Starfield update delivers official DLSS support, boosted performance, and more

Update 1.8.86 officially adds DLSS and brings major optimisations to Starfield on PC and consoles

Bethesda’s Starfield has just received a new update on PC and consoles. This patch, amongst other things, adds official support for Nvidia’s DLSS technology to Starfield on PC, and gives players the ability to immediately ingest all food items in the game.

On all platforms, Starfield’s 1.8.86 update adds major performance optimisations to the game. This includes both GPU performance optimisations and an improved render threading model. These changes, and others, will allow PC gamers to achieve higher framerates than before in Bethesda’s latest RPG. On consoles, this update should increase the game’s framerate stability, and possibly allow the game to run at higher resolutions on Xbox Series X/S.

On PC, a beta version of this update was already available to Starfield players on Steam. We have already tested the performance impact of this beta update, and have found that the update dramatically boosts Starfield’s framerates on both AMD and Nvidia-powered gaming PCs. More changes have been made to Starfield with update 1.8.86, including fixes for some bugs that were present within the game’s beta PC update.

Starfield now supports DLSS

On PC, Starfield now supports Nvidia’s DLSS technology. This includes support for DLSS Super Resolution, DLAA (Deep Learning Anti-Aliasing), DLSS Frame Generation, and Nvidia Reflex. These features are only available to users of supported Nvidia GeForce GPUs.

You can join the discussion on Starfield’s DLSS patch on the OC3D Forums.

UPDATE HIGHLIGHTS

NVIDIA DLSS SUPPORT

This update introduces Nvidia DLSS support for our PC players. Compatible Nvidia graphic cards can now use DLSS Super Resolution, Deep Learning Anti-aliasing (DLAA), Nvidia Reflex Low Latency, and DLSS Frame generation.

LET THEM EAT!

By popular request, we have added the ability to ingest food and drink items upon finding them in the environment. You can enjoy those Chunks immediately or save them for later. The choice is yours.

FIXES AND IMPROVEMENTS

PERFORMANCE AND STABILITY

  • Addressed a number of memory related issues and leaks.
  • Added some GPU performance optimizations, which will be more impactful on higher end cards.
  • Improved renderer threading model, improving CPU usage most notably on higher end systems.
  • Various stability and performance improvements.

GAMEPLAY

  • Added the ability to eat the food placed in the world.
  • Adjusted stealth to be a bit more forgiving.
  • Fixed an issue where Andreja2s head would stay permanently cloaked.
  • Fixed an issue that could prevent players from firing their weapons.
  • Fixed issues where some NPC could be seen not wearing clothes (Note: This issue may resolve itself over time).
  • Fixed an issue where already in-progress skill challenges could stop progressing after reaching the Unity and starting a new game.
  • Fixed an issue that could temporarily prevent opening the inventory or saving after entering the Unity.
  • PC: Fixed an issue where mouse movement could be choppy.
  • Fixed a rare issue that could cause the home ship to be lost.
  • Fixed an issue where the ship services technician might be missing.
  • Fixed an issue where occasionally the camera could shake incorrectly during Traveling, Grav Jumping, Docking, or Landing transitions.

GRAPHICS

  • Addressed an issue with how ambient occlusion appeared in ultrawide resolutions.
  • Optimized initial shader compilation that occurs on start-up.
  • Added the ability to adjust Brightness and Contrast in the Display Settings menu.
  • Added the ability to adjust HDR Brightness provided that the system supports it. (Xbox & Windows 11 only).
  • Addressed a number of materials that could sometimes present an unintended pattern under certain conditions.
  • Fixed various visual issues related to the new FOV slider options.
  • Improved the appearance of the eyes on crowd characters.
  • Addressed a number of minor visual issues related to lighting, shadows, terrain, and vegetation.
  • PC: Addressed additional visual issues related to DLSS.

QUESTS

  • All That Money Can Buy: Fixed a rare issue where players couldn’t sit during the negotiation with Musgrove.
  • Blast Zone: Fixed an issue where the hard rocks that need to be cleared out by players will not appear on Ngodup Tate’s land.
  • Echoes of the Past: Fixed an issue where the Grylloba Queen could sometimes not be reachable during the objective “Secure the Shuttle Bay”.
  • Eye of the Storm: Fixed an issue where players’ quest progression could potentially be blocked due to a missing docking prompt.
  • Grunt Work: Addressed an issue where progress could appear blocked if “Supra et Ultra” was completed while returning to the Lodge during “High Price to Pay”.
  • No Sudden Moves: Fixed an issue that could prevent the entrance door to the Scow ship from being opened again.
  • Operation Starseed: Fixed an issue where the key that is needed to exit the facility could sometimes not be present.
  • Sabotage: Fixed an issue where David Barron could potentially not be found by players.
  • Short Sighted: Fixed an issue where players could rarely become control-locked while speaking with Vladimir.
  • The Heart of Mars: Fixed an issue where players might not be able to mine the “The Heart of Mars”.
Mark Campbell

Mark Campbell

A Northern Irish father, husband, and techie that works to turn tea and coffee into articles when he isn’t painting his extensive minis collection or using things to make other things.

Follow Mark Campbell on Twitter
View more about me and my articles.