Starfield has had the most complicated relationship with Microsoft, even before Xbox. There have been a lot of rumors and speculation about Microsoft's plans and the future of its exclusives. Starfield has been in the middle as a high-profile, triple-A game that many players would like to see on PlayStation. However, it seems like a move to Sony is closer than it appears.

CEO of Microsoft Gaming, Phil Spencer, recently discussed the future of Starfield potentially coming to more platforms. The game is currently only playable on PC and Xbox Series X/S, but has long been expected to be ported to the PlayStation 5 at some point. It now seems clearer than ever when Starfield will see its debut on PlayStation.

Phil Spencer Won't Rule Out Starfield Coming To PS5

It's Not Over Until Spencer Says So

In an interview with Destin Legarie on his Patreon show Save State Plus (via IGN), Spencer shared some interesting thoughts about whether Starfield will come to PlayStation 5. When asked directly if Starfield would be exclusive to Xbox, Spencer simply said, "No." This short answer hints at a bigger picture regarding Microsoft's changing approach to gaming. He mentioned that there's "no reason" to keep games away from platforms where they could reach more players and succeed better. I think this is a better way than just answering for Starfield alone; Spencer's full quote is as follows:

There's no reason for me to put a ring fence around any game and say this game will not go to a place where it would find players, where it would have businesss success for us.

Rather than plainly answering a question about Starfield, Spencer focused on the idea that it's better to maximize player access and create business opportunities. This shows us the mindset of Xbox. Regardless of what Matt Booty, head of Xbox Game Studios, recently said about Game remaining an Xbox console-exclusive service (per GameSpot), the company is still focused on getting games onto PlayStation and Nintendo consoles.

We've seen this same attitude when it comes to games like Sea of Thieves, Hi-Fi Rush, Pentiment, and Grounded, which all became available on PS5. This approach is part of Microsoft's bigger plan, especially with Xbox Game and how it is pushing onto multiple platforms like Amazon Fire Stick. If Xbox planned on keeping Starfield away from PlayStation, the company would push that idea to players. Spencer would likely be clear in messaging if the idea was to keep its console version exclusive to Microsoft's hardware.

Instead, Spencer is clear about the game coming to PlayStation in time. While there's no confirmed date for Starfield to come on PS5 yet, there is something coming up that would be a great time for a release on other platforms. However, that's not going to come up anytime soon. Instead, there's a bit of a wait for it.

Starborn DLC Would Be The Ideal Time For Starfield To Release On PS5

Starfield With All Its Expansions

Releasing Starfield on PlayStation 5 at the same time as the big Starborn expansion could be a great move for Microsoft, Bethesda, and players. By making the game available on PlayStation 5, Microsoft would reach a larger audience, likely boosting sales and revenue. Since a lot of money went into making Starfield, getting it into more hands is essential for further success. It would also help improve Microsoft's Game subscription because Starfield is a flagship game for the service, making more players consider the benefits of subscribing or moving to Xbox.

It can be argued that Starfield isn't ready for PlayStation, but a content-complete version released on PS5 after the Starborn DLC drops would be an enticing product. Bethesda has a lot to gain from releasing the game on PS5 as well. It would tap into a large group of eager players who wanted to try out Starfield. This is especially good because Bethesda has been improving the game, meaning more players would have a good first impression of it. This would add more voices to those who say the game isn't as bad as some claim.

Why Starfield On PlayStation Just Makes Sense

Starfield Shouldn't Be An Exclusive

Bethesda being an exclusive developer doesn't make much sense. Oblivion was the first Bethesda game on PlayStation, but since then, Bethesda has not played favorites. The company has seen a lot of success with its games because players are able to access them on whatever console they prefer. Limiting Starfield likely hurt sales, because only those on Xbox and PC could play the game.

Exclusives work as a way of advertising a console, but Bethesda's RPGs have very broad appeal. At the time of Starfield's launch, Microsoft may have seen the game as a system seller, but with Xbox's poor console sales, giving games a wider release makes sense as the company shifts strategy. If your market is only as big as those who own the console, then that's all you can expect.

A good example of a publisher that does this well is Nintendo, which has so many first-party games that they have become synonymous with the company's platforms. Whether that is good or bad is a matter of opinion, and since the company has done well, it's hard to say it's not doing something correctly.

Starfield was initially expected to be a game that would be on both Xbox and PlayStation, given Bethesda hadn't been acquired by Microsoft yet. It likely came as a disappointment to PlayStation loyalists when Starfield pivoted to an Xbox console-exclusive release. If you don't own an Xbox, you can't play Bethesda's newest games. My love of Bethesda games was a big part of my decision to buy an Xbox. This is my opinion, but the thought of Starfield becoming available to PlayStation owners makes a lot of sense.

A coordinated announcement from Sony and Xbox would be a really smart move for Starfield. It would make sure that everyone gets the message, and it would likely lead to a lot of pre-orders on PlayStation. The best way to maximize visibility in the gaming market is to make sure everyone knows, so PlayStation owners should get ready for a Starfield announcement soon.

Sources: Save State Plus/Patreon (via IGN), GameSpot