Starfield has officially gone gold, and you can preload it right now

A spaceship in Starfield travelling through space
(Image credit: Bethesda Softworks)

Great news if you're excited for Starfield; the space-faring Bethesda Game Studios RPG has officially gone gold.

You can now preload Starfield on Xbox Series X|S and PC, too, if you've pre-ordered the game digitally or are planning to download it via Xbox Game Pass. By doing this, you'll be able to dive into the game the moment it launches, barring any day one patch shenanigans, of course. Steam users will have to wait a bit longer, however, with preloads going live on August 30 for Valve's digital distribution platform.

Going gold also means that development on Starfield has officially wrapped, and it'll be shipping to disc as we speak. This isn't out of the ordinary in any way for AAA releases, especially considering Starfield's September 6 release date is mere weeks away. But, it's reassuring to see that by going gold, the already-delayed title shouldn't be subject to any more roadblocks.

The Starfield Direct back in June was the last major look we got for the upcoming game. But it was a robust look at that. Bethesda revealed details on character creation, builds, perks, shipbuilding, companions, and much more. The presentation gave us a sneak peek at the Starfield Constellation Edition, which includes a fancy smartwatch, and also confirmed the return of Oblivion's most annoying NPC.

Those of you hungry for more details ahead of launch will want to look towards Gamescom. Microsoft will be in attendance at the Cologne-based event, showcasing new footage for Starfield, and Forza Motorsport. Sadly, though, neither game will be publicly playable at the event.

Want to load up on Starfield hardware for your Xbox before the game launches? Here's where you can buy the Starfield Xbox Wireless Controller, as well as where to buy the Starfield Xbox Wireless Headset to make sure you're thematically kitted for when the game releases in September.

Rhys Wood
Hardware Editor

Rhys is TRG's Hardware Editor, and has been part of the TechRadar team for more than two years. Particularly passionate about high-quality third-party controllers and headsets, as well as the latest and greatest in fight sticks and VR, Rhys strives to provide easy-to-read, informative coverage on gaming hardware of all kinds. As for the games themselves, Rhys is especially keen on fighting and racing games, as well as soulslikes and RPGs.