After a very long wait, in a few weeks we will finally be able to dive headfirst into Starfield and explore far and wide the science fiction universe created by Bethesda, the home of excellent RPGs such as The Elder Scrolls and Fallout.
This article is designed as a Buying Guide and a container of main informations about the game. You will therefore find all the details on the release date, editions, PC requirements and an overview of the plot and game mechanics of Starfield.
Release date and platforms
Starfield will debut in physical and digital stores next 6 September 2023 and will be available exclusively for PC and Xbox Series
Does that mean no, Starfield will not be available on PS5 and a port for Sony's flagship console is not officially in the works. The reason is simple: for those who don't know, in 2021 Microsoft acquired Zenimax, the parent company of Bethesda, and therefore some of the games made by the company will arrive exclusively on the platforms of the green-crusader ecosystem, in this case precisely the Xbox Series X|S and PC.
Will Starfied be on Xbox Game Pass?
Like all games made by the first party teams at Xbox Studios too Starfield will be available within the Xbox Game Pass catalog since launch.
Xbox Game Pass is the subscription service from Microsoft which allows members to access a gargantuan catalog of over 500 games, including all those created by the Xbox Game Studios teams on PC, Xbox Series The basic subscription for consoles costs 10,99 euros, the one for PC costs 9,99 euros per month and the Ultimate subscription costs 14,99 euros per month. The latter allows you to use the service on both PC and Xbox, to take advantage of xCloud to play games in streaming from any compatible device (such as smartphones, tablets and Smart TVs) and other advantages. Furthermore, both the PC and Ultimate plans include EA Play, a collection of Electronic Arts' best games, in the price.
We specify that Starfield will not be included in Xbox Game Pass Core, the new subscription that will replace Xbox LIVE Gold from September 14th. This service in fact includes a selection of games made by Xbox Studios and third parties, but these do not include Bethesda's new RPG.
Editions, prices, pre-order bonuses and Xbox Play Anywhere
Starfield will arrive in physical and digital stores in three different editions: Standard, Premium e Constellation Edition.
L'Standard edition, available at the price of 79,99 euros for Xbox Series X|S and PC (Windows Store) and 69,99 euros for PC via Steam. The Standard Edition is also included with Xbox Game Pass (console), PC Game Pass and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers.
We then have the Starfield Premium Edition, available on digital stores or as a download code at the price of 109,99 euros for Xbox Series X|S and PC (Windows Store) and at the price of 99,99 euros for PC via Steam. As we have seen previously, this version allows you to start playing as early as September 1, 2023, but this is clearly not the only bonus. In detail this edition includes:
- Basic game
- Shattered Space expansion (when released)
- Up to 5 days early access
- Constellation skin pack
- Access to the Starfield Digital Artbook and Original Soundtrack
Those who have already purchased the Standard edition of Starfield can perform theupgrade alla Premium Edition at the price of 34,99 euros both via digital stores and by purchasing a physical download code to be redeemed on the Xbox Store.
The upgrade is available at GameStop at the price of 39,99 euros, but in this case, in addition to the code, the Constellation Patch and a Starfield Steelbook case are also included. Finally we have the rich and expensive Constellation Edition di Starfield, a real collector's edition sold at the price of 299,99 euros from GameStop and the official Bethesda store. Includes a digital copy of the game, a Steelbook and as a main course a Starfield-themed Chronomark watch in a suitcase-style case. This edition also includes the bonuses of the Premium Edition, to summarize here is what you will find inside:
- Starfield base game
- Shattered Space expansion (when released)
- Up to 5 days early access
- Constellation skin pack
- Access to the Starfield Digital Artbook and Original Soundtrack
- Custodia Steelbook
- Constellation patch
- Credstick with laser engraved game code
- Starfield Chronomark watch with case
Unfortunately at the time of writing it is out of stock on both sides, but new stocks may arrive in the future.
Regardless of the edition chosen and the reference platform, by booking Starfield at authorized retailers you will receive the bonus Old Mars Skin Pack, which includes:
- Laser cutter
- Excavation Helmet
- Excavation Backpack
Furthermore, we point out that Starfield is part of the program Xbox Play Anywhere by Microsoft. This means that by purchasing it on the Xbox Store you will have access to both the Xbox Series In practice you will be able to move from one platform to another seamlessly, restarting the adventure from where you left off.
Limited edition Starfield themed Xbox headset and controller
Considering the importance of Starfield within the 2023 Xbox line-up, Microsoft has seen fit to create limited editions themed around the Xbox Wireless Controller and Xbox Wireless Headset, with colors, patterns and finishes that recall the space style with that light retro and analogue touch of Starfield. The Xbox controller It is available for purchase at the recommended price of 74,99 euros from authorized retailers. L'headset Xbox di Starfield instead it can be purchased at the recommended price of 124,99 euros from authorized retailers.
Starfield PC system requirements
Below we have listed the official system requirements for the PC version of Starfield:
Minimum
- Sistema operativo: Windows 10 version 22H2 (10.0.19045)
- Processore: AMD Ryzen 5 2600X, Intel Core i7-6800K
- Memory: 16 GB of RAM
- Scheda video: AMD Radeon RX 5700, NVIDIA GeForce 1070 Ti
- DirectX: 12 version
- Storage space: 125 GB of available space
- Additional Notes: SSD required
Suggested
- Operating system: Windows 10/11
- Processore: AMD Ryzen 5 3600X, Intel i5-10600K
- Memory: 16 GB of RAM
- Scheda video: AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080
- DirectX: 12 version
- Network: Broadband internet connection
- Storage space: 125 GB of available space
- Additional Notes: SSD required
Will Stafield run at 60 fps on Xbox Series Will there be graphics modes?
