If a Starfield PS5 Port Happens, One Other Platform Can't Be Left Out (2025)

While Bethesda's ambitious space-faring RPG Starfield might not have made the massive cultural impact that the studio hoped for, it remains an interesting gaming experience filled with a wide range of content based on exploration and different avenues of combat. The core experience of Starfield has grown since its launch in 2023 to create a much more streamlined and enjoyable overall experience, with the late-2024 launch of its Shattered Space expansion adding even more layers to what the project has to offer.

Rumors and reports are starting to mount that suggest that Starfield might be getting a PlayStation release in the near-future, with this potentially being a watershed moment in the availability of Xbox-created titles on directly competing platforms. With a Starfield port for the PS5 seeming like an increasingly likely outcome, there is no reason that the title could not expand its horizons of accessibility even further. The updated, more powerful hardware of the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 could really make a statement of intent by proving it can handle a demanding title like Starfield.

Starfield's Platform Expansions Should Extend to the Nintendo Switch 2

Huge amounts of expectations surrounded Starfield prior to its launch, marking the first brand-new Bethesda IP in over 25 years. With over 1,000 explorable planets for players to freely visit throughout their adventure through the solar system, many fans were initially disappointed that the game would only be released on Xbox consoles.

Other players saw this as a logical extension of Microsoft's intense purchasing strategy of major studios across the gaming industry. Starfield was one of the first major examples of the leverage that Xbox has at its disposal as a result of its acquisitions. Of course, in the wake of Microsoft's additional record-breaking purchase of Activision Blizzard for $69 billion, the company has taken a much more relaxed approach in terms of how freely available its exclusive games eventually become. As months and years pass, more and more Xbox titles are eventually making the jump to direct competitors such as PlayStation.

This was recently evidenced with Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, after an announcement that the MachineGames title will be launching on PlayStation 5 on April 17. The rumors around an upcoming PS5 port of Starfield have only strengthened because of this, especially after a PS logo even briefly appeared on the official Starfield Creator Club website before being swiftly removed.

The Groundwork Has Already Been Laid For Closer Ties Between Microsoft and Nintendo

If Starfield does end up releasing for the PS5 in the near future, then it is entirely within Microsoft's interest to make the once-exclusive title as widely available as possible, and so a port for the Nintendo Switch 2 is not outside the realm of possibility. Microsoft's more recent strategy of collaboration with other leading console platforms clearly includes Nintendo; Microsoft famously signed a deal with Nintendo to bring Call of Duty over to Nintendo hardware following the Activision acquisition.

Not only does this show a clear working relationship between Microsoft and Nintendo, but it also conveys the level of ambition that Nintendo has for the performance capabilities of the Switch 2. While no official information currently exists regarding the Nintendo Switch 2's specifications, current estimations suggest that the console could be around five times more powerful than its predecessor. Some concessions may have to be made to ensure that Starfield runs smoothly, but the Switch 2 seems to be in a perfect position to shed the reputation of the original Switch as being incapable of running demanding games. Microsoft's increasingly open policy might make Starfield the perfect title to test these waters.

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10/10

Starfield

Action

RPG

Systems

OpenCritic Reviews

Top Critic Rating: 85/100 Critics Recommend: 83%

Released

September 6, 2023

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood, Suggestive Themes, Use of Drugs, Strong Language, Violence

Developer(s)

Bethesda

Publisher(s)

Bethesda

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