Starfield is set to land on PlayStation 5 on April 7, as Bethesda has confirmed. This ends the game’s Xbox and PC exclusivity that began with its launch in September 2023. Preorders are now live, marking the arrival of Bethesda’s space RPG on Sony’s platform about 18 months after its initial release.
This change signifies a shift in Microsoft’s exclusivity approach. Starfield was one of Bethesda’s biggest titles released after Microsoft’s $7.5 billion acquisition of ZeniMax in 2021. The game moving to PS5 aligns with a trend of Xbox-published games heading to other platforms.
Alongside the PS5 launch, Bethesda has also revealed new DLC for all platforms. The base game costs $49.99 on Steam, but the PS5 price hasn’t been officially confirmed in the preorder listings yet. Players on PlayStation will dive into a game that’s seen extensive patching since its launch.
On PC, Starfield boasts a Metacritic score of 88, but it has a much lower 55% positive rating from 115,800 Steam reviews. This shows a striking difference between critical acclaim and player feedback. Currently, the game has 4,620 concurrent players on Steam, reflecting a significant decline from its peak of over 330,000 simultaneous players at launch. Whether the PS5 release will boost overall engagement is something we’ll have to wait and see.
The PlayStation audience represents the largest new group of potential players since the game launched. As of early 2024, Sony’s console install base surpassed 50 million units. Bethesda games have typically done well on PlayStation, with titles like The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Fallout 4 attracting large audiences on Sony consoles.
| PS5 Launch Date | April 7, 2025 |
| Original PC/Xbox Launch | September 6, 2023 |
| Metacritic Score | 88 |
| Steam Review Score | 55% positive (115,800 reviews) |
| Current Steam Price | $49.99 |
| Current Steam Concurrent Players | 4,620 |
Feedback from players on Steam has been sharp. One reviewer expressed: “Worlds are Empty. Storyline is Mid. Bugs everywhere. NPCs walk through walls. Combat is Basically just Fallout 4 with Magic. Looks like the game was made in 2016.” This criticism highlights concerns about empty planets and a lack of handcrafted content, which have emerged as major points in negative reviews since the game’s release. Although Bethesda’s updates have fixed some bugs, the core structural issues still remain a topic of discussion among the community.
What To Watch
- PS5 preorder pricing and editions: Bethesda hasn’t yet revealed if a premium or complete edition with existing DLC like Shattered Space will be available at launch. This will influence the perceived value on day one for PlayStation players.
- Player retention after launch: The gap between Starfield’s critical reception and Steam player sentiment is unusual. Keep an eye on whether PS5 reviews differ from PC, or if the same structural issues continue to be raised.
- New DLC scope and timing: Bethesda has confirmed that new DLC will arrive for all platforms with the PS5 release. Details about content and pricing will impact how much this announcement engages current PC and Xbox players as well.
