this phase, players are reborn as Starborn, endowed with unique equipment and abilities carried over from their previous endeavours. Yet, in this new universe, they remain strangers to all, with the freedom to chart their own course, be it retreading the narrative or seizing the artefacts anew.

In essence, Starfield’s narrative is boundless, offering players an enduring odyssey through the infinite, regardless of the paths they choose.