Starfield all factions explained: Constellation, United Colonies, Freestar Collective, and more

During your adventure in Starfield, you'll come across many factions. Along with the main one, Constellation, this title offers a wealth of optional groups you can join. As you explore the stars and play this game, you can become a member of these factions and complete quests to assist them. However, you can’t join all the groups in this title. This is because some of them include enemies, while certain others serve specific purposes.

Starfield is a vast game that has you cruising across the stars, offering you plenty of options to work with or against a multitude of factions. Here’s what you need to know.

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1) All Factions you can join in Starfield

This is the primary group you'll interact with in the game (Image via Bethesda)

The main story quest of Starfield is focused on the Constellation faction. These explorers and adventurers explore the depths of space, and you’re going to be working alongside them, whether you want to or not. The only time you can avoid doing main story quests for them is if you’re in the New Game+ mode.

Quite a few characters in this group can be your companion, and several of them can also be romanced. This is the game's most important faction, so you’re going to see it often.

The United Colonies are just one of the main groups you can join (Image via Bethesda)

Allegiance factions are groups that you can join as you explore Starfield. Doing so often involves completing a quest or meeting other requirements. Three factions fall under Allegiance: United Colonies, Freestar Collective, and Ryujin Industries. Joining one of these can lead to higher bounties with rival groups, so keep that in mind.

The United Colonies were founded on New Atlanits early into Earth’s expansion into the stars. This Faction began its life in Jemsion, and would ultimately spread further. As you explore the game, you’ll find a few colonies, such as Sydonia and Wolf, alongside New Atlantis itself.

The Freestar Collective is one of the two major government factions in the game, alongside the United Colonies

The Freestar Collective (capital in Akila City) is another one of the galactic governments in Starfield. It controls Cheyenne - where the Faction’s capital lies, Nation, and Voliii. Things are often tense between this group and the United Colonies.

Ryujin Industries isn't your typical megacorp (Image via Bethesda)

Ryujin Industries is one of the megacorp’s in Starfield. You might find it to be similar to something you’d see in Cyberpunk 2077 or Blade Runner. They have not been bashful about acquiring their competition through any means necessary. It’s a powerful corporation, and one you can find yourself signing on with as you explore Neon City.

The Crimson Raiders can be infiltrated through the course of the game (Image via Bethesda)

As you progress through Starfield, you’ll come across quite a few mercenary factions: The First, Ecliptic, Spacers, and most dangerous of all, the Crimson Fleet. It’s known that you can join the Crimson Fleet, through one of the game’s many side quests.

Your other interactions with mercenaries is really going to be simple. If you see them out among the stars, destroy them before they destroy you. Barring that, keep out of range of their targeting systems.

Andy Singh, leader of the House of Enlightenment (Image via Bethesda)

You can also embrace religion as you play this game. Starfield also features three religious groups. You can start off with access to these in the character creation suite, thanks to one of three traits. These groups are the House of the Enlightened, Sanctum Universum, and The Var’ruun.

It’s not fair to call the House of the Enlightened a religion, as it’s really more of a philosophy. They are similar to the modern day atheist or humanist. Their goal is to aid humanity and lift them up, as it’s the right thing to do, instead of doing so for any particular dogmatic requirement.

Sanctum Universum is the monotheistic religion in the game and is opposed to the actions of the House of the Enlightened. They appear to be closer to Christianity or Catholicism in how they’re represented.

House Va'ruun feels less like a religion (Image via Bethesda)

House Va’ruun feels more like a cult than an organized religion. A group of aggressive, violent zealots, the only known way to join them right appears to be by taking the Serpent’s Embrace trait during character creation. Right now, it’s unknown if you can have this trait removed.

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2) All minor Factions in Starfield

The beginning of the game has you as a part of the Argos Excavators (Image via Bethesda)

There are a host of other minor factions throughout Starfield, that you may or may not come into contact with. These groups do not make any particular long-lasting impression on the world around you - at least not compared to groups you can actively join.

Galbank is a major banking system, and the Trade Authority is a group you may find yourself doing odd jobs for. There’s also the Argos Extractors, whom you start off working alongside in beginning of the game.

Stroud-Ecklund is a well-known shipwright corporation that you could perhaps find yourself completing a mission or two for. There are no doubt other minor factions scattered among the stars. You may also hear about a competitor of Ryujin industries, the Xenofresh Corporation. It was thought at first that you could join them, but as of this writing, we have not found a way to do so.

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Starfield is now available via early access and will launch for everyone on September 6, 2023. If you'd like to know which classes are the best in this game, this tier list will help.