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Starfield Cruise Mode and Free Lanes encounters explained

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The Starfield Free Lanes update adds the ability to travel between planets in a system using Cruise Mode to have fresh encounters

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(Image credit: Bethesda)
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Starfield Cruise Mode allows you to fly through the space between planets within a system while taking in the full experience, instead of simply using fast travel to jump there in an instant. Along the way you can discover Starfield Free Lanes encounters, triggering events that can either help or hinder you as you journey over vast distances. During certain Starfield Terran Armada Incursions you'll be forced to use this new option as fast travel will be disabled, so here's what you need to know about Cruise Mode in Starfield and Free Lanes encounters.

How to use Cruise Mode in Starfield

The option to activate Starfield Cruise Mode

(Image credit: Bethesda)

Once your ship is in space, you can use Cruise Mode in Starfield by holding down L1/LB to activate the prompt to the left of your craft's HUD. This will expand the viewing area ahead of you, then you can point your ship in the direction you want to travel in Starfield and push L3/LS to accelerate to the maximum cruising speed of your vessel.

Setting an autopilot target in Starfield Cruise Mode

(Image credit: Bethesda)

If something of interest is detected, a marker with a brief description will appear on the screen, which you can select with Cross/A and then hit R1/RB to activate Autopilot to fly to that location. You ship will automatically fly to it and then reduce speed, so you don't need to worry about overshooting your target – likewise, if you're just cruising through space then your ship will automatically slow down to avoid slamming into planets or moons in front of you.

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Talking to your crew while Starfield Cruise Mode is active

(Image credit: Bethesda)

While you're using Starfield Cruise Mode to fly through space, you can hold Circle/B to exit the pilot seat and freely move around your ship. You can chat to your crewmates, access storage, or use the crafting and research stations, while you enjoy this alternative to Starfield fast travel and wait for the next Free Lanes encounter to come along.

What are Free Lanes encounters in Starfield?

Having a Starfield Free Lanes encounter in Cruise Mode

(Image credit: Bethesda)

Free Lanes encounters in Starfield are the activities you discover while travelling around space in Cruise Mode, and can take many forms. We've made some interesting discoveries already, including a relay satellite that we enabled to send a burst signal calling in a nearby smuggler to trade with and a weary traveller searching for her missing wife, and there are many more tales out there to be discovered.

Starfield tipsStarfield SkillsStarfield ship customizationStarfield biomesStarfield Contraband

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Starfield Contraband: Succeed with smuggling

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Iain Wilson
Iain Wilson
Guides Editor

Iain originally joined Future in 2012 to write guides for CVG, PSM3, and Xbox World, before moving on to join GamesRadar in 2013 as Guides Editor. His words have also appeared in OPM, OXM, PC Gamer, GamesMaster, and SFX. He is better known to many as ‘Mr Trophy’, due to his slightly unhealthy obsession with amassing intangible PlayStation silverware, and he now has over 1,000 Platinum pots weighing down the shelves of his virtual award cabinet. He does not care for Xbox Achievements.

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