Is Starfield as good as it was billed by Bethesda Game Studios ahead of its release? Well, that depends. But, whether or not you prefer Starfield or No Man’s Sky – the Hello Games title is enjoying its best month in years lately – numbers will never lie and the latest figures tell an interesting story.
Just two weeks post-released, Starfield has already set an impressive record. It has amassed over 10 million players since its early access release on September 1st. This remarkable growth marks the biggest launch in Bethesda’s storied history, surpassing the six million players mark within just six days of release.
Released as a sci-fi role-playing game, Starfield was available for players on PC and Xbox Series X and S. Microsoft also ensured it was available day-and-date on Game Pass, making it the most notable first-party release since Halo Infinite in December 2021.
Thank you to more than 10 million #Starfield explorers for creating the biggest launch in Bethesda history. pic.twitter.com/pTOQrxvOtB
— Bethesda Game Studios (@BethesdaStudios) September 19, 2023
While Microsoft and Bethesda have refrained from announcing specific sales figures, data from “unofficial” sources highlight Starfield’s strong performance. Starfield’s success also meant it overshadowed sales of prominent games like Final Fantasy 16 and Resident Evil 4 in Europe, although it lagged behind titles like Hogwarts Legacy and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
However, the comparisons with past Bethesda games can be challenging, particularly considering the new dynamics as a result of its inclusion on the Xbox Game Pass. Xbox’s industry-leading subscription service have significantly changed how gamers gain access to their favourite projects, with many choosing subscription over outright purchase. This makes the precise number of Starfield sales versus Game Pass plays a mystery. But, irrespective of this uncertainty, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer remains confident that Starfield will prove profitable.
If anything, Microsoft welcomes Starfield’s positive effect on the Game Pass numbers, perhaps more than a higher sales figure, unlike its competitors like Sony and Nintendo.
Of course, there’s this underlying concern about Starfield missing out on millions more in physical and digital sales had it not been exclusive to the Xbox platform. Given its extensive marketing campaign, it’s easy to see how Starfield could’ve sold millions more as a multi-platform release.
But, again, Microsoft’s strategy appears to be to drive Game Pass subscriptions and Xbox console sales, which, for the most part, has worked.
The success of Starfield is no longer limited to its engaging gameplay. The announcement of further post-launch expansions, including the “Shattered Space” and various other updates, ensures that players have more to look forward to. The modding community is especially excited, with Bethesda slated to offer official mod support in 2024, promising thousands of mods.
Even amidst these success stories, comparisons are inevitable. Microsoft, in 2021, had announced that Forza Horizon 5 garnered more than 10 million players in just its first week. Starfield, in contrast, took approximately twice the duration to achieve the same figure. However, Starfield’s performance is noteworthy given it was released only on Xbox Series X/S and PC, whereas Forza Horizon 5 enjoyed a broader user base with its availability on Xbox One.
Ultimately, the clear winner here are the gamers and the Xbox brand.
With 2023 shaping up to be the Xbox platform’s best year so far – Ghostwire: Tokyo and Hi-Fi Rush are thriving with an incoming release in Forza Motorsport expected to do well – Nintendo and PlayStation will have to take Microsoft more seriously.
