Starfield Universe History: Story From 2050 to 2328

Put your lore helmets on, prospective members of the Constellation! Developer and publisher Bethesda has shared some very interesting details about Starfield's timeline, with tidbits of history from 2050 to 2328!

Starfield's story begins in 2330, but what happened before the events of Bethesda's space epic? Well, that's what you will find out in this article, showcasing the history of the Starfield universe, so let's start those thrusters and fly in head first.

Starfield History/Timeline Details

With Starfield pre-loading now available and the game released on 6 September 2023 for PC, Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox Game Pass, you should know the basics by now. In 2330, humanity ventured beyond our solar system, exploring and settling on new planets and seeking rare artifacts.

Players will join the Constellation, a group of explorers, as they navigate the "vast expanse of space." Recently, Bethesda shared background lore on Starfield's universe, offering up a timeline of what happened between 2050 to 2328, two years before the events of Starfield.

Below, we've painstakingly written down the history of Starfield as shared by Bethesda, so you have it at your fingertips. Yes, there's a mysterious alien artifact, and there have been not one but two wares in less than 300 years in Starfield's history!

Warning: There's a huge wall of rather interesting, official lore for Starfield below, so get some tea/coffee and have a read!

• 2050: Humans first arrive on Mars. By 2100, humans are living in space.
• 2156: Humans arrive in Alpha Centauri (4.37 light years away from Earth).
• 2159: The United Colonies are established.
• 2160: New Atlantis is founded and becomes the official capital city of the United Colonies in 2161.
• 2167: Cheyenne is settled by Solomon Coe, who founds its first settlement, Akila City.
• 2188: Coe invites Volii to join Cheyenne in a new alliance - The Freestar Collective. The Freestar Collective is officially formed in 2189.
• 2194: The United Colonies positions the star station called the Clinic in orbit around Deepala in the Narion system. The unaffiliated peoples of the Narrion system sees this as a UC attempt to expand their borders and demand the UC removes the Clinic. When the UC refuses, the people of Narion voted to join the Freestar Collective, who mobilized to protect the system in 2195.
• 2196: In response to the Freestar Collective mobilization, the UC moves a fleet into the Narion system, and the Frestar Collective responds in kind. The Narion War begins.
• 2216: The Narion War drags on as public sentiment sours.  Finally, the Treaty of Narion is signed by the Freestar Collective and the UC in 2216, ending the conflict. The term "Settled Systems" is formalized in the treaty.
• 2221: The Freestar Rangers are founded as an elite protective and investigative force, dedicated to serving all citizens of the Freestar Collective.
• 2275: Constellation is formed by Sebastian Banks. Original members include Chloe Bao, an accomplished physicist; Aja Mamasa, the youngest member; and Sebastian's protege; Darius Andris, botanist, and specialist in xeno-flora; Bernadette Laurent, wealthy heiress, and adventurer; Everado Gil, former smuggler; and Kadri Toma, biologist and physician. The Lodge is built in New Atlantis to serve the needs of the people of Constellation for years to come.
• 2305: Barrett joins Constellation.
• 2307: The Freestar Collective begins farming on the planet of Vesta in the Lunara system. By 2308, the United Colonies claims that by establishing a colony in a fourth star system, the Freestar Collective has violated the Treaty of Narion. Diplomatic talks break down and the UC lays siege to Vesta, killing anyone who stayed behind (and was brought in) to defend it. The Colony War officially begins.
• 2310: Constellation comes into possession of their first Artifact and tucks it away in the Constellation archive.
• 2311: After several years of conflict, the Colony War effectively comes to an end with the Battle of Cheyenne as a flotilla of civilian and military Freestar Collective ships take down the major ships of the UC Navy with hit-and-run tactics.
• 2315: The UC Vanguard is founded as part of a response to the Freestar Collective's use of civilian ships during the Colony War. The Vanguard is the UC's own civilian navy, relying on civilians using their own ships, who pledge to protect the United Colonies and its interest. The ultimate reward for this service: citizenship in the United Colonies.
• 2319: Sarah Morgan becomes the youngest head of the UC Navigator Corps, though it's a short-lived position as the division is shut down in 2320. Cast adrift but still eager to put her training to good use, Morgan joins Constellation.
• 2321: Walter Stroud - the co-owner of Stroud-Ecklund, one of the Settled Systems' premier starship manufacturers - joins Constellation and becomes its primary financial backer.
• 2322: Former Crimson Fleet pirate, Vladimir Sall, joins Constellation.
• 2325: Sarah Morgan becomes acting Chair of Constellation, and Matteo Khatri joins Constellation.
• 2326: Barret finds the original Artifact in the Constellation Archives and knows it must be special. After months of correspondence with Sarah Morgan, a graduate and gifted scientist, Noel, is invited to join Constellation.
• 2327: Freestar Ranger Sam Coe and his daughter, Cora, join Constellation.
• 2328: Andreja joins Constellation. Barrett convinces Constellation to purchase Starstation L-868 and modify it to become a deep space scanner, nicknamed "The Eye."

If you want to learn more about how Starfield plays, then check out the official gameplay deep-dive video below and get hyped to join the Constellation!

That's the full timeline for Starfield's universe from 2050 to 2328, two years before the events of the game!