There are various games that have implemented the bounty mechanic, and it definitely adds realism; it makes it clear that all actions have consequences, and in Starfield, it’s no different. Players that are caught doing bad deeds in Starfield will have to deal with having a bounty on their heads.
This guide will tell players everything they need to know about bounties in Starfield. It’ll show gamers which crimes they will be punished for and how they can safely clear their bounty.
How to Check Bounty
There are various crimes in the Settled Systems that will result in the player’s character being wanted by security if they’re caught. These are the main crimes that can land players in jail or increase the bounty on their heads:
For example, if any of these crimes were committed while in United Colonies territory, the faction will put a bounty on the player, and UC Security will hunt them down and bring them to justice.
Gamers can check the bounty a faction has on them by opening their Starmap and selecting a certain Solar System. In the top right corner of the screen, they will be able to see the main faction in the System and the number of credits on their bounty right below. If there is nothing there, then the player is not wanted by the authorities. Alternatively, they can also access a Self-Service Bounty Clearance Kiosk to check their bounty.
How to Clear Bounty
There are three ways to clear a bounty in Starfield. Gamers should learn how they work, as all of these methods might come in handy during their playthrough.
Faction Security
If the player is caught doing a crime or if a faction already has a bounty on them, security will be hostile and approach them as soon as they realize who they are. The player has three options here: pay up, go to jail, or attack.
Gamers can pay their bounty directly to a security person and continue on with their day. However, if they choose this option, any stolen goods on them will have to be handed over along with the credits.
Jail
Players who don’t want to pay can go to jail for a few days. This will clear their bounty, but they will lose a considerable amount of XP, and their stolen goods will be confiscated.
Gamers can take back the stolen property by accessing the storage box in jail. However, it is an expert lock, so it can be quite difficult to break into.
Self-Service Bounty Clearance Kiosk
If players manage to get access to a Self-Service Bounty Clearance Kiosk, they will be able to pay their bounty without having to face any serious consequences. Although they will lose credits, they will be able to keep any stolen items on them and won’t lose any XP.
The only downside of using the Self-Service Bounty Clearance Kiosk is the fact that there is a small usage fee, and gamers can’t use it to pay their bounty if they’re in the same airspace as the faction that’s hunting them down.
Self-Service Bounty Clearance Kiosks can be found around the galaxy. Gamers will most likely come across one of these machines for the first time while visiting New Atlantis.
It might be difficult to approach these boards without being spotted by faction security, but thankfully, players can build a Self-Service Bounty Clearance machine at their own outposts in order to make their lives easier. Gamers can find the Self-Service Bounty Clearance item in the Miscellaneous tab in Build Mode at their outpost.
Starfield is now available for PC and Xbox Series X/S.
