Starfield PS5 Review Coverage Surfaces as Player Sentiment Stays Split

CGMagazine has posted a review of Starfield for PlayStation 5, marking a notable change for Bethesda’s space RPG. This game originally launched as an Xbox and PC exclusive in September 2023. It currently holds an 88 on Metacritic from its initial release, but the feedback from its Steam player community tells a different story.

On Steam, Starfield has a 56% positive rating from 116,440 reviews, which amounts to a “Mixed” rating. This contrasts sharply with its critical acclaim. Right now, the game has 27,808 concurrent players on PC, with a price tag of $49.99. This indicates a stable, yet not overwhelming, presence in the market over a year after its launch.

The divide between press reviews and player opinions has characterized Starfield’s life post-launch. Critics praised its technical ambition and the vastness of Bethesda’s 1,000-planet universe. However, many players felt that this scale negatively impacted their experience. The community’s feedback remains clear and direct.

A PS5 release would mark Bethesda’s first major shift regarding Starfield’s platform exclusivity. This comes after Microsoft’s broader move toward multiplatform publishing, which has already seen titles like Hi-Fi Rush and Sea of Thieves make their way to PlayStation. In early 2024, Microsoft announced it would assess its exclusivity strategy for each game individually, with Starfield often mentioned as a contender for platform expansion.

Whether the PS5 version will include significant new content or quality-of-life enhancements — improvements that influenced CGMagazine’s review — could determine if Bethesda succeeds in improving the game’s reputation with a new audience. The studio launched the Shattered Space expansion in September 2024, but player counts on PC did not see a significant increase following that release.

By The Numbers

Metacritic Score	88
Steam Positive Reviews	56% (116,440 total)
Current Steam Players	27,808
Current Steam Price	$49.99
Original Release Date	September 6, 2023

Community feedback on Steam has remained largely negative in recent months. One reviewer summed up the common criticism in just four words: “Repetitive, boring, empty, soulless.” This phrase has appeared frequently in user reviews and highlights the main complaint that procedural generation offered quantity over meaningful diversity.

What To Watch

• Whether Bethesda officially announces a PS5 release date and if it will come with new content or performance enhancements to set it apart from the PC version.
• How the PS5 community reacts to Starfield’s core design. A fresh audience without the weight of Day One expectations might lead to a different review trend.
• Microsoft’s larger multiplatform strategy: if Starfield makes its way to PS5, it would bolster the argument that no Bethesda title will remain an Xbox exclusive long-term.