Starfield is finally out in Early Access, which means there are going to be plenty of you new Constellation recruits heading out in the cosmos. While we’re covering all the cool things players both on GR+ team and online are finding in our Starfield launch live blog, this here guide is where you’ll find all the intricate details on actually playing the game.
Whether that’s details on the character customization or your starting traits, how best to zip around the galaxy, or simply just who best to smooch, our Starfield guide has you covered. This Starfield guide will also continue to grow and evolve as we discover more of what the game has to offer.
Review
In the GamesRadar+ Starfield review we award Bethesda’s new RPG a full 5/5. We’ve played the game for over 80 hours and found ourselves constantly surprised by what it has to offer, and the scale over which its action unfolds. Simply put, Starfield is “an expansive and beautifully crafted open world experience full of endless discovery and opportunities.”
Key info
Starfield release date
Starfield is now officially set to release on September 6, 2023. The new RPG was initially slated to release on November 11, 2022, before then being pushed back into the first half of 2023. Bethesda then later confirmed it has been delayed further into the new September window.
In a video post from Bethesda announcing the September release date, Todd Howard addressed fans, saying: “Look, we know you’ve waited a long time to play something new from us. And believe it or not, we’re kind of the same. We miss it and we really just can’t wait for you all to play it.”
Starfield Early access release
If you can’t wait until September 6, you’ll be happy to learn that there will be a period of Starfield early access for pre-order customers. Hit the link for more details, but the key info you need to know is that the early access window of play commences on September 1, 2023.
Starfield system requirements
Bethesda has outlined the Starfield system requirements that you’ll need should you want to play its new RPG on PC. Click the link to find recommended and minimum specs, as well as some guidance to help you get your rig ready to explore the vast expanse of the universe.
Starfield platforms
Starfield is set to launch as an Xbox Series X console exclusive, and Bethesda has also confirmed that the RPG will launch on PC. This is a result of Microsoft’s $7.5 billion acquisition of ZeniMax Media in 2021 – a deal which included Starfield and Elder Scrolls 6 creator Bethesda Game Studios. As with all games released by the Xbox Games Studio collective, Starfield will be available for both direct purchase and via Xbox Game Pass / PC Game Pass from the day of its release.
Is Starfield on PS4 or PS5?
While Starfield was announced before the Microsoft Gaming acquisition of Bethesda, the game will still be an Xbox platform exclusive. This means that a Starfield PS4 or PS5 release is out of the question. Todd Howard, Bethesda’s creative director, has said that the ability to focus on a smaller number of platforms will “make for a better product”. Good news for Xbox owners, but it does mean that PlayStation owners will not be able to experience Starfield.
General tips
Let’s at least start with the Starfield basics. We’ve got tips to get you started, details on things like encumbrance, lockpicking, your boost pack and more. Oh and don’t worry, you can change your appearance later on too.
Characters and companions
Character customization is defintiely going to take you a little while, especially when you start looking into the traits and backgrounds for your character too. There’s a lot of decisions to be made. Handily, we have guides for all of that below, along with all the details on companions and crew.
Skills and abilities
Moving on from actual character customization, there’s also the skills that you can unlock as you level up. These can impact all sorts of elements of the game, from the ships you’re able to pilot, to your effectiveness with persuasion.
Exploration
Starfield is undeniably huge, and it’s not always easy to understand how exactly to get about in the galaxy. Here you’ll find guides on warp jumping, how to scan planets, where to sell data, and more.
Weapons and combat
There are a lot of weapons in Starfield, so let’s dive into exactly how they differ, how to hot swap weapons, and how best to be stealthy.
Ships
You ship is your home in Starfield, and it’s also highly customizable. Plus, there’s a disctinct joy in both stealing someone else’s high-end ship and building your own from scratch. We’ve got details on all that and more below.
Crafting and resources
When you’re not space-faring, ship building, or helping out your factions, you can also spend time crafting and building outposts.
Factions
There are quite a few Starfield factions to discover, from the space cowboys that are the Freestars to the more Cyberpunk-esque Corps, Ryujin. Handily though, you can essentially just join all of them, which makes for a really good range of missions.
Religions
If you want to join one of the Starfield religions you will have to choose between one of the three – Enlightened, Universal and House Va’ruun. We’ll walk you through what they’re each about and the potential benefits of joining up.
Quests
Here we’ll collate all the mission specific queries you may have in Starfield. Obviously, the game is huge, so this – and all of the other sections of our Starfield guide – will be constantly evolving as we discover more.