Starfieldhas had the most complicated relationship with Microsoft, even before Xbox. There have been a lot of rumors and speculation about Microsoft’s plans and the future of its exclusives.Starfieldhas been in the middle as a high-profile, triple-A game that many players would like to see on PlayStation. However, it seems like a move to Sony is closer than it appears.
CEO of Microsoft Gaming, Phil Spencer, recently discussed the future ofStarfieldpotentially coming to more platforms. The game is currently only playable on PC and Xbox Series X/S, but has long been expected to be ported to the PlayStation 5 at some point. It now seems clearer than ever whenStarfieldwill see its debut on PlayStation.
Phil Spencer Won’t Rule Out Starfield Coming To PS5
It’s Not Over Until Spencer Says So
In an interview with Destin Legarie on his Patreon showSave State Plus(viaIGN), Spencer shared some interesting thoughts about whetherStarfieldwill come to PlayStation 5. When asked directly ifStarfieldwould be exclusive to Xbox, Spencer simply said, “No.” This short answer hints at a bigger picture regarding Microsoft’s changing approach to gaming. He mentioned thatthere’s “no reason” to keep games away from platforms where they could reach more playersand succeed better. I think this is a better way than just answering forStarfieldalone; Spencer’s full quote is as follows:
There’s no reason for me to put a ring fence around any game and say this game will not go to a place where it would find players, where it would have businesss success for us.
Rather than plainly answering a question aboutStarfield,Spencer focused on the idea thatit’s better to maximize player access and create business opportunities. This shows us the mindset of Xbox. Regardless of what Matt Booty, head of Xbox Game Studios, recently said about Game Pass remaining an Xbox console-exclusive service (perGameSpot), the company is still focused on getting games onto PlayStation and Nintendo consoles.
Starfield On PS5 Will Have An Edge Over Xbox Series X In At Least One Way
The PlayStation 5 has a distinct advantage over the Xbox Series X/S, which could make Bethesda’s Starfield a far more immersive experience.
We’ve seen this same attitude when it comes to games likeSea of Thieves,Hi-Fi Rush,Pentiment, andGrounded, which all became available on PS5.This approach is part of Microsoft’s bigger plan, especially with Xbox Game Pass and how it ispushing onto multiple platforms like Amazon Fire Stick. If Xbox planned on keepingStarfieldaway from PlayStation, the company would push that idea to players. Spencer would likely be clear in messaging if the idea was to keep its console version exclusive to Microsoft’s hardware.
Instead, Spencer is clear about the game coming to PlayStation in time. While there’s no confirmed date forStarfieldto come on PS5 yet,there is something coming up that would be a great time for a release on other platforms. However, that’s not going to come up anytime soon. Instead, there’s a bit of a wait for it.
Starborn DLC Would Be The Ideal Time For Starfield To Release On PS5
Starfield With All Its Expansions
ReleasingStarfieldon PlayStation 5 at the same time as the bigStarbornexpansion could be a great move for Microsoft, Bethesda, and players. By making the game available on PlayStation 5,Microsoft would reach a larger audience, likely boosting sales and revenue. Since a lot of money went into makingStarfield, getting it into more hands is essential for further success. It would also help improve Microsoft’s Game Pass subscription becauseStarfieldis a flagship game for the service, making more players consider the benefits of subscribing or moving to Xbox.
Starfield Apparently “Toned Down” Gore, But This May Have Actually Hurt The Game’s Success
Bethesda toned down the gore in Starfield significantly during development, a decision that has ultimately hurt the game and its combat a lot.
It can be argued thatStarfieldisn’t ready for PlayStation, but a content-complete version released on PS5 after theStarbornDLC drops would be an enticing product. Bethesda has a lot to gain from releasing the game on PS5 as well. It would tap into a large group of eager players who wanted to try outStarfield. This is especially good because Bethesda has been improving the game, meaningmore players would have a good first impression of it. This would add more voices to those who say the game isn’t as bad as some claim.
Why Starfield On PlayStation Just Makes Sense
Starfield Shouldn’t Be An Exclusive
Bethesda being an exclusive developer doesn’t make much sense.Oblivionwas the first Bethesda game on PlayStation, but since then, Bethesda has not played favorites. The company has seen a lot of success with its games becauseplayers are able to access them on whatever console they prefer. LimitingStarfieldlikely hurt sales, because only those on Xbox and PC could play the game.
Exclusives work as a way of advertising a console, but Bethesda’s RPGs have very broad appeal. At the time ofStarfield’s launch, Microsoft may have seen the game as a system seller, but withXbox’s poor console sales, giving games a wider release makes sense as the company shifts strategy. If your market is only as big as those who own the console, then that’s all you’re able to expect.
A good example of a publisher that does this well isNintendo, whichhas so many first-party games that they have become synonymous with the company’s platforms. Whether that is good or bad is a matter of opinion, and since the company has done well, it’s hard to say it’s not doing something correctly.
Starfieldwas initially expected to be a game that would be on both Xbox and PlayStation, given Bethesda hadn’t been acquired by Microsoft yet. It likely came as a disappointment to PlayStation loyalists whenStarfieldpivoted to an Xbox console-exclusive release. If you don’t own an Xbox, you’re able to’t play Bethesda’s newest games. My love of Bethesda games was a big part of my decision to buy an Xbox. This is my opinion, but the thought ofStarfieldbecoming available to PlayStation owners makes a lot of sense.
A coordinated announcement from Sony and Xbox would be a really smart move forStarfield. It would ensure that everyone gets the message, and it would likely lead to a lot of pre-orders on PlayStation. The best way to maximize visibility in the gaming market is to make sure everyone knows, so PlayStation owners should get ready for aStarfieldannouncement soon.
Sources:Save State Plus/Patreon(viaIGN),GameSpot
Starfield
Bethesda Game Studios presents Starfield - the first original IP from the studio in twenty-five-plus years. Set in the year 2310, the United Colonies and Freestar Collective are observing a shaky truce after a war set 20 years prior. The player will customize their character as a member of a space exploration team called Constellation while navigating The Settled Systems and the conflicts between the warring factions. According to Bethesda, players can explore over 100 systems and 1000 planets to find resources and build their ships, living out their own sci-fi journeys.
