How to sprint and walk faster in Starfield

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walking in Starfield
October 30, 2023: We've updated our guide so you know how to sprint and walk faster.

Starfield is out now, and players have discovered something strange about the game’s movement. NPCs seem to walk faster than players at times but if you sprint, the NPCs fall behind. If you are wondering how to sprint and walk faster in Starfield, you have come to the right place.

Our guide will help you understand Starfield’s movement better on both Xbox and PC. With some of the early game stages feeling slow, we understand why you would want to move around faster.

Before we talk more about sprinting and walking faster in Starfield, consider checking out our guide on how to fast travel in Starfield and our list of confirmed cities in case you want to explore all of the game world. We've also got an overall Starfield guides hub for all the interstellar assistance you'll ever need!

How to sprint and walk faster in Starfield

When you want your character to run, you can do it in two ways depending on which platform or input you are on. On an Xbox controller, you'll click in the left analogue stick, and on a keyboard, you'll need to hold down the left shift key.

But keep in mind that sprinting uses up your character's oxygen, which you can see on the bottom left of your screen. If your oxygen runs out, your character will start building up CO2, resulting in damage if you continue trying to exert yourself after that meter is full.

The easiest way to avoid CO2 buildup is to stop sprinting once it starts increasing, so your O2 level can replenish and you can sprint again. Another way to reduce the buildup is by using the Fitness skill, which increases the amount of available oxygen and reduces oxygen consumption when sprinting, once it's fully upgraded.

Speaking of oxygen use, carrying a lot of gear with your character can also make them use up oxygen when moving at all, not just sprinting, once you go past your maximum capacity. To address this, you can either give some of your gear to your companions, store it on your ships, or you can increase your character's carrying capacity. The game will let you know when you're carrying too much gear with a message that pops up in the top right corner of the screen.

An NPC in Starfield
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How to change Starfield movement on PC

If you're playing Starfield on a mouse and keyboard, there are single speeds for walking and sprinting. However, on controllers, you can hold down the sprint or walk inputs and you will gradually get faster. If you're not using a controller and are bothered by the slow movement speed, we recommend switching to a controller for a better experience.

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If completing the game fast is your number one priority, you should also take advantage of the fast travel system as much as possible. Boost packs can also help you travel faster so getting the Tech Skill Tree and unlocking the Boost Pack Training Skill should be your number one priority.

That is all you need to know about walking and sprinting faster in Starfield. For more on the game, check out the best planet for outposts. We also have a guide on how to sell items in case you are looking to make a quick buck.

For more articles like this, take a look at our Guides and Starfield page.