Starfield Motion Sickness: Why It Happens & What Helps
Starfield launched in September 2023 with no field-of-view slider on any platform, and motion-sensitive players noticed within hours. Bethesda added first-person and third-person FOV sliders in update 1.7.36 on October 9, 2023, both running 70 to 110. With those set, motion blur off and third person as a fallback, Starfield is one of the more fixable games on this list.
PC, Xbox Series X|S · first- or third-person · Has comfort settings · Player-reported motion-sickness risk: commonly reported by motion-sensitive players.
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
Risk levels summarise what passengers and riders commonly report, not measured testing.
Key facts
- Starfield runs on PC, Xbox Series X|S.
- The camera is first- or third-person.
- Player reports place it in the moderate band for motion sickness.
- The game ships a full set of comfort settings.
- It sits at number 20 in our ranking of the 20 games players report most for motion sickness.
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Why Starfield can trigger motion sickness
The original problem was the missing slider. A narrow first-person view amplifies the tunnel-vision effect that commonly triggers queasiness, and there was nothing in the menus to widen it. Update 1.7.36 fixed that on PC and Xbox with separate sliders for first and third person, each ranging 70 to 110. What remains is first-person head bob, zero-gravity sections where your body has no reference, and ship interiors and stations built as tight corridors where you turn often. The third-person camera is the strongest lever the game has left, because it takes the view off your character's head entirely.
- Narrow default field of view before you raise the slider
- First-person head bob during long walks
- Zero-gravity sections with no ground reference
- Tight ship interiors and station corridors with frequent fast turns
Comfort settings in Starfield
Starfield ships a full set of comfort settings.
| Setting | Where | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Field of view, first person | Settings > Display (update 1.7.36, October 2023, and later) | Raise from the default toward 110, the top of the range |
| Field of view, third person | Settings > Display | A separate slider, same 70 to 110 range. Raise it too if you play in third person |
| Motion Blur | Settings > Display | Off |
| Third-person camera | Toggle view button | The official escape from first-person head bob |
Set up before your next session with Starfield
Put it on your phone
Dizzout runs on your phone, not on the machine you are playing on. Install it now, and when you next feel it starting, move the headphones you are wearing over to your phone and press play. Drug-free, and it works once symptoms have already begun.
It plays right here, on the headphones you are already wearing.
Free to try, no card needed. Or go straight to the App Store or Google Play.
Scan to open on your phoneOn a computer? Dizzout installs on your phone. Scan the code, or open dizzout.com/get on your phone and it'll take you straight to the right store.
Know someone who gets motion sick?
Send them the app that helps stop it, drug-free, in about 90 seconds, works with any headphones. Free to try.
What helps beyond the settings
- Raise both FOV sliders first, then judge whether anything else is needed
- Explore planets in third person and switch to first only when you need precision
- Break after zero-g sections rather than pushing on to the next objective
- A drug-free sound-therapy app like Dizzout is designed to help once symptoms start, through the headphones you already have on
The fixes people reach for once they step away from the screen are covered separately, with the trials attached: the remedy verdicts.
Frequently asked questions
Why does Starfield make me motion sick?
At launch there was no way to widen the field of view, and a narrow first-person view amplifies the tunnel-vision effect commonly reported as a trigger. Head bob, zero-gravity sections with no ground reference, and tight ship corridors with frequent turns do the rest. The FOV part is fixable now.
Does Starfield have an FOV slider?
Yes, since update 1.7.36 on October 9, 2023, on PC and Xbox. There are two separate sliders, one for first person and one for third, each running 70 to 110. Starfield shipped in September 2023 without either, which is what drove the original complaint wave.
Should I play Starfield in third person?
If first-person head bob is your trigger, yes. Third person takes the camera off your character's head, which removes the bob entirely, and it has its own FOV slider. Many players explore in third person and switch to first only for combat or close work.
Other game motion-sickness guides
Sources & further reading
- https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/xbox/starfield-update-adds-fov-sliders-for-first-and-third-person-gameplay
- https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/starfield-patch-brings-fov-slider-and-stability-improvements-for-intel-arc-gpus/
- https://steamcommunity.com/app/1716740/discussions/0/3976177262471008594
Your next question, probably
Can you build tolerance?
Graded exposure, honestly assessed, so you can keep playing
If that is not your question:
Based on publicly reported player experiences and each game's documented settings, as of July 2026. Settings menus change with updates, so check your version. Game names are trademarks of their respective owners; Dizzout is not affiliated with or endorsed by them. Motion-sickness sensitivity varies by person, so this is informational, not a game review or a substitute for a doctor's advice.