In a year full of highly anticipated releases, Starfield stands out as arguably the most eagerly awaited title. The space RPG from Bethesda Studios is set to follow in the footsteps of the developer’s flagship titles like The Elder Scrolls and Fallout, becoming the first new intellectual property from Bethesda Studios in over 25 years. But will this “Skyrim in Space” be arriving on PlayStation 5, to join The Elder Scrolls V and Fallout 4? Let’s examine Starfield’s release platforms and analyze how Microsoft’s acquisition of Bethesda in 2021 impacts the game’s exclusivity.
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Will Starfield Touch Down on PlayStation Consoles in 2023?
Unfortunately for PlayStation gamers, Starfield is not coming to the PS5 or the previous-gen PlayStation 4. It’s certainly a disappointing turn of events for PlayStation gamers who double as loyal Bethesda Studios fans that have played the developer’s previous titles on PlayStation consoles. Instead, Starfield will be arriving on Microsoft Windows and Xbox Series X|S this year. While the game was initially slated for a 2022 release, Starfield was pushed back into 2023, and as of this writing does not have a release date. While there are rumors of a potential Summer launch, this seems to be conjecture at this point.
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How Microsoft’s Acquisition of Bethesda Softworks Impacts Starfield
In 2021, Microsoft finalized an agreement to acquire Bethesda Softworks and its subsidiaries as part of the multinational behemoth’s $7.5 billion purchase of ZeniMax Media. This acquisition also gave Microsoft ownership of Bethesda Studios, the developers of Starfield. This meant that Microsoft, which owns the Xbox brand, is incentivized to keep the highly anticipated Starfield off of Sony’s PlayStation consoles, as they are a competitor in the market. While Microsoft’s public relations statements have suggested a possibility of some Bethesda titles coming to PlayStation consoles, it seems that future games from IPs like Dishonored, Doom, Fallout, The Elder Scrolls, Wolfenstein, and future Starfield titles will, in all likelihood, be exclusive to Microsoft platforms.
