So, When Is Starfield Actually Coming to PS5?
The cosmic question on every PlayStation owner’s mind just got a new, slightly disappointing answer. For months, the gaming community has been eagerly awaiting news on when Bethesda’s massive space RPG, Starfield, would finally break its Xbox exclusivity and land on the PlayStation 5. While rumors had pointed to a potential 2025 release, a well-known industry insider has just pumped the brakes on that timeline.
According to trusted leaker NateTheHate, the PS5 port of Starfield is no longer on the cards for this year. Instead, the announcement and release are now expected to happen in 2026. This news has sparked a fresh round of discussions and debates across the internet, leaving many to wonder why the wait continues.
The DLC Connection: A Strategic Delay
So, what’s behind the extended wait? NateTheHate shed some light on the situation, explaining that the delay is strategic and tied directly to the game’s post-launch content. Bethesda has a major story expansion planned for Starfield that was originally slated for 2025. According to the leak, this DLC has now been quietly pushed into 2026.
The new plan, it seems, is to align the PS5 release of the base game with this upcoming expansion. This approach makes a lot of sense from a marketing perspective. Instead of just launching a year-old game on a new platform, Bethesda can create a much bigger splash by re-introducing Starfield to a massive new audience alongside its largest content update yet. This would effectively serve as a major relaunch for the game, giving it a second chance to capture the hearts and minds of players who missed it the first time around.
Will Gamers Still Care in 2026?
The billion-dollar question now is whether the hype will survive until 2026. Starfield had a mixed reception at launch. While it was a huge commercial success, it didn’t quite achieve the universal critical acclaim of past Bethesda titles like Skyrim or Fallout 3. On platforms like Steam, its player count has dwindled significantly, with older games like Skyrim still boasting a larger active player base.
Some fans are frustrated by the continued delays, arguing that the port should have been released much closer to the original launch. Others believe the delay is a good thing, giving Bethesda more time to polish the game, incorporate player feedback, and launch a more complete and improved version on the PS5. The strategy is not without precedent; Microsoft has seen huge success bringing former Xbox exclusives like Sea of Thieves and Forza Horizon 5 to PlayStation, often topping sales charts in the process.
FAQs About Starfield’s PS5 Port
- Is Starfield officially coming to PS5 in 2026?
This is a strong rumor from a credible leaker, NateTheHate, but it has not been officially confirmed by Bethesda or Microsoft. - Why was the release delayed from 2025 to 2026?
The delay is reportedly to align the PS5 launch with a major story expansion that has also been pushed to 2026. - Who is NateTheHate?
He is a well-known and often reliable insider and leaker in the video game industry with a track record of accurate predictions about hardware and software releases. - Will the PS5 version be improved?
It’s widely expected that the PS5 version will launch with all the improvements and patches made to the game since its original 2023 release, potentially as a ‘complete edition.’ - Did Starfield’s first DLC, Shattered Space, already come out?
Yes, according to reports, the first major expansion, Shattered Space, was released in September 2024. The new delay concerns a second, currently unnamed DLC. - Is Microsoft bringing other Xbox games to PlayStation?
Yes, Microsoft has already brought several games like Hi-Fi Rush, Sea of Thieves, and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle to PS5, and the trend is expected to continue.
Conclusion
For PlayStation fans, the journey to Starfield just got a little longer. While the delay to 2026 is bound to be a disappointment for some, the strategy behind it is sound. Launching the game alongside a major expansion could give it the fresh momentum it needs to find a new, enthusiastic audience on the PS5. Until we get an official word from Bethesda, the cosmos remains just out of reach. But for those willing to wait, the promise of a more polished and content-rich experience might just make the extra year worth it.