Starfield Tops PS5 Pre-Orders Despite Mixed Xbox Backlash

Starfield tops PS5 pre-orders before launch

Starfield is off to a strong start on PS5 before it even arrives. Bethesda’s sci-fi RPG has climbed to the top tier of PlayStation Store pre-order rankings in multiple regions ahead of its April 7 release, giving Microsoft’s former console exclusive fresh momentum on a new platform.

That is notable because the game’s reputation has been complicated since launch. While critics scored it well in 2023, player response cooled over time. Starfield currently sits at a 6.8 user score on Metacritic and a Mixed user rating on Steam, a sign that the game never fully won over a big chunk of its audience on Xbox and PC.

PS5 launch brings the most complete version yet

The PS5 version is not arriving alone. Bethesda has confirmed that Starfield launches on PS5 on April 7, 2026, the same day the game gets its Free Lanes update and the new Terran Armada story DLC across all platforms. Sony’s version also adds DualSense support, while PS5 Pro owners get dedicated visual and performance modes.

That helps explain the pre-order heat. PS5 players are not buying the same 2023 package Xbox owners got at launch. They are getting a cheaper $49.99 base game plus a more feature-rich version shaped by more than two years of updates and feedback.

Another Xbox hit on PlayStation

A former Xbox tentpole drawing strong demand on PS5 is another sign that Xbox’s biggest franchises can find a large audience outside Microsoft’s own hardware. Whether that turns into long-term success will depend on whether the new content actually changes how players feel about Starfield, not just how many of them are curious enough to pre-order it.