Starfield Vehicle Lets You 'Go GTA'

The long-awaited addition of a playable vehicle to Starfield has enabled a type of fun player behavior that many associate more with the Grand Theft Auto series. The Starfield vehicle was added in the game's August 2024 update.

With the premium StarfieldShattered Space DLC expansion due in September 2024, Bethesda is working hard to drum up renewed interest in its space-based open-world RPG. Part of the plan is the August update, which added nothing less than a piloted ground vehicle to the game. Prior to the addition of the REV-8 all-terrain rover vehicle, players had to do all their exploration on foot. And with Starfield planets being extremely large, that meant a lot of walking around, moving slowly from one point of interest to another. The REV-8 cuts into that unfortunate tedium handily, with its speed and agility making exploration a breezy romp rather than an arduous slog.

The REV-8 is also novel because it can be used on any planet, not just undeveloped ones. Twitter user PoweredbyidTech took advantage of that freedom to report that the ability to take the REV-8 into some of the game's population centers allows players to "go GTA," and perform violent outbursts reminiscent of the popular open-world crime series.

Player Takes Starfield Rover on a Violent GTA-Style Killing Spree

In their post, PoweredbyidTech jumps into the rover while it sits parked at the spaceport of Starfieldplayer hub New Atlantis, and immediately begins driving into various NPC civilians, running them over and causing general mayhem. Before long, they're using the REV-8's mounted weapon in a firefight with UC Security officers, all the while amassing an impressive bounty for their crimes.

Reactions to the clip online varied. Some commenters were impressed that Bethesda chose to allow the REV-8 to be used in populated areas, including important quest locations like New Atlantis. Others were amused, observing that the New Atlantis space is simply not built to accommodate the speed and size of a playable vehicle. Vehicle-equipped games like Grand Theft Auto often incorporate roads and highways into their city designs to ensure players have enough space to drive easily. By comparison, even the biggest Starfieldcities are deliberately designed for pedestrian use and exploration.

The addition of a rover to Starfield in the first place is something of a break with tradition for Bethesda, which has typically favored on-foot exploration in its open-world games (though Oblivionand Skyrim had some provisions for mounted travel). Even Fallout 4 driveable vehicles are only present thanks to player-created mods. The incorporation of vehicles into the game design of Starfield could be an encouraging sign for players who want more out of travel in future titles like Fallout 5 and The Elder Scrolls 6.