Starfield: What Happened to Earth? [Lore Explained]

Featuring over a thousand planets, Starfield's expansive 2330 universe, we delve into the central question of "What happened to the Earth."

What Happened To Earth in Starfield
What Happened To Earth in Starfield

What happened to the earth in Starfield is one of the first questions players ask as soon as they dive into the expanding open world. While it is worth noting that the game is set in 2330 with massive technological advancement, and its central aspect revolves around the answer.

Spoiler Alert!!: This article contains details about Starfield’s storyline, including insights into Earth’s fate. Please proceed cautiously if you prefer to experience the game’s narrative without prior knowledge.


Key Takeaways

  • In Starfield, set in 2330, players explore a cosmos with over a thousand planets, and the central question revolves around the fate of Earth.
  • Early in the game, players visit the Sol System, Mars, and Earth, discovering that Earth has become no longer the thriving planet it once was.
  • Earth’s issues arose due to the collapse of its magnetosphere, leading to the formation of the United Colonies in 2159 to relocate civilization.
  • Scanning Earth from space shows a barren wasteland with toxic vents and craters, and radiation is a daytime concern, with a chilly temperature of -1 degree Celsius.

Early Visit To Earth

In the early stages of Starfield’s main quest, the game prompts players to visit the Sol System to contact individuals in Sedonia, a mining settlement on Mars. Conversations with various characters show that Sol, Earth’s home system, is no longer the desirable destination it once was.

Mars is portrayed as the system’s best option, although not without flaws. While the initial focus of the quest centers on Mars and a few other planets within the solar system, players have the choice to venture over to Earth and its moon.

  • Earth is no longer the home we remember.
  • Earth’s issues arose due to the collapse of its magnetosphere, leading to the formation of the United Colonies in 2159 to relocate civilization.
  • Scanning planet Earth reveals the presence of various minerals and materials, including lead, water, and iron.
  • Looking at it from space, you can barely make out the outlines of different continents, but the planet has turned into a barren wasteland.
Earth Point Of View and Resources - Image Credits: Gamesual
Earth Point Of View and Resources – Image Credits: Gamesual
  • Upon landing on several locations across the planet, I encountered only a few natural landmarks.
  • They primarily consisted of craters and toxic vents. Scanning these anomalies at any location unveils Earth’s traits during solar storm seasons.
  • Traveling at night provides safety from radiation. But during the day, without the protective shield of the magnetosphere, vulnerability to radiation damage significantly increases.
What happened to Earth after the collapse
Harsh Earth Conditions – Image Credits: Gamesual

Despite these changes, Earth maintains its usual gravity, although the temperature has dropped considerably to a chilling -1 degrees Celsius.

Sol System Earth - Image Credits: Gamesual
Sol System Earth – Image Credits: Gamesual

Mentions of Earth In The Game

The first mention of Earth occurs in the game’s tutorial when our supervisor, Lynn, makes a one-off comment. Lynn mentions that many people believe Earth no longer exists but reassures that it is still there.

Lin mentioning Earth - Image Credits: Gamesual
Lin mentioning Earth – Image Credits: Gamesual.

An early opportunity to learn more about Earth and its current state arises in New Atlantis. In the orientation Hall of the Mast building, located at the center of the district, humanity discovered in 2150 that Earth’s magnetosphere would collapse within the next half-century, posing a threat to all life.

This situation necessitated decisive action, but transporting an entire civilization required a new level of cooperation and a fresh union.

Consequently, humanity established the United Colonies in 2159 to facilitate this monumental journey. One year later, Galileo, the first of many Colony ships, landed on Jemisin. This event began a new chapter in human history—the age of the United Colonies.

Earth History At New Atlantis - Image Credits: Gamesual
Earth History At New Atlantis – Image Credits: Gamesual

(NOTE: A magnetosphere is a region around a planet formed by the planet’s magnetic field. In the case of Earth, it plays a crucial role in preserving the planet’s habitability by shielding it from solar and cosmic radiation. Without this protective barrier, complete annihilation and probable extinction looms over our world.)

In the boundless expanse of Starfield, the question of what happened to Earth is a captivating enigma. With many planets to explore, searching for answers promises an exciting adventure into the unknown.

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