It’s the $7.5bn dollar question: is Starfield good enough to make people buy an Xbox? It’s a platform that’s been frustratingly lacking in killer apps, but we’re starting to see the tide turn on that front, and Bethesda’s latest opus is a key title in Xbox’s line-up going forward. In the video below James and I discuss whether it’s good enough to warrant owning a Series S or Series X console:
Starfield didn’t start life as an Xbox exclusive: it became one as a result of Microsoft’s highly publicised acquisition of Bethesda Softworks back in September 2020. Or March 2021, depending on whether or not you consider announcing the intent to buy something and actually buying it the same thing.
This put some noses out of joint, because a lot of people love Bethesda games, and a high percentage of them are PlayStation users. All of a sudden, folks who were quite content to not own an Xbox now found themselves facing the terrifying prospect of having to buy one in order to continue enjoying Bethesda’s specific brand of petty theft simulators. Some insisted that this was Microsoft’s plan all along: incentivising people to buy their then upcoming Series X/S consoles. Others dismissed this as an outlandish conspiracy theory, and were convinced until very recently that Starfield, Fallout 5, and The Elder Scrolls VI would definitely still show up on PlayStation (these people remain easy marks for the wallet inspector).
Kidding aside, Microsoft’s spending spree on studios big and small has obviously been with the aim of correcting Xbox’s biggest weakness when compared to its competitors: a lack of decent exclusives. It has limped along for years as a third-party box, a platform that many see as an optional secondary console, and entirely superfluous if you’ve already got a gaming PC. But studios take time to make games, and so simply acquiring a load of companies and dev teams isn’t a quick fix to this existential problem. Not only that, but when you purchase a company, you also purchase its existing commitments and contracts: which is why Xbox found itself in the embarrassing position of getting games that it owns, such as Ghostwire Tokyo and Death Loop, a whole year after their timed exclusivity on PS5.
We’re now three years into this console generation and it has felt frustratingly like Xbox Games Studios has been in a permanent state of spooling up, but now we’re starting to see the real goods. Fable, Avowed, and Outer Worlds 2 are right around the corner. Starfield is as guaranteed a success as you can have in this industry, and it’s gone down very well with critics and punters alike. Sure, it’s had the odd 7/10 review, and lots of people love sticking the boot into it on Twitter (and you can’t judge the success of something on whether or not people on Twitter are sticking the boot into it), but generally, it’s seen as a compelling and accessible space adventure that has the Bethesda magic, and that’s a pretty solid foundation for success.
But is it a system seller? Is it good enough to warrant owning an Xbox? Well, the jury’s still out on that front, and time will tell whether or not it leads to a boost in Xbox sales. But for our money, it’s definitely the best thing to show up on Xbox in years, and once its big name stablemates start hitting their release windows, Xbox will have a slate of console exclusives to be proud of.
Pre-order Starfield today or get ready with discounted Game Pass codes
Starfield will be launching exclusively for Xbox Series X/S and PC (Windows) on September 6th 2023. Pre-order your copy of Bethesda’s upcoming action RPG from the links below and get set for the new galactic adventure.
Players who pre-order the premium edition can play Starfield early from September 1st. That’s five days before it lands on Game Pass! PC Players looking to upgrade their PC can also get Starfield for free when you buy select AMD Ryzen processors, AMD Radeon graphics cards, or a gaming system that contains both.
Alternatively, you can play Starfield on Game Pass on day one. Our shop here at VG247 is currently offering a 5 per cent discount on Game Pass codes and Xbox Credit – simply redeem the code “VG247” at the check out. The code is valid until 31st July, so stock up now to save money on a Game Pass membership or discounted Xbox Credit if you’re buying Starfield on the Xbox Store.
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Eugen Boglaru is an AI aficionado covering the fascinating and rapidly advancing field of Artificial Intelligence. From machine learning breakthroughs to ethical considerations, Eugen provides readers with a deep dive into the world of AI, demystifying complex concepts and exploring the transformative impact of intelligent technologies.
