Calling all interstellar explorers and those itching for a taste of the universe. The stars are aligning for the next open-world space epic, with Starfield poised to land on the Xbox Series S/X and the PC.
Breathe in deep, because come August 9, your devices will bear the weight of galaxies – Starfield’s colossal 125GB to be exact. Leaks from the online retail giant, Amazon, as per Insider Gaming, have informed Bethesda fans that they’ll need to clear their calendar – and more pressingly, their storage space. Especially if they wish to set foot on all the planets Starfield offers on launch day.
With a universe containing a whopping 1,000 or so fully explorable planets, Starfield was always going to cost you a ton of storage space. But, the buzz about Starfield isn’t only about its size. Starfield stands tall as one of the most eagerly awaited titles in recent gaming history.
With the game’s full release slated for September 6, this pre-load gives gamers nearly a month of preload time – an ample window considering the expansive nature of the game. Bethesda has indeed been quite generous in this regard, allowing gamers, especially those with not-so-speedy internet connections, enough time to ensure a seamless launch experience.
A comparison point is the recent release of Baldur’s Gate 3. The game’s launch, without a preload option, flooded the Steam servers, given its enormous popularity. Bethesda, having learned from these precedents, is ensuring the Starfield experience remains hiccup-free.
Then again, given the controversial waters that Starfield has dove into in recent memory, you can’t blame Bethesda for wanting to steer clear of a potential storm ahead of its imminent launch.
The excitement doesn’t end with the game itself. Xbox has plans to showcase Starfield, along with Forza Motorsport, at Gamescom, providing fans with a closer look at its potential and the intriguing Force-life powers teased in the Starfield Direct.
A tidbit for the financially savvy: There’s a sweet deal for those on the Xbox Game Pass or PC Game Pass. The ability to pre-install awaits you, but the cherry on top is the offer to play Starfield five days before the rest of the world. All it takes is a small purchase to upgrade to the Premium Edition and the universe is yours to explore from September 1st.
For PC enthusiasts, here’s an interesting piece of the puzzle. Starfield requires an SSD for installation, so it’s crucial to ensure enough space on your Solid State Drive. Given the chunky size of the game, it might be a prudent move to hold off on other installations until you’ve safely tucked away Starfield into your device’s storage.
Lastly, for the tech experimentalists hoping to get Starfield running on the Steam Deck, patience is the name of the game. It may not run perfectly immediately post-launch if at all, but with some dedicated tinkering and maybe a sprinkle of Valve’s magic, there’s hope yet. After all, if Elden Ring and Baldur’s Gate 3 can run on the Steam Deck, so too can Starfield.
So, mark your calendars and prep your devices. The universe beckons, and Starfield promises a journey like no other.
As the countdown begins, one can only hope that Bethesda delivers a masterpiece worthy of the immense hype.
In the meantime, fans of Bethesda’s games can check out Nvidia GeForce Now later this month. Finally, Bethesda will be launching a remaster of Quake 2 on August 10, as per the rumors.
