Is Starfield coming out in a few months or later this year? Is Microsoft thinking about delaying arguably its biggest game in forever that isn't Halo and Forza by a year? We've all got plenty of questions about Starfield and the recent rumors aren't helping at all. But, while most of the info we've gotten about Starfield indicates that it's going to be delayed, they're mostly just hearsay - from trusted sources but still unverified.
However, the latest leak is different, as it's a photo of new packaging for the Xbox Series X with Starfield plastered all over it.
New Retail Xbox Box in China has Starfield on back replacing MasterChief. from GamingLeaksAndRumours
On one hand, it makes sense for Microsoft to put their most anticipated game on the box their flagship console instead of Halo Infinite and Forza Horizon 5, both of which came out two years ago. Also, this isn't the first time that Microsoft has put a game on the box of their console way ahead of its release. Case in point, Halo Infinite was the predominant artwork for the Xbox Series X packaging when it first came out.
On the other hand, even though we risk sounding like a broken transponder, it feels like we're overdue more Starfield news.
As Microsoft's next marquee franchise and the crowning jewel of its ZeniMax Media acquisition, we should've heard more about Starfield by now. Even the perpetually-delayed Halo Infinite got a proper release window and eventually, a release date, within a few months of it being playtested.
Something just feels off about Microsoft's silence on Starfield, especially if it's still on track to come out this year.
The best outcome here is that the leaked image is a sign of an incoming event centered around Starfield that likely includes details of a new Starfield-themed Xbox Series X and, of course, the game's release date.
Unfortunately, it wouldn't surprise us if, just like we said, Microsoft just wants to replace Halo as the de-facto mascot of the Xbox Series X packaging for at least the next year or two.
For what it's worth, The Game Awards seem to believe that Starfield is coming out this year. Also, the last time we checked, last year's Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase has been on point with the included games coming out within a year of being part of the lineup.
