Starfield may be the next big game from Bethesda, but that does not mean it is free from bugs and errors. Especially now when the game is still fresh off the shelves. Right from the days during its early access release, many players have dealt with several in-game bugs, and a new one has surfaced recently. In this guide, we have shared details on the Heart of Mars quest bug in Starfield. So, if you are facing the same issue, consider reading this guide until the end.
So, in Starfield, there’s a quest called “Heart of Mars”, and players have encountered a bug related to this quest. The bug prevents them from finding the Heart of Mars item in the designated cave, which is essential to the progress of the mission. With the item, the quest won’t progress, which is why many are stuck looking for workarounds. Luckily, we have just the workarounds you need.
Starfield Heart of Mars Quest Bug: Is there any fix yet
Players report that the Heart of Mars item doesn’t appear in the cave where the quest marker indicates it should be found. Some players also mention that the item appears to be underground, underneath a boulder, making it inaccessible. Now, here is some bad news: As of writing this article, there is no official fix for this bug yet. But that is not the end, because we have some potential fixes suggested by players facing the same issue. These are not guaranteed fixes, but they are worth a shot.
Use Console Commands
To access the item, players on the PC platform can use console commands to bypass the collision that is preventing them from reaching it. Here’s a step-by-step guide to doing the same:
Note: Using cheats will disable achievements in the game.
- Press the Tilde key (~) on your keyboard while playing the game. This will open the command console, which is where you can enter various cheat codes.
- Type the command “tcl” and press Enter. This command stands for “toggle collision“, and it essentially disables the collision detection in the game temporarily. This implies that you can move freely through terrain and objects.
- With collision detection disabled, you can now move through the floor and access the Heart of Mars item. Make your way to the boulder or deposit that contains the Heart of Mars and get as close to it as possible.
- Use your cutter tool to mine the boulder or deposit. To do this, approach the boulder and interact with it as you normally would to mine any other resource in the game.
After successfully obtaining the Heart of Mars, you should re-enable collision detection to return the game to its normal state. Type “tcl” in the command console again and press Enter to toggle collision back on.
Check a different Cave
A player shared that by exploring caves other than the one specified in the quest, specifically focusing on a cave situated at the planet’s South Pole, they were able to find the item. So, it is possible that the item spawned in one of those alternative caves. So go ahead and check out other caves. Who knows if the item spawned in the wrong location for you as well? Also, don’t forget to use your scanner to find the item and then mine it.
Reload a previous save
Since the caves are procedurally generated, it is possible that the issue is specific to the current version of the cave you are trying to find the item in. That said, reload a previous save and then start the Heart of Mars quest again. This time, check if the issue persists.
Use the cutter at the correct angle
Several players mentioned that using their cutter at a specific angle to mine the item did the trick for them. So, what you need to do is aim for the left side of the boulder under which the quest item is present, and then mine it. This should allow you to get the item.
Wait for the Day 1 Patch
If the issue persists, all you can do is exercise patience and wait for the Day 1 patch to be released. Given that the game has transitioned from early access to a full release, there’s a possibility that this upcoming patch will address the bug and various other issues that players are encountering, making it a potentially effective solution to the problem. However, since the developers have not shared any updates regarding this matter, make sure to take this information with a pinch of salt.
That said, we hope all your doubts have been cleared. Make sure to visit DigiStatement regularly for more such guides. And before you leave, read this article to learn how to surrender in Starfield.
