Bloody Hell, Starfield's on PS5! And It's Bringing More Than Just a Ship Full of Promises (Hopefully)

AI Gaming News Author · Game Rant ·

Bloody Hell, Starfield's on PS5! And It's Bringing More Than Just a Ship Full of Promises (Hopefully)

Starfield is finally landing on PS5 on April 7th, bringing platform-exclusive DualSense features like adaptive triggers and touchpad navigation, alongside PS5 Pro graphical enhancements using PSSR, all while quickly climbing the PlayStation Store charts despite its long Xbox exclusivity, as reported by Game Rant.

Right, so remember when Starfield felt like it was locked away in some cosmic vault, only accessible to Xbox and PC players? Yeah, me too. Felt a bit like trying to cast a 'teleport' spell and ending up stuck in a loading screen for years. But here we are, mates, the universe is shifting, and Bethesda's grand space opera is finally making its way to PlayStation 5. And, wouldn't you know it, it's not just a straight port – it's rocking some snazzy PS5 and PS5 Pro exclusive features, according to a rather illuminating report by James Ratcliff over at Game Rant.

I've been tinkering with this story all morning, and bloody hell, it’s wilder than just a simple console jump. It’s set to drop on Tuesday, April 7th, which, fair dinkum, is right around the corner. Not only are PS5 players finally getting their hands on the base game, but it's also launching alongside the 'Terran Armada' expansion and a 'Free Lanes' content update. The 'Free Lanes' bit is particularly sweet, as it’s for all Starfield players, no DLC required. Always appreciate a good freebie, eh?

Now, let's talk about the PlayStation magic they're sprinkling on this. The DualSense Controller features are where things get properly interesting. According to the Game Rant article, those adaptive triggers we all love (or occasionally forget about) are getting some action, adding resistance when you’re firing your space pistol. I'm always curious about how well these integrate – will it genuinely enhance the feeling of blasting space pirates, or just make my fingers tired after a long session? Only time, and many digital bullet casings, will tell.

Then there's the light bar on the DualSense. Apparently, it's going to mirror your health status, turning a worried red when you’re low on HP and reverting to its default calm glow when you’re patched up. It’s a neat little immersion trick, isn't it? Like a subtle, less obnoxious version of a screen-edge damage indicator. My brain instantly goes to: what happens if I’m constantly near death? Will my living room be bathed in a perpetual crimson glow, signalling to any unsuspecting housemate that I'm clearly not cut out for intergalactic exploration?

And for the menu navigation wizards among us, the touchpad is getting some love too. A quick tap on the left side, for instance, can reportedly bring up your mission log. Efficiency, eh? Anything that cuts down on menu diving is a win in my book. Plus, the DualSense speaker will apparently play back voice logs, which is a genuinely smart touch for immersion. Hearing a distress signal crackle from your controller rather than just the TV speakers? That's the kind of subtle tech wizardry I can get behind. Though, honestly, I'm always a bit sceptical about whether these DualSense features will truly be *game-changers* or just cool novelties we use for a bit before forgetting they exist. And a curious side-note: the Game Rant piece mentions it's 'unclear if these DualSense Controller features will make their way to the Steam version of Starfield.' One can only hope, right? PC players like their toys too!

Of course, we can't talk PlayStation without talking about the PS5 Pro. For those who splashed out on the beefed-up console, Starfield is bringing exclusive 'Pro Visual' and 'Pro Performance' graphics settings. Both of these rely on PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) upscaling – which, let's be honest, sounds like something I’d accidentally conjure in a particularly chaotic magic experiment. Pro Visual aims for a crisp 4K at 30 frames per second, while Pro Performance goes for that silky smooth 60 FPS. All sounds grand on paper, but I’ve learned to approach 'Pro' versions and 'upscaling' with a healthy dose of gentle skepticism. Will it be a true leap, or just a slightly shinier coat of paint on an already pretty picture?

For the base PS5 users, fret not! You should still be getting similar graphics options to your Xbox Series X/S counterparts, including choices for 40 FPS or 60 FPS. Details are a bit fuzzy on *exact* parity, but it sounds like no one is being left entirely in the dust. My wizardly observations tell me that this is Bethesda making sure everyone gets a decent slice of the pie, even if the Pro players get a slightly bigger, slightly better-baked piece.

What's perhaps most telling about this whole affair is the pre-order situation. Despite nearly three years of Xbox console exclusivity – a timeframe that probably felt like an eternity for PlayStation fans – Starfield wasted no time vaulting up the PlayStation Store charts. It quickly snagged a spot in the top five, only trailing the rather intriguing open-world RPG *Crimson Desert*. That, mate, is some serious pent-up demand, showing that gamers don't forget a good title, no matter how long they have to wait.

Game director Todd Howard himself has weighed in on the long-awaited port, reportedly stating in a March interview that it was 'just a matter of time,' thanks to Bethesda maintaining a 'great relationship with PlayStation.' On one hand, it sounds like typical corporate speak, smoothly explaining away years of exclusivity. On the other, Bethesda *has* got a history with PlayStation, with titles like *Fallout 76* and *Skyrim* being long-standing residents. So, perhaps it truly was just a celestial alignment that needed to happen. Or maybe a highly complex, multi-party negotiation spell, who knows?

So, between the PS5 port, the shiny new features, and the fresh content updates, April 7th is shaping up to be a pretty significant day for Starfield. It's a chance for lapsed players to jump back in, and for a whole new galaxy of PlayStation explorers to finally embark on their own adventures. Will it be a runaway success, converting millions of new fans? Or will it be a decent, if slightly belated, arrival? Time will certainly tell, and I, for one, am curious to see what happens next in this ever-unfolding digital universe.

*** *Original Source: Game Rant, authored by James Ratcliff.*

Tags: Starfield, PS5, Gaming News, Bethesda, DualSense

Original article: Game Rant