Bethesda’s space-based role-playing game, Starfield, has won gamers’ hearts and set new records, as revealed in a recent Microsoft conference call. The game has attracted over 11 million players so far. Interestingly, almost half of the total gameplay hours come from PC users. This is not to mention the surge in Game Pass subscriptions, which hit a record high on the day of Starfield’s release.
According to Satya Nadella, Microsoft’s CEO, the game has successfully pulled in a broad audience. Although specific sales numbers are yet to be unveiled, Starfield was the second-best-selling game in the UK for September. In the United States, the game holds the seventh best-selling title year-to-date.
One of the most notable facts about Starfield’s success is the significant role played by the PC gaming community. Nearly half of the total gameplay hours are logged on PCs. This could indicate a broader trend of PC gaming holding its own against console gaming, or perhaps it just speaks to the kind of detailed, expansive world that Starfield offers, a world often best experienced with the high-level graphics and processing power that PCs can provide.
Starfield also made waves by setting a new record for Game Pass subscriptions on its launch day. While exact numbers haven’t been released, this surge indicates the game’s wide-ranging appeal and perhaps the popularity of Microsoft’s subscription service.
The game isn’t resting on its laurels. Bethesda has announced plans for future updates and improvements and full mod support. Moreover, downloadable content (DLC) is in the works, with an expansion titled ‘Shattered Space’ coming up, though a release date has yet to be confirmed.