Full Breakdown
Starfield's Sales Performance Raises Questions About Microsoft's Strategy
4/16/2026, 1:19:14 AM
Overview of Sales Performance
Starfield, the highly anticipated RPG from Bethesda, has experienced what analysts describe as "lukewarm" sales on the PlayStation 5 (PS5). According to Rhys Elliott of Alinea Analytics, the game sold approximately 140,000 copies on PS5 within a week of its launch. This figure is notably lower than expected for a title of its stature, especially considering that it is the first major Bethesda RPG in a decade. In contrast, the Xbox version of Starfield reportedly sold over 1 million copies, despite the potential impact of Game Pass on sales.
Financial Implications and Comparisons
Elliott estimates that Starfield has generated over $300 million in revenue across all platforms since its release. This figure includes an additional 55,000 copies sold on Steam following the launch of the Free Lanes update, contributing approximately $2.3 million to its revenue. However, Elliott suggests that these numbers may not meet the expectations set by Bethesda's budget and the game's decade-long development cycle. He posits that Starfield has likely just broken even financially.
For context, Playground Games' Forza Horizon 5, which launched on PS5 three and a half years after its Xbox release, sold an estimated 5.7 million copies, generating $320 million in revenue. This comparison raises questions about the effectiveness of Microsoft's strategy of delaying multiplatform releases, as Starfield's performance on PS5 has not matched that of other titles.
Criticism of Microsoft's Strategy
Elliott's analysis prompts a reevaluation of Microsoft's approach to game releases. He notes that if Starfield had launched simultaneously on PS5 alongside Xbox and PC, its sales figures might have been significantly higher. The delayed release strategy, particularly for a title with such a long development history, has led to concerns about the long-term viability of this model. Elliott highlights that the recently released Crimson Desert is projected to surpass Starfield's lifetime sales by the end of 2026, having already sold 5 million copies.
Official Statements & Responses
Bethesda has not publicly disclosed specific sales figures for Starfield on any platform, leaving analysts and fans to speculate about the game's commercial success. Microsoft's recent trend has been to release games on PS5 concurrently with Xbox and PC, although exceptions exist, such as the upcoming Forza Horizon 6, which will launch on Xbox and PC first.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
While Elliott's estimates provide a clear picture of Starfield's performance, there is a lack of official confirmation from Bethesda regarding the game's total sales across all platforms. Additionally, the impact of Game Pass on Xbox sales remains a topic of debate, with some analysts suggesting it may have cannibalized potential sales.
Verbatim Quotes
“Still, Starfield's lukewarm PS5 sales obviously raise questions about the long-term viability of Xbox's delayed multiplatform releases (Starfield came to PS5 2.5 years after Xbox/Steam).” — Rhys Elliott, Alinea Analytics
“In the context of a Bethesda budget and a decade-long development cycle, Starfield has likely barely broken even,” — Rhys Elliott, Alinea Analytics
“Ironically, this wouldn’t be true if Starfield had launched day-and-date on PS5 and had not been on Game Pass on Xbox and PC,” — Rhys Elliott, Alinea Analytics
