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All walks of life contribute something to our growth.

That’s definitely the case inStarfield, the big science-fiction role-playing game from Bethesda Game Studios.

Starfield character standing on planet

When customizing your character, known as the Spacefarer, you’ll have to choose a Background.

There are 16 Backgrounds in Starfield, from daring Explorers to surprisingly lethal Chefs.

Here’s what you gotta know about them.

Starfield Premium Edition

If that’s not enough, you might also start playing five days early.

Your chosen Background also determines the Skills you have at the start of the game.

These are all of the Backgrounds in the game.

Razer Deathadder Essential

You’ve learned the skills to track them, find them, and take them down.

In your kitchen, countless alien species became true culinary masterpieces.

Cyberneticist

Starting Skills:Medicine, Security, LasersDescription:Robots?

Starfield

Good for party tricks.

Humans and machines, as one.

Diplomat

Starting Skills:Persuasion, Commerce, WellnessDescription:The wars are over.

Starfield

Peace now reigns the Settled Systems.

But only because there are those quietly fighting to keep it.

Because of you, agreements were signed, words were heeded…lives were spared.

Starfield

Explorer

Starting Skills:Lasers, Astrodynamics, SurveyingDescription:They said exploration is a lost art.

You didn’t listen.

You did, and utilized it to great effect.

Starfield: Shattered Space -…

Thankfully, that skillset never goes out of style in the Settled Systems.

You’re a space trucker, pure and simple.

Pack the cargo, get it there fast, get paid, repeat.

Starfield PC

Life is simple and good.

Pilgrim

Starting Skills:Scavenging, Surveying, GastronomyDescription:Wayfarer, wanderer, seeker…transient.

To some, you were a simple mercenary.

Starfield

To others, a hero.

And to a select few…a nightmare they could never wake from.

Instead, you followed your heart, and created works of art to amaze and inspire.

Avowed screenshot of a character and courtesan

Simple, bloody work…and you were great at it.

Space Scoundrel

Starting Skills:Pistol Certification, Piloting, PersuasionDescription:Good?

Whose right is it to say?

Official Avowed image from the Avowed Fan Kit.

And while none of them have yet proven sentient, that never deterred you.

So you sought out and studied them for whatever gifts they offered.

Deletion by some powerful unknown faction?

Screenshot of Avowed showing the companion Kai battling a xaurip.

Or was there just nothing of note to mention?

Whatever the reason, your past is known only to you.

What’s important is the here and now, and the path you’re about to forge.

A first-person view of the player character using Dream Touch in Avowed

Starfield is currently scheduled to launch on Sep. 6, 2023 exclusively on Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC.

If you preorder the Premium Edition, you could start playing on September 1.

Like all Xbox first-party games, it’s also available inXbox Game Pass.

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