Bounty Hunters in Space: Will Starfield's Trackers Alliance Finally Fix Factions?

Starfield, Bethesda's ambitious foray into the cosmos, promised a universe ripe for exploration and adventure. While the game delivered on many fronts, the faction system, a staple of Bethesda RPGs, left some players wanting more. Now, with the upcoming "Shattered Space" DLC on the horizon, a new player enters the scene: the Trackers Alliance. This organization, focused on bounty hunting across the Settled Systems, aims to provide a more dynamic and engaging experience. But will it truly fix the faction issues that plagued the base game, or is it simply another layer on a somewhat shallow system? As a veteran of the gaming industry who's spent countless hours lost in Bethesda's worlds, I'm here to break down everything we know, speculate on the possibilities, and address the community's hopes and fears.

The Trackers Alliance Explained: Hunting for Answers in the Stars

The Trackers Alliance is poised to offer a dedicated bounty hunting experience within Starfield. While details are still emerging, here's what we know – and what we can reasonably infer – about this new faction.

Gameplay Mechanics: Tracking, Hunting, and Moral Quandaries

The core gameplay loop surrounding the Trackers Alliance will revolve around acquiring bounties and fulfilling contracts. Expect to find bounty boards in major settlements and space stations, offering a variety of missions. These missions will likely range from tracking down low-level criminals to eliminating high-profile targets, with a commensurate scaling of rewards.

A glimpse into the life of a Tracker, showcasing the rugged gear and dangerous environments players can expect.

The key to success as a bounty hunter will likely involve a combination of skills: investigation, piloting, combat, and persuasion. Expect to use your scanner to track targets, navigate treacherous asteroid fields, engage in intense firefights, and even negotiate with your quarry (or their allies). The rewards will likely include credits, unique gear, and increased reputation with the Trackers Alliance.

A particularly interesting possibility is the inclusion of moral choices. Will every bounty be justified? Will some targets be framed or misunderstood? The ability to investigate a target and decide whether or not to fulfill the contract could add a layer of depth and complexity that was missing in the base game’s factions. This could align with Starfield's themes of morality in a vast, uncaring universe.

Lore: The History and Motivations of the Hunt

While the exact lore of the Trackers Alliance remains shrouded in mystery, we can speculate about their origins and motivations. Are they a newly formed organization arising in response to the increasing lawlessness of the Settled Systems? Or do they have historical roots, perhaps dating back to the early days of space exploration?

It's possible that the Trackers Alliance are a neutral entity, motivated primarily by profit. They take on contracts from anyone willing to pay, regardless of their allegiance. Alternatively, they could have a hidden agenda, perhaps working to maintain order (or their own version of it) in the Settled Systems.

Their relationship with other factions will be crucial to shaping their place in the Starfield universe.

Faction Interactions: Alliances, Conflicts, and Shifting Power

The Trackers Alliance's interactions with existing factions will be critical to its success. Will the Crimson Fleet see them as a threat, actively hunting down pirates and disrupting their operations? Will the United Colonies and Freestar Collective hire them to enforce their laws and maintain order? Or will the Trackers Alliance remain independent, navigating the complex web of alliances and conflicts in the Settled Systems?

Expect to explore diverse and unforgiving environments in pursuit of your targets.

Conflicts of interest are almost guaranteed. A bounty hunter working for the Freestar Collective might find themselves tracking a target who is also a member of the United Colonies. Navigating these conflicting loyalties could lead to difficult choices and meaningful consequences.

The possibility of collaboration is also intriguing. Perhaps the Trackers Alliance could work with the UC SysDef to infiltrate the Crimson Fleet, or partner with the Freestar Rangers to track down outlaws in the Cheyenne system. These alliances could open up new questlines and opportunities for players.

Addressing Criticism: Will the Trackers Alliance Provide Meaningful Consequences?

One of the main criticisms leveled against Starfield was the perceived shallowness of its faction systems. Players often felt that their choices had little impact on the overall game world and that they could join multiple factions without facing significant consequences. Can the Trackers Alliance address these concerns?

