Starfield features a sprawling universe packed with dynamic and unique factions, each with its own agenda, politics, and colorful members.

Fortunately, Starfield lets you join several of these factions while using the others to help flesh out its world, build upon the lore, and even involve you in exciting quests.

So, who are these factions, what are their goals, and which ones can you join? Below, we outline everything you need to know about every confirmed faction in Starfield.

All Starfield Factions

There are 5 main factions in Starfield that the player will encounter during the story and while exploring. They are:

  • Constellation
  • United Colonies
  • Freestar Collective
  • Ryujin Industries
  • Crimson Fleet

Each faction has its own unique goals, members, and locations, so you’ll need to travel across the galaxy to meet them.

Lead Quest Designer Will Shen spoke about how the main storyline has been designed to get the player to meet all of the factions, giving you the opportunity to decide if you want to help them.

You can read his full quote and watch the clip for yourself below:

“One of the early things we decided on was making sure that the main quest actually kind of gives you a little bit of a tour of the settled systems and all of the major players there so that we can give you a taste of what they’re going to be up to.”

Constellation

Constellation is the first faction you’ll meet and key players in getting you started on the main questline. They’re explorers led by ex-soldier Sarah Morgan, who is interested in a mysterious space artifact.

While they are the default faction you’ll join first, you’re not committed to them. They act as an introduction to the world but can be abandoned if you so choose.

Sarah Morgan from Starfield

United Colonies

The United Colonies is one of the biggest factions in the game, with their political and military influence stretching across the galaxy.

20 years before the events of Starfield, they won a devastating war against the Freestar Collective and are now concerned with the rise of the Crimson Fleet pirates.

New Atlantis in Starfield

Freestar Collective

The Freestar Collective are space cowboys, although more of the Firefly variety than Cowboy Bebop. After losing the war against the United Colonies, they turned to upholding the peace within their own communities.

They are based in the walled city of Akila City, where they promote individualism and living that beautiful Space Western fantasy.

The Freestar Collective base in Starfield

Ryujin Industries

Ryujin Industries is a corporate faction that values the bottom line and its own financial interests above all. They’re based in the seedy city of Neon, famous for its nightclubs and criminal element.

You can only join the Ryujin faction through invitation, but according to Will Shen, it has the best start of any faction.

The Ryujin Industries Faction Headquarters in Starfield

Crimson Fleet

The Crimson Fleet is a somewhat antagonist faction in Starfield, acting as space pirates and the current enemies of the United Colonies.

Their base is a space station called The Key in the Kyrx System, which they took over from the United Colonies.

A Crimson Fleet pirate shooting another person in Starfield

All Starfield Groups

Outside of the 5 main factions, there are 7 additional confirmed groups that the player will encounter. While not as prominent, these groups serve to flesh out the world and hand out quests.

Here are the 7 other confirmed groups in Starfield:

  • Enlightened – One of the many religious groups
  • Sanctum Universum – Another religious faction
  • Great Serpent Worshippers – A religious group
  • House of Va’ruun – A space cult
  • The Red Mile – A group of “runners” from Porrima III
  • Ecliptic Mercenaries – A mercenary group
  • Spacers – Space bandits
The Red Mile base in Starfield

Which Factions Can You Join in Starfield?

Players can join the 5 main factions, Constellation, United Colonies, Freestar Collective, Ryujin Industries, and the Crimson Fleet in Starfield.

Bethesda has not confirmed whether or not any of the additional factions will be joinable.

You will be able to complete each of the 5 faction’s questlines in a single playthrough, regardless of which one you choose to join initially.

This was confirmed by Starfield’s Lead Quest Designer, Will Shen, during a December 2022 interview, in which he explained that they wanted players to be able to experience every faction questline.

“We decided we really want to make sure that you can play through all the faction lines independently of each other.”