Starfield is the first new Universe in 25 years from Bethesda Game studios.
There is a lot of anticipation for Starfield because it is Bethesda’s first brand-new intellectual property in 25 years. Here is everything we currently know about it.
Starfield is set to be released very soon, and as the launch date approaches, Microsoft and Bethesda have been sharing more information about what players can expect in the game and its expansive universe. Recent in-depth videos have provided a closer look at the playable galaxy, factions within the game, and the various spaceships available. This exciting new information has generated a lot of anticipation, as Starfield is shaping up to be Bethesda’s most ambitious game to date.
During June’s Starfield Direct showcase, more information was revealed about the game, including details about the ship customization system and character creator, both of which aim to give players more control over their adventure. Starfield is Bethesda’s first new intellectual property in 25 years, and there are high expectations for it to be a standout game in 2023. The game will be released on Xbox Series X|S and PC, as game director Todd Howard believes that focusing exclusively on these platforms will result in a better product.
The game director, Todd Howard, has confirmed that Starfield will be available on Xbox Series X|S and PC. He believes that focusing solely on these platforms is the best decision for the game. However, he acknowledges the disappointment of PlayStation owners who will not have the opportunity to play it.
In June 2021, Howard emphasized the importance of inclusivity, stating that it is crucial not to exclude anyone. However, he also highlighted the significance of being able to concentrate and make decisions about the specific game and platforms to focus on. By doing so, he believes that a superior product can be created.
Starfield will not be released on PS5 or PS4, and there is no indication that it will be available on Sony platforms in the future. Howard recently discussed the added pressure he feels with Starfield because it is a first-party game intended to boost console sales and promote Xbox Game Pass. He acknowledged the responsibility to ensure the game meets everyone’s expectations, as they have never been in the position of being a platform’s exclusive game before.
Starfield will be on Xbox Game Pass
This is a well-known fact, but it’s worth mentioning again. Following Microsoft’s purchase of Bethesda, the company confirmed that new Bethesda games, including Starfield, will be available on Xbox Game Pass as soon as they are released. This means that you can instantly play Starfield on both PC and Xbox Series X|S.
Starfield, along with all of Microsoft’s AAA first-party games, will be priced at $70 starting in 2023, as confirmed. Phil Spencer, head of Xbox, mentioned that Microsoft made efforts to delay price increases and differentiate from other companies, but eventually had to make the change. The increase to $70 provides another strong incentive to subscribe to Game Pass.
Preorder
Starfield will be released in multiple editions, and you can now place preorders for the game’s high-end Constellation Edition and an exciting upgrade kit that includes a steelbook case. No matter which edition you choose to preorder, there will be additional bonuses available. Additionally, you have the option to enhance your gaming experience with a special-edition Starfield Xbox controller and headset. PC players who prefer to play through Steam can take advantage of significant savings on their preorders. For further information, please refer to our comprehensive Starfield preorder guide.
Release date
Starfield, which was initially planned to launch on November 11, 2022, coinciding with the release date of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim in 2011, has faced multiple delays. Originally slated for the first half of 2023, the game’s current release date has been rescheduled to September 6, 2023.
Microsoft is providing a $35 Premium Edition upgrade that grants early access to the game on September 1. This edition also includes the upcoming Shattered Space story expansion, as well as in-game items such as the Equinox Laser Rifle and additional bonuses like the Starfield digital art book and soundtrack.
Starfield Global Launch Unlock Times
United States : 5PM PT / 8PM ET 5th SEPTEMBER Australia, New Zealand, and Asia: 9 AM JST on September 6th Europe: 1 AM BST on September 6th
Starfield Early Access Launch Unlock Times
US: 5 PM PT / 8 PM ET on August 31st Australia, New Zealand, and Asia: 9 AM JST on September 1s Europe: 1 AM BST on September 1st
When will Starfield be available to preload?
Starfield preloading is already available for Xbox Series X|S and for Windows PC (through the Xbox Store), and for Steam users, the game can be downloaded starting August 30.
Starfield PC requirements
To play Starfield on your PC, it is necessary to have a solid-state drive (SSD) with a considerable storage capacity since the game requires 140GB of space. In terms of minimum requirements, the game is not overly demanding, as it can be played with an AMD Radeon RX 5700 or NVIDIA GeForce 1070 Ti graphics card. However, the recommended specifications are more demanding, and it seems that the game will be more optimized for AMD graphics card owners on PC, which unfortunately means that Nvidia-exclusive features like DLSS may not be supported.
In June, AMD and Bethesda made a special agreement for Starfield on PC. This collaboration involves optimizing the game for Ryzen 7000 Series processors and Radeon 7000 Series graphics. According to AMD SVP Jack Huynh, these optimizations will improve performance and gameplay quality by utilizing highly multithreaded code. Both Xbox and PC players will benefit from these enhancements.
Minimum specs
OS: Windows 10 version 22H2 (10.0.19045) Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 2600X, Intel Core i7-6800K Memory: 16 GB RAM Graphics: AMD Radeon RX 5700, NVIDIA GeForce 1070 Ti DirectX: Version 12 Network: Broadband Internet connection Storage: 125 GB available space Additional Notes: SSD Required
Recommended specs
OS: Windows 10/11 with updates
Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 3600X, Intel i5-10600K
Memory: 16 GB RAM
Graphics: AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080
DirectX: Version 12
Network: Broadband Internet connection
Storage: 125 GB available space
Additional Notes: SSD Required
What frame rate does Starfield run at on Xbox Series X|S?
