Starfield hits a huge milestone on its journey to join Xbox’s most successful games
Starfield makes an impressive debut.
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What you need to know
Starfield is a resounding success, and as I noted in ourStarfield review, most likely has a bright future ahead of it.
Starfieldis the first new IP from Bethesda Softworks in almost 30 years. The fabled house that brought us Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Fallout 3 has turned their hand to hard-space sci-fi, and it looks as though it’s paying off dividends.
In comments on X (formerly Twitter), Microsoft Gaming CEO and Xbox lead Phil Spencer posted the following, celebrating the game’s success.“Starfield exceeded 1 million concurrent players across all platforms today.“Spencer continued, “thanks to all the players who helped us reach this great milestone, and congrats to the @BethesdaStudios.”
Starfield exceeded 1 million concurrent players across all platforms today. Thanks to all the players who helped us reach this great milestone and congrats to the @BethesdaStudios https://t.co/5jFaCyPz4GSeptember 7, 2023
-Seagate Expansion Card for Starfield-List of all Skills in Starfield-List of all Traits in Starfield-All Starfield Backgrounds-Starfield companions & romance-All factions in Starfield
Starfield is an important game for Xbox, which has been criticized quite heavily over the past decade for a dip in overall game quality and consistency. Microsoft invested heavily in building up its first-party studio output in response to that feedback, purchasing Bethesda Softworks and its sister studios like DOOM’s id Software and Wolfenstein’s Machine Games. Microsoft has begun to see the fruits of those labors now, with Tango Gameworks’Hi-Fi Rushkicking off the year with a bang, and Starfield delivering another big hit for the firm this summer.
Microsoft has still endured blips here and there. I would guess Minecraft Legends from the Spring hadn’t hit the metrics the company had hoped for. And earlier this summer, Redfall from Arkane failed to ignite players' imaginations, owing to its bugginess and general blandness. Microsoft still has a fewupcoming Xbox gamesandupcoming PC gamesunder its name to launch in the next year including the hotly anticipated racing simForza Motorsport, as well as further afield games likeTowerborne.
Starfield may mark the psychological turning point for Xbox game quality. Even games likeHalo Infinitewhich was somewhat derided for its post-launch for poor live service content, have seen an uptick lately.
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Jez Corden is the Executive Editor at Windows Central, focusing primarily on all things Xbox and gaming. Jez is known for breaking exclusive news and analysis as relates to the Microsoft ecosystem while being powered by tea. Follow onTwitter (X)andThreads, and listen to hisXB2 Podcast, all about, you guessed it, Xbox!
