Starfield PS5: will the Bethesda game come to Sony consoles?

Starfield PS5, An astronaut walks towards a glowing temple in Starfield
(Image credit: Microsoft)

Should we expect a Starfield PS5 release? With Microsoft having acquired Bethesda, fans of ambitious open world RPGs are anxious about whether or not we'll see the interstellar adventure on Sony consoles when it makes its debut in 2023.

It hardly needs to be said that Starfield's release is hotly anticipated. Building on the successes of The Elder Scrolls and Fallout 4, fans have been extremely excited to see where Bethesda will go on its first foray into hard sci-fi. The glimpses we've already seen of the finished product certainly suggest that Starfield will be every bit as ambitious as its predecessors, with Starfield's space combat already turning heads and tipping our chins to the skies. It's easy to see why the title has been generating such hype already. 

Starfield could release in March 2023 if we're lucky. However, fans of the PS5 are worried that Bethesda's status as a Microsoft-owned studio may restrict Starfield to the Xbox Series X|S and the PC exclusively, which could prove a disappointment to players of the next-gen console. 

With Fallout 4 and Skyrim having served as beloved titles on the PS5 and PS4, exclusivity would certainly break with Bethesda's established trends of casting their net far and wide. So, will Starfield grace Sony's consoles? Read on to get all the details.   

Will we see a Starfield PS5 release?

Starfield PS5: the likelihood of it coming to Sony PS5

Starfield PS5, cockpit view

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Unfortunately, there are currently no plans for a Starfield PS5 launch. It looks like Starfield really is still an Xbox exclusive

To top the disappointment, there's nothing out there to suggest that it might be a timed exclusive. It looks like Starfield is set to be a PC and Xbox exclusive for the foreseeable future.

With Microsoft having bought Bethesda, it is unlikely we'll see Starfield released on the PS5, especially at launch. Quite what this means for Fallout 5 or Elder Scrolls 6 we don't know, however, it's possible that both beloved franchises may find themselves becoming Xbox exclusives too. That being said, Bethesda has yet to make an announcement either way with regard to the Fallout or Elder Scrolls series. Regrettably, we can only speculate at this point. 

That being said, Starfield is due to arrive on Xbox Game Pass, so it will at least be affordable for PC and Xbox users, as well as those using the service's streaming capabilities. Some even believe that Starfield on Xbox Game Pass could make it Bethesda's 'most played' game ever. However, as welcome as this news might be to Game Pass subscribers, it does little to allay disappointment, should you prefer the PlayStation.  

According to GamesRadar, Todd Howard, director, and executive producer at Bethesda, insisted that more focus will make for "a better product". Despite this, however, it's clear that Starfield's status as a PC and Xbox exclusive has ruffled more than a few feathers. Aaron Greenberg, Xbox marketing's general manager (again, quoted in GamesRadar), has made it very clear that "Starfield will be launching exclusively on Xbox Series X|S and PC". Though we cannot speculate as to whether or not this will change, it looks like, in the meantime, PlayStation fans are just going to have to grin and bear it.

We're sorry to be the bearers of disappointing news. Rest assured, we'll let you know if anything changes. 


Cat Bussell
Staff Writer

Cat Bussell is a Staff Writer at TechRadar Gaming. Hailing from the crooked spires of London, Cat is an experienced writer and journalist. As seen on Wargamer.com, TheGamer.com, and Superjumpmagazine.com, Cat is here to bring you coverage from all corners of the video game world. An inveterate RPG maven and strategy game enjoyer, Cat is known for her love of rich narratives; both story-driven and emergent.