Unlike many other games that have landed on Xbox Series X|S, Starfield will have a single graphics mode. It will therefore not allow you to choose whether to favor the framerate over the resolution and vice versa.
The Bethesda team has confirmed that Starfield it won't run at 60 fps on console, a decision taken to promote performance stability and guarantee maximum graphic fidelity. Consequently, the game will run at 30 fps with 4K resolution on Xbox Series
“It's 4K on the "Considering these gigantic and dynamic open worlds, with so many details where anything can happen. We wanted to reach that level here too."
The story of Starfield
Although Bethesda is maintaining maximum confidentiality on many details about the plot of Starfield, leaving players with the burden and pleasure of discovering it on their own as they progress through the game, it is still possible to give an overview of the setting and the narrative premise.
Starfield is set aroundyear of production 2330 in the Colonized Systems, a region of space heavily colonized by the human race and about 50 light years away from our Solar System. In the future designed by Bethesda, technology has advanced to the point that it is possible to travel in space aboard spaceships and visit new planets.
However, over time the pioneering spirit that gave birth to the expansion of the human race into space has faded, as have efforts to explore what lies outside known space. Furthermore, humanity is far from unity and there are various factions driven by different ideologies and interests scattered throughout space.
In this context, the player's character, which we will create using an editor by defining both his gender and physical appearance as well as his background and initial skills, is an employee of the mining company Argus Extractors sent to Kreet, a moon on the planet Anselon. We don't know exactly how, but during the very first mission our character will discover a mysterious alien artifact of unknown origins, which will cause him cryptic visions.
After these events we will be contacted by members of the Constellation, an organization that includes those who call themselves "the last space explorers", who will propose to our character to join them to shed light on the mystery linked to strange artefacts, just like the one that we found. From here on the rest is in the player's hands, who through his decisions will decide the evolution of the narrative and the fate of characters, factions and the entire known space.
Starfield Gameplay
Describing the gameplay of Starfield in a few lines is a difficult undertaking, considering how multifaceted and vast Bethesda's latest effort is. Let's talk about a GDR single player which will be possible to play both in first and third person and which has more than one feature in common with the studio's previous works, such as Fallout 4 and Skyrim, but all set in a sci-fi style world, or rather "NASA punk ", as the development team likes to call it.
As per tradition we can create our character both in physical appearance and in terms of initial skills and his narrative background. The latter, among other things, will establish a series of positive and negative traits, which could unlock special options during dialogues with other characters and influence the progress of some missions. For example, being believers of a certain religion could make our life easier if we were to come across a group of bad guys who belong to the same cult. A character with the "Introverted" trait, however, may have more difficulty during dialogues and have access to fewer options.
During the adventure we will further evolve the character's characteristics by leveling up and investing points in five different skill branches, namely physical, social, combat, science and technology. It will also be possible to enhance the skills learned by completing various challenges closely linked to that talent, which gradually become more and more complicated. Let's take for example "Security Skill", a skill necessary to pick a lock: to unlock it, all you need is one skill point, but to bring it to the second level, and therefore be able to act on more complicated mechanisms, we will first have to complete a challenge that requires breaking five locks.
They are present in the game over 1.000 explorable worlds, some of which include large human settlements, while others are completely deserted and uninhabited. Exploring planets will likely be the activity that players will spend the most time on, considering the variety of biomes, the missions that can be encountered and the various activities available. Similar to Fallout 4, it will be possible to create bases on the planets that interest us most and furnish them as we see fit. For example, we will be able to build comfortable shelters where we can relax between one mission and another, or a mineral extraction center to obtain precious resources over time.
To move from one planet to another we will drive our own spaceship, which we will be able to customize from top to bottom, including dimensions, armament, load capacity, fuel and personnel. Furthermore, each modification also has repercussions on the internal structure of our spacecraft, such as cabins, common areas and more. During our travels in space we will be able to meet various NPCs, sometimes friendly and willing to bargain or offer us tasks, while in other cases we will be attacked by bandits and hostile factions, giving rise to intense clashes between space ships. Among other things, our ship will be able to accommodate crews of varying sizes and allies who will be able to accompany us during exploration on land and lend us a hand during firefights.
In this regard, in the videos seen so far, Starfield will propose a vast arsenal of guns, which include technologically advanced versions of pistols, revolvers, shotguns and assault rifles, which we can freely customize by modifying their parts. We will also be able to use the jetpack to hover in the air and thus be able to target enemies hidden behind cover or reach an advantageous position, which opens the door to a wide range of approaches to combat.
Performance in battle, in addition to aiming and reflexes, will also be determined by the character's unlocked abilities. For example, there are some that enhance the damage of laser weapons, others that enhance melee weapons. If you prefer a more personal approach, you can also specialize your protagonist in unarmed combat if you wish. Furthermore, nothing prevents you from choosing a stealthy approach and eliminating enemies silently or specializing in oratory skills and thanks to them in some cases avoiding the outbreak of a conflict by taking advantage of your gab.
This was just a brief overview of what Starfield has to offer, which as we've seen offers great freedom to the player on how to approach the adventure. On paper we are faced with one of the largest experiences ever seen and capable of potentially entertaining players for hundreds and hundreds of hours, just like Fallout and The Elder Scrolls before it. If you want to know more, we refer you to our long and in-depth analysis of the gameplay shown during the Starfield Direct in June.
