On September 6, 2023, the Xbox Series X|S will finally get what many see as its first major exclusive game outside of the Forza series. There’s been a tremendous amount of hype for Bethesda’s upcoming new IP, Starfield, with the studio being beloved for its single-player fantasy and post-apocalyptic games. Still, to compete with the PlayStation, Microsoft snapped up Bethesda, Starfield will be exclusive to Xbox consoles and PC.
Given that the PS5 has obliterated the new Xbox consoles in sales, the chances are that most will be considering the cost of an Xbox on top of the triple-A Starfield game – or on top of a Game Pass subscription – when it’s released. Here, we’re examining the gameplay revealed for Starfield, highlighting who it’d appeal to and why to help you home in on if it’s the game for you.
Do you have the XSX or a mighty PC?
The system requirements for Starfield on PC are yet to be revealed, but the expert estimations from this PC Guide page recommend some quite hefty hardware. They say that you’ll likely need 75GB of storage, 16GB RAM, a Radeon RX 6800 GPU, and an Intel Core i7-5820K CPU or equivalent. It’s a huge game that will be very demanding, so those on an Xbox Series S will likely need to run the game on lower settings, but it’s designed to work on the XSX. If you tick these boxes, then you should consider Starfield as one of the biggest releases of the year.
Is a space odyssey your thing?
Space is an incredibly popular theme in entertainment. You only have to look as far as the top real money games at Planet 7 casino to quickly spot one. Alien Wins is among the top picks because it’s so popular, featuring cheery little alien monsters and, of course, a space setting. Real money slots are just the tip of the iceberg, though, as Hollywood has run riot with its space movies of late, with The Martian and Dune being the best of the more recent releases.
Of those mentioned, you have alien encounters, a survival story, and wars in outer space. Starfield might just cover all of these aspects and more. There are over 1,000 planets in the game, dotted around more than 100 different star systems. All of them are crafted by the developers to be explored. Videos have already showcased alien life on these planets, so if you like any element of space in popular entertainment, Starfield is bound to scratch that itch.
Are you a fan of Skyrim and Fallout?
Bethesda became one of the most-loved studios in gaming because of Fallout 3, Fallout New Vegas, and especially The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. The studio lost a tremendous amount of goodwill with its live service foray that was the abysmal Fallout 76, but with Starfield being single-player, most are happy to give Bethesda a pass.
The gameplay certainly lends to Starfield being akin to Skyrim or Fallout in space, but head of Microsoft Studios, Matt Booty, has said that there’s going to be a lot of new stuff in the game as well. Of course, as with any game as expansive as a Bethesda release, fans can expect funny bugs and glitches to pop up – and some gamers will even hunt for them! If you’re a fan of Bethesda’s single-player games and don’t mind a buggy launch, Starfield should be on your watch list.
Do you like deep customization and playing your way?
Starfield’s customization options run very, very deep. There’s a huge range of apparel and weapon items, as well as a ship creation mechanic with copious stats to adjust with new parts and outpost customization. On top of this, the RPG elements will have a bunch of options. Such a range of customization options isn’t for everyone, but if you like to tweak and upgrade in games, Starfield will be a sound choice.
Xbox is banking on Starfield to be a huge hit and a console seller. We’ll have to wait on reviews to see if it’s being released in a polished enough state, but early signs are that Bethesda will deliver a game that’s worth buying a console to play.