Sales for Starfield’s first DLC were apparently so bad that Microsoft is holding back the PS5 port until 2026.
There is something sadly tragic about Microsoft buying Bethesda to secure its then upcoming sci-fi epic Starfield as an Xbox exclusive (something Xbox boss Phil Spencer admitted to), only for the game to be far less well received than The Elder Scrolls or Fallout.
Since Starfield’s launch, Microsoft has pivoted to porting its exclusives to other platforms and while it’s not been formally confirmed, it’s widely rumoured that Starfield will follow suit and come to PlayStation 5 eventually.
It feels like a safe assumption when even established Xbox franchises like Gears Of War are announced for PlayStation formats and the newest rumour claims Starfield was meant to appear on Sony’s console this year, but has since been delayed.
According to MP1st, part of the reason for the delay was because of how poorly Starfield’s first DLC expansion, Shattered Space, sold when it launched last October.
While there are no official sales figures for the expansion, it reviewed even worse than the base game and user reviews on Steam remain mostly negative.
Apparently, the plan now is to release Starfield on PlayStation 5 in spring 2026, alongside the game’s second expansion (as a reminder, Bethesda has promised new DLC every year) and new quality-of-life updates.
Expert, exclusive gaming analysis
Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning.
This would be a sensible move. While Starfield’s middling reputation has no doubt decreased PlayStation 5 owners’ excitement for the game, a higher quality expansion and updates could make it more appealing and potentially give it a second wind.
However, a spring 2026 window is worryingly close to GTA 6, the most anticipated game of the year that’s scheduled to launch on May 26.
If Microsoft doesn’t want Starfield’s PlayStation 5 port to be overshadowed, it’ll need to get it out as early as possible in March. After all, GTA 6 is such a huge release that other publishers are actively trying to avoid launching their games around the same time.
Just last year, Xbox’s president of gaming content Matt Booty admitted the looming presence of GTA 6 was a factor for why several Xbox exclusives, like Perfect Dark, lacked firm release dates.
‘I think many across the industry are of course going to plan around GTA 6,’ he said, adding it was also to make sure ‘we don’t step on ourselves,’ noting Microsoft has a ‘big portfolio.’
Although those comments haven’t aged well, as several games, including Perfect Dark, were cancelled as part of Microsoft’s last wave of layoffs.
It is entirely possible GTA 6 will be delayed again (something publishers are worried could happen), but that’s not something you’d want to bet on if you were a rival publisher.
Email gamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter.
To submit Inbox letters and Reader’s Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here.
For more stories like this, check our Gaming page.