Starfield Breaks Records: Bethesda's Epic RPG Launch

Politics, News Sept. 11, 2023, 1:59 p.m.

Bethesdas Starfield RPG launch has exceeded expectations on Steam, with record-breaking concurrent players. Game Pass availability is a key factor influencing these impressive stats.

Starfield's RPG game launch by Bethesda has been nothing short of monumental. With a plethora of Starfield mods, a substantial player base across all platforms, and an overwhelmingly positive response to the game, Bethesda Game Studios may have just experienced its next Skyrim-like moment. Particularly on Steam, the statistics speak volumes, though there's a twist in the tale.

Starfield's launch has set a new benchmark for Bethesda Game Studios, and it's not surprising to learn that this space epic has surpassed Skyrim in concurrent player counts. However, it's important to note that while Starfield's Steam statistics are impressive, they still fall short of juggernauts like Baldur's Gate 3 – but there's a compelling reason behind this.

Nevertheless, Starfield's Steam statistics are nothing short of remarkable. Since its early access release at the beginning of September, the game has achieved an astounding peak of 313,993 concurrent players. This surpasses the 12-year-old peak of Skyrim, which stood at 287,411 players, but it hasn't quite reached Fallout 4's peak of 472,962 players – at least not yet.

When viewed in isolation, it might appear that Starfield hasn't had the most remarkable launch in the Bethesda game lineup. However, there's a significant factor that alters our perspective: Game Pass. Unlike Skyrim and Fallout 4, which are available on PC Game Pass but didn't launch with the subscription service, Starfield is the first Bethesda game to do so.

This means that you can enjoy Starfield on either Xbox's PC launcher or console, all without any additional cost beyond your monthly subscription. While the exact breakdown of numbers remains unknown, it's safe to say that many players are opting for Game Pass to embark on their Starfield adventures, given the cost-effectiveness it offers compared to purchasing the game outright on Steam.

To be clear, the Steam statistics from SteamDB are still highly impressive. However, it's crucial to acknowledge that Game Pass is undeniably influencing these numbers, and this trend is likely to persist for major first-party Microsoft releases.

For those embarking on Bethesda's latest adventure, we've got you covered with a comprehensive breakdown of Starfield's cities, companions, and the top legendary items you should consider for your character build. If you're still hungry for more information, while a reliable Starfield wiki can be a valuable resource, our newly launched Starfield Database takes it a step further by providing daily news, searchable databanks, and interactive tools to enhance your Starfield experience.