Starfield trailer confirms Xbox exclusive console release in 2022

A new trailer for Bethesda Softworks‘ Starfield debuted during the Xbox and Bethesda Showcase on Sunday, confirming that the long-awaited sci-fi title will release on November 11, 2022 and be a console exclusive to Xbox Series X|S.

The game will also release on PC, via the cloud, and will be available via Game Pass on release day.

Starfield is the next big RPG from the creator of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, originally announced in June 2018 with a teaser trailer, following which director Todd Howard said it was a game he’s wanted to make “for a very, very long time.”

“Starfield is the first new universe in 25 years from Bethesda Game Studios, the award-winning creators of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Fallout 4,” Bethesda said on Sunday.

“In this next generation role-playing game set amongst the stars, create any character you want and explore with unparalleled freedom. Harnessing the power of next-gen technology and built on the all-new Creation Engine 2, Starfield takes you on a journey through space as you strive to answer humanity’s greatest mystery.”

Nothing had been seen of the game since, and at 2019’s E3 show the game’s director asked fans to be “very patient” in regards to the next unveiling of Starfield.

The release plans for Bethesda Softworks’ upcoming projects have been a major talking point since Microsoft announced its acquisition of ZeniMax Media for $7.5 billion.

Even PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan has seemed as keen as anyone to know if PlayStation fans will get to play future Bethesda games.

Xbox boss Phil Spencer has said Microsoft would honour existing PS5 exclusivity agreements Bethesda has in place for games like Deathloop and Ghostwire: Tokyo. For future Bethesda games, Spencer said “we’ll take other consoles on a case-by-case basis.”

In November, Xbox CFO Tim Stuart said Microsoft wants future Bethesda games to be “either first or better or best” on Xbox platforms.