Best Experience (Required)

StarSim: Beyond Space must be started on a New Game or NG+. It adds new space cells that do not load correctly in existing mid-playthrough saves (they can appear in the wrong place or fail to load due to an engine bug). Also place StarSim: Beyond Space near the bottom of your load order.

What StarSim: Beyond Space Includes

Gate network - Nearly 300 handcrafted orbits connected by physical gates. Fly into a gate to travel. Creates real “in-between” space travel instead of menu skipping. Main story ending rebuilt to use the network.
Persistent simulation - Stations produce/consume goods, freighters haul cargo, passengers/mail/parcels move, military and security patrol, pirates and Starborn raid. Activity continues whether you are present or not (turn-based per orbit).
Living economy & logistics - Freight has real destinations and value. Interrupting or capturing it creates meaningful opportunities (boarding, cargo theft, ship capture).
Independent activity - Faction ships can fight each other without you. You can arrive mid-battle, join, or ignore it.
Security & contraband - Physical scans only when a security ship is present and within ~2 km. Scans all traffic, so busy orbits can help smugglers hide.
Ship destruction & replacement - Destroyed faction ships can be replaced and rebuilt by the simulation.
Exploration content - Unique anomalies, POIs, derelicts, stations, triggered encounters, asteroid fields (usable as combat cover), and resource activity. Anomaly scanning awards XP.
Network map - Holographic map above the navigation table updates in real time as you explore.
Ship & combat overhaul - New/custom ships, modules, and weapons. Distinct A/B/C/Capital classes with meaningful differences. Capitals are serious threats that reward positioning, range, and tactics over face-tanking. Carrier hangars launch wings in combat.
Enhanced interactions - Heavy use of Starfield's ship dialogue, piracy options, stealth, and scanners.
Compatibility - Shattered Space (Va’ruun’kai dynamically linked), Watchtower, and cruise mode for seamless menu-free travel.
Custom soundtrack - 9 new tracks tied to key locations.

Known Issues

Existing saves are not supported. Start a New Game or NG+.
Rare cases where an orbit does not fully load on arrival (more common in NG+ or quick-start). Leave and return, or play for 1–2 hours so the simulation finishes initializing.

Compatibility

Most load orders work when StarSim is placed near the bottom. Mods that edit space cells, ship encounters, or AI packages may conflict. We will maintain a compatibility list and work with other authors as issues are reported.