The highly anticipated RPG, Starfield, developed by Bethesda Game Studios, has already achieved a remarkable milestone with over 1 million players actively engaging in the game on its launch day, 6 September 2023. The news was announced by Phil Spencer, the Head of Xbox, who expressed his gratitude towards the players who contributed to this significant accomplishment. With its availability on Xbox Series X/S, PC via Steam, and the Microsoft Store, Starfield has managed to captivate an incredible number of gamers simultaneously.
Though the official launch of Starfield was on 6 September, players who purchased the premium edition were granted early access to the game five days earlier, starting from 1 September 2023. However, the standard edition’s release, along with its availability on Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass, Microsoft’s subscription services, commenced on 6 September 2023. The inclusion of Xbox Game Pass, which provides access to Starfield for a monthly fee as low as US $9.99, likely contributed to the overwhelming number of players.
While the exact number of players who purchased the game outright remains unknown, it is worth noting that during the early access period on Steam, there were at least 230,000 concurrent Starfield players registered on that platform. Additionally, the Xbox version swiftly rose to the top of the Top Paid Games list on the Xbox Store during this period. Although specific figures are yet to be disclosed, it is apparent that Starfield has generated significant interest and attracted a substantial player base.
In terms of sales, the reigning champion for the fastest-selling game of all time is Grand Theft Auto 5, which astonishingly sold over 11 million copies within its first 24 hours of release. While Starfield’s active player count is an extraordinary achievement, it is essential to differentiate between concurrent players and the number of game copies sold outright. Nevertheless, Starfield’s success in captivating millions of players simultaneously should not be undermined.
In our review, GamesHub awarded Starfield a solid 4-star score, recognizing its incredible art direction, stunning environment design, and engaging combat systems. However, one significant drawback that left us disappointed was the peculiar and burdensome nature of its space travel mechanics, which ultimately detracted from the game’s overall sense of grandeur. Although Starfield showcases many commendable aspects, its flawed space travel implementation hinders the overall immersive experience.
With Starfield shattering records on its launch day, Bethesda Game Studios has solidified its position as a prominent player in the RPG genre. Despite its flaws, the game has undoubtedly captivated the hearts of millions of gamers around the world. Only time will tell what the future holds for Starfield and the impact it will have on the gaming industry as a whole.
Leave a Reply