Highlights
Starfield will be an Xbox Play Anywhere title, meaning it can be played on all Xbox consoles and PCs with a single purchase.
Given Bethesda's acquisition by Microsoft subsidiary ZeniMax Media, it comes as no surprise that Starfield would be included in Xbox Play Anywhere.
For gamers deeply immersed in the Xbox ecosystem, purchasing Starfield directly from Microsoft provides the best bang for the buck, offering the maximum value for their money.
The recent update to one of its online storefront listings reveals that Starfield will be an Xbox Play Anywhere title from its release. This is not surprising, considering that Bethesda is owned by Microsoft subsidiary ZeniMax Media. Xbox Play Anywhere was originally announced by Microsoft in mid-2016 and has been consistently offered in its first-party games. As the name suggests, with this feature, players only need to make a single purchase to access the game on all of their Xbox consoles and PCs running Windows 10 or a newer version of the operating system. It also supports cross-platform saves, allowing players to switch between systems seamlessly during their gameplay.
The Xbox app's official Starfield page recently received an update, as noted by Insider Gaming, adding an Xbox Play Anywhere tag. This development comes as no surprise, as most multi-platform games published by Bethesda started offering this feature after Microsoft's acquisition of ZeniMax Media for $7.5 billion earlier this year. With this update, Starfield joins the ranks of other Bethesda titles like Doom 3: BFG Edition, GhostWire: Tokyo, Quake Enhanced, and many more, allowing players to enjoy the game across Microsoft's gaming ecosystem with just a single purchase.
The official Xbox Play Anywhere list on the Xbox website does not include Starfield yet, suggesting that the store listing may have been released prematurely. As of August 1, Microsoft has only listed Sea of Stars, WildTrax Racing, and World Soccer Pinball as upcoming Xbox Play Anywhere titles. However, since Starfield is still five weeks away from its release, there is still plenty of time for Microsoft to update its database.
Although the space-faring RPG is also set to debut on Steam, purchasing it through Valve's platform will not allow players to take advantage of Xbox Play Anywhere support, which is only available for the Microsoft and Xbox Store versions of Starfield. Therefore, gamers who are heavily involved in the Xbox ecosystem should consider buying the upcoming title directly from Microsoft as it offers the best value for their money.
Without a doubt, a high-end gaming PC is the optimal choice for running Starfield with top-notch performance. However, consoles will still provide a satisfying gaming experience for this ambitious AAA RPG. Todd Howard, the director of Bethesda, has expressed his preference for playing an early version of the game on the Xbox Series S in mid-June. Furthermore, Matt Booty, the head of Xbox Game Studios, has stated that Starfield has the least number of bugs compared to any Bethesda game, ensuring console gamers a polished and technically impressive experience. Starfield will be released on September 6 for PC and Xbox Series X/S.
Source: Insider Gaming, Xbox