Is Starfield first-person only, or can the game be enjoyed from a third-person perspective too? Here’s everything you need to know.

If you’re not a fan of first-person games, you might be wondering if Starfield and its focus on first-person marketing will be for you.

Games that lock players to first-person perspectives are often a little restrictive, as they don’t give you many opportunities to see your player character.

And after several hours spent in the customization menu, it’d be disappointing to never see our character again. Thankfully, that won’t be the case for Starfield.

Can You Play Starfield in Third-Person?

Yes, Starfield is playable in both third-person and first-person modes, with players able to switch between the two at will.

This was confirmed in the Starfield Direct in June 2023, where we see gameplay from both perspectives.

“Of course, you can play it in third-person.” Todd Howard confirms. “And, you can play it in first-person.”

Like the Elder Scrolls and Fallout titles, players will be able to switch between first and third-person at will. Usually, this happens with just a single button press, and it seems to work the same way in Starfield – with no menus required.

Here’s a screenshot from the Starfield Direct showing the player character sprinting in third-person mode:

And here’s the same shot after switching to first-person:

Most likely, we’ll see a lot of players enjoying exploring the galaxy in third-person, while switching to a first-person perspective for combat encounters. After all, Fallout fans will know that a first-person perspective will often lead to more accurate gunplay.

Similarly, those who want a more immersive experience might enjoy playing through the majority of the game in first-person. But if you’re prone to motion sickness, third-person mode will be your best friend.

In addition, Starfield’s new animation system makes third-person quite possibly the best way to play the majority of the game. Although the camera is often set close to your character, the Direct shows that it can be pushed back significantly, which appears to happen automatically when running.

Check out the new third-person animation system in this clip from the Starfield Direct:

As ever, it seems that Bethesda is giving its fans a variety of ways to play. And whether you’re a fan of first or third-person perspective, both look like great ways to explore the universe.