One of the most requested Starfield features — seamless ship travel between planets without loading screens — may finally be in the works. Thanks to some deep-diving by a curious modder, we now have evidence that Bethesda could be experimenting with a new “cruise mode” feature that would overhaul the current travel system in a big way.
What’s this Cruise Mode all about?
Modder Xtcrefugee uncovered multiple references to a brand-new cruise mode in the latest August 2025 update for Starfield. The clues came straight from Bethesda’s own scripting files — specifically, Papyrus Script Source (.psc) files, which govern core game logic like quest scripting and environmental triggers.
As it stands now, Starfield handles interplanetary travel through loading screens, a design decision that’s been polarszing since the game’s release back in September 2023. But these new cruise mode references suggest Bethesda may be laying the groundwork for a real-time travel system that lets players manually cruise between planets, possibly with mission triggers and interactive functions along the way.
A feature fans have wanted for years
Even before launch, the Starfield community has been vocal about wanting truly immersive space travel. The idea of lifting off from one planet and landing on another without hard cuts or loading screens has always felt like the holy grail for space exploration fans.
In fact, one determined fan back in September 2023 proved that this kind of travel was technically possible, by manually piloting their ship from one planet to another without a loading screen. The catch? It took dozens of real-world hours due to the sheer scale of Starfield’s galaxy.
Will Cruise Mode speed things up?
Possibly. One theory is that Bethesda may introduce a game-time acceleration system to make this kind of travel more feasible. Imagine kicking your ship into cruise mode, triggering a warp-like sequence where time speeds up just enough to make the experience feel immersive, but still practical. This would bring Starfield more in line with how games like Elite Dangerous or No Man’s Sky handle long-distance traversal.
Astrogate Mod did it first … kind of
If this all sounds familiar, it’s because the modding community beat Bethesda to the punch. In May 2024, a popular mod called Astrogate landed on Nexus Mods, offering exactly this kind of functionality. The mod enables seamless ship travel with no loading screens, and it’s been downloaded over 37,000 times since its release. As of early August 2025, it’s still receiving regular updates.
That mod showed it could be done, and now it seems Bethesda may be taking notes, or perhaps even building an official version of the same concept.
But don’t get too hyped … yet
Here’s the catch: Bethesda hasn’t officially acknowledged cruise mode or confirmed any plans to revamp Starfield’s travel system. The scripting references show that something is happening behind the scenes, but whether it’s for internal testing or a full public feature remains to be seen.
In other words, temper your hype. This might be a test feature, a future-proof placeholder, or the start of something much bigger. But until Bethesda puts out a formal update or changelog, it’s still all speculative.
Still no word on the second expansion
Meanwhile, players are still waiting on official news regarding Starfield’s second major expansion. It’s been rumored for over a year now, but no concrete details have emerged. If cruise mode is part of a future expansion — or even a major patch — it could signal a significant turning point in how Starfield is played and perceived.
Could Starfield finally ditch the immersion-breaking loading screens for good? If these cruise mode scripting references are anything to go by, the answer might be “yes” — or at least “eventually.” It’s a promising sign that Bethesda is still actively evolving the game. Until then, keep your engines running, and maybe give Astrogate a spin while we wait for official confirmation.