Starfield is a game that many people are looking forward to in 2023. But, it’s also causing a lot of arguments. The problem is that it’s only for Xbox, so if you have a PlayStation (like a PS5 or PS4), you can’t play it. This is making a lot of gamers upset, especially the ones who liked other games from Bethesda, like The Elder Scrolls and Fallout.
But why is Starfield an Xbox exclusive? And is there any chance that it will ever come to PS5 or PS4 in the future? Here is everything you need to know about Starfield’s PlayStation situation.
Why is Starfield an Xbox Exclusive?
The simple answer is that Microsoft bought Bethesda in 2022. Acquiring all of its studios and franchises for a whopping $7.5 billion. This means that Microsoft now owns the rights to Starfield, as well as other Bethesda games such as Doom, Wolfenstein, Dishonored, and more.
Microsoft wants Starfield to be a big game for Xbox Series X|S and PC. And they also want people to play it through their Xbox Game Pass subscription. They said they’ll keep the deals Bethesda made with Sony for games like Deathloop and Ghostwire: Tokyo, which are only on the PS5 for a while. But, for upcoming games, Microsoft will decide one by one if they will be on other platforms or not.
For Starfield, Microsoft has chosen to make it exclusive to Xbox. That means it won’t be available on the PS5 or PS4 when it’s first released, and it might not come to those consoles for a while. Bethesda’s director and executive producer, Todd Howard, said it was an easy choice to make it exclusive to Xbox. Because it helps them concentrate on making the game even better.
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Will Starfield Ever Come to PS5 or PS4?
The short answer is: probably not. Microsoft has not given any indication that it plans to bring Starfield to PS5 or PS4 in the future, and there are several reasons why it might not want to.
Microsoft spent a lot of money and effort to get Bethesda and create Starfield. So, it’s no surprise they want to keep the game only on their stuff. This helps them get more people to buy Xbox consoles or join Game Pass, where you pay a monthly fee to play lots of games. Starfield is expected to make Xbox more popular, especially since it’s one of the few new games from Bethesda in a long time.
Secondly, Microsoft wants to create a gaming system that works across all of its devices and services. This means gamers can play their games on any Xbox console, PC, or mobile device, at any time, as long as they have an internet connection.
By making Starfield only available on Xbox consoles, Microsoft can make sure that the game runs well on all of its platforms. This is because Microsoft controls the hardware and software for all of its Xbox devices. Microsoft can also use its cloud technology to make Starfield available to more players around the world.
In other words, Microsoft wants to make it as easy as possible for people to play Starfield, no matter what device they have or where they are.
Thirdly, Microsoft has a history of keeping its first-party games exclusive to its platforms, with very few exceptions. For example, Halo, Gears of War, Forza, and Sea of Thieves are all Xbox exclusives that have never been released on PlayStation consoles. Even when Microsoft does release some of its games on other platforms. Such as Minecraft or Ori and the Blind Forest, usually does so after a long period or with some limitations.
So, considering all these things, it’s very doubtful that Starfield will ever be on the PS5 or PS4. But, there’s a small chance that Microsoft could change its mind later on. It might depend on how well the game does and how the gaming world changes. For instance, if Starfield doesn’t make Xbox fans happy, or if PlayStation gets popular with its exclusives, Microsoft could think about putting Starfield on PlayStation. It would be a way for them to get more players and money.
How are PlayStation Fans Reacting to Starfield’s Exclusivity?
As you might have guessed, a lot of PlayStation fans aren’t happy about Starfield being exclusive. They’ve been sharing their frustration and disappointment on social media like Twitter and Reddit. Some are saying they feel let down by Bethesda and are even talking about not playing the game at all. A few people have gone as far as posting bad reviews for Starfield on Metacritic without even trying the game.
But it’s important to note that not all PlayStation fans are upset or resentful about Starfield being exclusive. Some have come to terms with it and turned to different games or gaming systems. A few have even given Starfield credit for its quality and fresh ideas, showing understanding and wishing Bethesda the best. Some have even come up with creative ways to deal with the situation. Like using mods or streaming services to make it seem like they’re playing Starfield on their PS5 or PS4.
For example, one of the many mods available for Starfield adds the PlayStation Studios intro at the start of the game, making it look like a PS5 game. Another mod replaces the Xbox button prompts with PlayStation buttons, making it feel more familiar to PS5 users. Some fans have also used services. Such as xCloud or GeForce Now to stream Starfield to their PS5 or PS4 consoles, bypassing the exclusivity barrier.
However, these methods are not perfect and come with their drawbacks, such as lag, input delay, or graphical downgrade. They also do not change the fact that Starfield is still an Xbox exclusive and that PlayStation fans are missing out on one of the biggest games of 2023.
Conclusion
Starfield is only for Xbox and won’t be on PS5 or PS4 for a while. Microsoft bought Bethesda in 2022 and wants Starfield to be a big deal for Xbox, PC, and Game Pass. They aim to make a system where gamers can play on all their devices and services. Microsoft usually keeps its games just for its stuff, with only a few exceptions.
PlayStation fans are upset about Starfield being exclusive and have shown it in different ways. Like being frustrated, boycotting the game, giving it bad reviews, or trying to mimic playing it on their PS5 or PS4 with mods and streaming. But these tricks don’t change the fact that Starfield is only on Xbox, and PlayStation fans are missing out on one of the major games of 2023.
Starfield is available now on Xbox Series X|S and PC. It is also included in the Xbox Game Pass.