The key will be in the implementation. If the Trackers Alliance offers a more dynamic and reactive system, with meaningful consequences for player actions, it could significantly enhance the overall experience. For example, failing to complete a bounty might damage your reputation with the faction, making it harder to acquire future contracts. Siding with a target against the Trackers Alliance could lead to being hunted yourself.

The Trackers Alliance could offer more opportunities for players to express their character's personality and values.

The inclusion of moral choices is also crucial. By allowing players to decide whether or not a bounty is justified, the game can provide a greater sense of agency and allow players to shape their own narrative. This is far more engaging than simply following orders without question.

Ultimately, the Trackers Alliance needs to feel like a real organization with its own goals, values, and internal politics. If it can achieve this, it has the potential to be a significant improvement over the base game's faction systems.

Community Hype and Concerns: A Pulse Check from r/Starfield

The Starfield subreddit (r/Starfield) is abuzz with speculation and anticipation for the "Shattered Space" DLC and the Trackers Alliance. Here's a glimpse of what the community is saying:

Positive Anticipation:

• "I'm really excited about the roleplaying opportunities! I've always wanted to play a dedicated bounty hunter, and this seems like the perfect way to do it." - u/SpaceCowboy42
• "I hope the Trackers Alliance makes the game world feel more dynamic. It would be awesome to see bounty hunters actively tracking down criminals in different systems." - u/StarCitizenReject
• "If they add a proper morality system to bounty hunting, I'm sold. I want to be able to decide if a target deserves to be brought in or not." - u/EthicalHunter

Potential Concerns:

• "I'm worried about faction balance. If the Trackers Alliance is too powerful, it could make the other factions irrelevant." - u/UC loyalist
• "I hope the bounty hunting missions aren't repetitive. I don't want to be doing the same fetch quests over and over again." - u/BoredExplorer
• "Will the Trackers Alliance actually impact the power dynamics between the UC, Freestar, and Crimson Fleet, or will it just be a side activity?" - u/GalacticPolitico

These comments highlight the community's hopes for a more engaging and dynamic game world, as well as their concerns about faction balance and repetitive gameplay. The developers need to address these concerns to ensure that the Trackers Alliance lives up to its potential.

Impact on Roleplaying: Forging Your Own Path in the Settled Systems

The Trackers Alliance has the potential to significantly impact the roleplaying experience in Starfield. It will likely encourage players to create specialized bounty hunter characters, focusing on skills like investigation, combat, and persuasion. New character builds centered around stealth, marksmanship, or even intimidation could emerge.

Expect new weapons and armor tailored for the bounty hunting profession.

The Trackers Alliance could also offer new ways to engage with the game's narrative. Players could choose to be ruthless mercenaries, hunting down anyone for the right price. Or they could become righteous vigilantes, protecting the innocent and bringing criminals to justice. The choices they make will shape their character's reputation and influence their interactions with other factions.

The potential for unique backstories and motivations is also significant. Perhaps your character is a former UC soldier seeking redemption, or a Freestar Ranger disillusioned with the law. The Trackers Alliance could provide a framework for exploring these themes and creating a truly memorable character.

The Trackers Alliance opens up new avenues for exploration and adventure.

Conclusion: A Glimmer of Hope for Starfield's Factions?

The Trackers Alliance in Starfield: Shattered Space presents a potentially significant addition to the game's faction landscape. With its focus on bounty hunting, moral choices, and dynamic interactions, it offers a chance to address some of the criticisms leveled against the base game's faction systems. Whether it truly succeeds in providing meaningful consequences and a greater sense of agency remains to be seen.

The Trackers Alliance promises intense encounters and challenging decisions.

However, the potential is there. If the developers can deliver on the promise of a dynamic and reactive system, the Trackers Alliance could be a game-changer.

So, what are your expectations for the "Shattered Space" DLC and the Trackers Alliance? Do you believe it will address the game's existing faction issues? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Locations to post and receive bounties

Different weapons to bounty hunt.