Despite having been released close to two years ago, the post-launch life of Starfield is still full of twists and turns. The launch of the ambitious Bethesda title did not quite have the impact that the studio would have been hoping for, putting an added level of pressure on the game's post-launch plans to really deliver. A big effort to revitalize the project came with the late-2024 launch of its Shattered Space expansion, though another big development is now dominating discussion around the game.
According to recent reports, fans now supposedly have a solid idea of when Starfield will become available on PlayStation consoles. Allegedly, Starfield will make its way over to PS5 around Spring 2026, with other reports suggesting that another big expansion is planned for the game alongside some major quality-of-life updates. While this seems like a big positive for Starfield at face value, it places the PS5 port of the title's release in extremely close competition with one of the most anticipated releases of all time.
Is Starfield Worth Playing in 2025?
Starfield is now entering its second year, and Bethesda's sprawling space adventure has experienced some shake-ups since then.
Starfield's PS5 Port Release Window Has Some Major Competition
The reports and leaks around Starfield's PS5 port come from MP1st, which suggests that the game's initial plans for a PlayStation expansion in 2025 are no longer on the table. Initially, Microsoft wanted to coincide the release of Starfield's PS5 port closer to the launch of the game's Shattered Space DLC, although the expansion did not generate the momentum that Bethesda was hoping to see.
Shattered Space achieved a peak Steam player count of just over 20,000, with this being in stark comparison to the 330,000-player peak of Starfield's base game on the platform. It is clear that this under-performance has been quite a blow to the efficacy of Starfield's post-launch plans, with Microsoft possibly being of the impression that a PS5 port around the time of Shattered Space would have been a wasted opportunity.
There are still plans for potentially many Starfield expansions beyond Shattered Space, however, and Bethesda is supposedly waiting for the game's next major DLC to finally pull the trigger on PlayStation availability. It remains to be seen if the next DLC for Starfield will be able to beat the performance of Shattered Space, but the high-profile launch of Grand Theft Auto 6 around the time of these future plans is going to be a real pain to contend with.
The Spotlight on Grand Theft Auto 6 Might Shine Too Brightly For Starfield's PS5 Plans
After several delays that gripped the gaming industry, Rockstar has seemingly settled on a firm release date for Grand Theft Auto 6. Accompanied by a new official trailer that generated huge amounts of engagement and discussion, Rockstar has touted May 26 as the revised release date for the title. Of course, fans have been waiting well over a decade for a new major GTA release, with Grand Theft Auto 6 already setting some eye-watering expectations.
GTA 5 currently holds the title of the most profitable piece of entertainment media ever made, with GTA 6 only being expected to improve upon its predecessor. It is no surprise that many other major titles are moving their intended release dates as far away from Grand Theft Auto 6's launch as possible, yet Starfield seems to be walking straight into the lion's den. A Spring 2026 release window for Starfield's PS5 port and next major expansion would place them directly in the crosshairs of GTA 6's May release, and it will most likely be even harder for the game to find its feet and launch a revival in the immense shadow of the upcoming Rockstar project.
The total franchise revenue for Grand Theft Auto is reported to be close to $10 billion, being just one signifier of the immense scale and expectations surrounding Grand Theft Auto 6.
Starfield
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 85 /100 Critics Rec: 83%
WHERE TO PLAY
Starfield is the first new universe in 25 years from Bethesda Game Studios, the award-winning creators of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Fallout 4. In this next generation role-playing game set amongst the stars, create any character you want and explore with unparalleled freedom as you embark on an epic journey to answer humanity’s greatest mystery.
The year is 2330. Humanity has ventured beyond our solar system, settling new planets, and living as a spacefaring people. From humble beginnings as a space miner, you will join Constellation – the last group of space explorers seeking rare artifacts throughout the galaxy – and navigate the vast expanse of the Settled Systems in Bethesda Game Studios’ biggest and most ambitious game.