Microsoft has confirmed that Starfield will have a frame rate of 30fps on Xbox Series X|S. This decision was made by Bethesda to create a more cinematic experience. Xbox boss Phil Spencer explained that the choice to lock the frame rate was a creative decision and not due to any limitations of the platform. He expressed trust in Bethesda’s decisions and the game experience.
Starfield file size
Starfield, developed by Bethesda Game Studios, is a massive game set in a vast universe. On Xbox Series X|S, the game requires approximately 126GB of storage, while on PC, you will need to reserve around 140GB. According to Matt Carofano, the lead landscape artist, the reason for Starfield’s large size is Bethesda’s aim to provide players with a sense of freedom on a galactic scale. Carofano explains that while previous Bethesda games have focused on intricate details to bring their worlds to life, Starfield goes beyond that by offering a whole galaxy to explore. The game allows players to experience both thrilling and serene planets. It is worth noting that Starfield will also be available on disc for Xbox Series X|S.
Contrary to rumours and a since-deleted tweet, physical disc editions of the science fiction adventure Starfield will be offered for the Xbox Series X|S. The Xbox basic version will come with a game disc, according to a June 11 blog post on the Starfield website. Starfield Standard Edition is a part of Xbox Game Pass, according to the post. Xbox Standard Edition physical purchases come with a game disc.
Will Starfield be on Xbox One?
Yes, technically. When Starfield launches on Xbox One in September, it will be streamable, but the quality of the experience will depend on the speed and reliability of your internet connection. Otherwise, Starfield won’t be available on Xbox One through more customary physical and digital distribution channels.
Starfield reviews
Starting on Thursday, August 31 at 9 AM PT / 12 PM ET, you may read reviews of Starfield from various publications if you want to get a general sense of how the game plays. Review tickets have been distributed, and for those who purchase the Constellation Edition or an upgrade, the earliest that these features will be permitted to go live will be a day before Starfield’s early access period begins on September 1.
The story so far
Starfield’s primary storyline may not be entirely clear to us, but thanks to the recent Xbox-Bethesda Games Showcase, we now know a lot more about the game’s world. The game will be set in the year 2330, many years after man first colonised the stars, according to the first gameplay footage for Starfield. Humans are indeed so adept at space travel that they have established civilizations within a whopping 50-light-year radius of their own solar system. The “settled systems” refer to this area.
Although you can explore essentially every inch of these systems, the centre of Starfield is New Atlantis, the capitol of the United Colonies and the residence of Constellation, “the last group of space explorers.” Your character, the Spacefarer, is given the opportunity to join this organisation at the start of Starfield.
The United Colonies aren’t the only advanced civilization that uses space, though. The Freestar Collective is another; they reside in Akila City. Although these two factions are no longer at war, the end of their struggle is still recent, and their peace remains uneasy.
There are a few other important organisations Bethesda has mentioned, in addition to the United Colonies and Freestar Collective: Ryujin Industries, the Crimson Fleet, and House Va’Ruun. The Crimson Fleet is a group of space pirates, as one may guess from their names, while House Va’Ruun is, to put it frankly, a religious cult. Ryujin Industries is a megacorporation. It seems safe to assume that you will be able to join up and/or get into all kinds of problems with these people given the game’s significant focus on role-playing.
Howard announced that Starfield contains more speech than any Bethesda game before it, with over 150,000 lines, during the Tokyo Game Show in 2021. Even though your character doesn’t have any voice acting, it appears like almost everyone else does, which makes for a really immersive experience. Also worth mentioning is the presence of companion characters in Starfield, one of which is reported to be VASCO the utility robot. Last but not least, Howard added that it will take 30 to 40 hours to finish the main campaign. To put that into perspective, the main campaign of Fallout 4 takes roughly 30 hours to complete, whereas Skyrim requires about 25.
Bethesda’s engine got an overhaul for Starfield
In September 2020, Bethesda released a statement about how much the acquisition by Microsoft and the release of its new Xbox Series X and S were impacting the work the studio was doing on its games. In that statement, Howard said the new technology had led to “our largest engine overhaul since Oblivion.”
“We developed alongside each new console cycle. Fallout 4, which has received over a billion downloads, introduced mods to consoles, and the Xbox Series X/S are powered by the newest technologies, according to Howard. “These new platforms have generational leaps in graphics, CPU, and data streaming, and are optimised for the enormous worlds we love to construct. Our biggest engine update since Oblivion resulted from it, and The Elder Scrolls VI and Starfield, our first new IP in 25 years, are both powered by brand-new technologies.
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Fallout 3, Fallout 4, and Fallout 76 are just a few of the titles that Bethesda’s Creation engine has powered for years. This demonstrates that Starfield also employs the Creation engine, albeit in a completely revised form that takes into account a tonne of new hardware and software possibilities.
According to Xbox Games Studios head Matt Booty, Starfield will have the “fewest bugs” of any Bethesda game that has ever been released, which is a major deal for Microsoft considering some of its infamously troublesome game releases. Booty told GameSpot sister site Giant Bomb, “I see bug counts and just by the numbers if it shipped today, Starfield would already have the fewest bugs of any Bethesda game ever shipped.”Id Software, the creator of Doom Eternal, lent a hand to Bethesda throughout development, although shockingly not for Starfield’s battle system! As some Id Tech components were used in the game’s Creation Engine, the studio helped Bethesda with the “graphics side” of Starfield.
