In 2024, Starfield was most worth playing if you wanted a sprawling, customizable Bethesda-style role-playing game and were happy to let exploration unfold at a slower pace. By its first anniversary, it had gained new traversal and map features, gameplay options, creator-made content, and its first story expansion. Those additions made the game more flexible, but they did not turn it into a constant stream of action or discoveries.
This is a look back at the choice facing players in 2024. A clearly labeled note near the end covers what changed afterward.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Starfield: Standard Edition - Xbox Series X | $48.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
![Starfield (Standard Edition) [Xbox Series X]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51H0Hjwc50L._SL160_.jpg)
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Starfield (Standard Edition) [Xbox Series X] | $59.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Starfield | Premium Upgrade | Xbox Series X|S & Windows Digital | $34.99 | Buy on Amazon |
What changed in Starfield during 2024?
Starfield received several meaningful additions during its first year. They expanded how players could travel, tailor gameplay, and access new content, though they should not be mistaken for a complete redesign.
June: Creations and bounty-hunting systems
Bethesda’s June 9, 2024 update added Creations, new Trackers Alliance missions, bounty scanning, melee weapon tiers, and ammunition crafting. Bethesda described Creations as a way to add content such as missions, gear, skins, and weapons; it also announced a separate Creation Kit download on Steam for people who wanted to make content. The announcement does not establish that every Creation was free or that the experience was identical on every platform. Bethesda’s June update notes
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#1 Best Overall
- Start your journey by customizing your appearance and deciding your Background and Traits
- Venture through the stars and explore more than 1000 planets
- Pilot and command the ship of your dreams.
September: A vehicle, better maps, and more options
On September 27, Bethesda highlighted the REV-8 land vehicle, more detailed surface maps with points of interest, vendor markers in cities, expanded gameplay options, and Starfield Creations. For Xbox Series X|S, Bethesda said players could prioritize performance or visuals, with settings allowing up to 60 fps. It recommended a 120-Hz display with VRR for a 40-fps target with visual priority. This is Bethesda’s dated console guidance, not an independent performance test or a guarantee that every setup will hold a particular frame rate. Bethesda’s September 27 announcement
September 30: The first story expansion
Shattered Space, Starfield’s first story expansion, launched on September 30, 2024. It takes players to the handcrafted home world of House Va’ruun. The same update included fixes for quests, the REV-8, ship building, and other areas; the published notes do not establish that it overhauled every aspect of the game. The expansion was announced for Xbox Series X|S and PC, and it is optional content rather than a prerequisite for playing the base game. Bethesda’s September 30 update notes
Rank #2
- Includes: Starfield Standard Edition (Disc)
- Travel to the stars in this next-gen RPG from the award-winning creators of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Fallout 4
- Create a character according to your imagination and explore the endless expanses in unparalleled freedom
- The goal of this epic journey? The answer to humanity's greatest question
Who is Starfield a good fit for?
Play if you enjoy role-playing and customization
Starfield is a stronger fit if you like building a character, shaping how they approach situations, and spending time in a large science-fiction setting. The official PlayStation description emphasizes character choice and exploration, while Bethesda’s 2024 updates added more ways to adjust gameplay and survival systems. Together, those features suit players who want room to set their own pace and style. PlayStation’s official Starfield page
Think twice if you need constant action
Starfield’s slower, more contemplative approach to space will not suit everyone. A 2025 GamesRadar+ retrospective described the setting as embracing the idea that space can be “pretty boring,” and argued that players who need constant stimulation may struggle with it. That is one writer’s interpretation, not a measured consensus or a statement by Bethesda. GamesRadar+’s 2025 retrospective
Rank #3
- TELL YOUR STORY - In Starfield the most important story is the one you tell with your character. Start your journey by customizing your appearance and deciding your Background and Traits. Will you be an experienced explorer, a charming diplomat, a stealthy cyber runner, or something else entirely? The choice is yours. Decide who you will be and what you will become.
- EXPLORE OUTER SPACE - Venture through the stars and explore more than 1000 planets. Navigate bustling cities, explore dangerous bases, and traverse wild landscapes. Meet and recruit a memorable cast of characters, join in the adventures of various factions, and embark on quests across the Settled Systems. A new story or experience is always waiting to be discovered.
- CAPTAIN THE SHIP OF YOUR DREAMS - Pilot and command the ship of your dreams. Personalize the look of your ship, modify critical systems including weapons and shields, and assign crew members to provide unique bonuses. In deep space you will engage in high-stakes dogfights, encounter random missions, dock at star stations, and even board and commandeer enemy ships to add to your collection.
- DISCOVER, COLLECT, BUILD - Explore planets and discover the fauna, flora, and resources needed to craft everything from medicine and food to equipment and weapons. Build outposts and hire a crew to passively extract materials and establish cargo links to transfer resources between them. Invest these raw materials into research projects to unlock unique crafting recipes.
- LOCK AND LOAD - Space can be a dangerous place. A refined combat system gives you the tools to deal with any situation. Whether you prefer long-range rifles, laser weapons, or demolitions, each weapon type can be modified to complement your playstyle. Zero G environments add a chaotic spectacle to combat, while boost packs give players freedom to maneuver like never before.
What could you play it on in 2024?
For the one-year-later decision, Bethesda’s 2024 announcements covered Xbox Series X|S and PC. Do not apply later platform availability retroactively: PlayStation’s blog dates Starfield’s PS5 release to April 7, 2026. Its current PS5 page identifies Bethesda Softworks as publisher and describes the game, but it does not establish current prices, stock, editions, or physical formats.
What changed after the 2024 snapshot?
Later availability: Starfield reached PS5 on April 7, 2026, according to PlayStation’s launch announcement. That belongs to the game’s later history, not the options a player had around its first anniversary. PlayStation.Blog’s PS5 launch announcement
Quick Recap
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