Starfield release date is still first half of 2023, despite glaring absence at Xbox show

Let’s just cut to the chase. What is it? Starfield delayed?

Officially, no. And to be fair to Microsoft and Bethesda Game Studios, they already told us we wouldn’t be hearing anything out of Todd Howard’s next epic role-playing game during Wednesday’s Developer Direct showcase. There’s going to be a stand-alone showcase for StarfieldAt some point. It’s still one hell of an elephant not in the room, especially if two of the four games shown — Redfall The Elder Scrolls Online’s Necrom expansion — are big Bethesda projects launching in May and June, respectively. It doesn’t seem likely that Bethesda would want to cannibalize interest in those projects (or StarfieldYou can pack that game in a May- or June release window.

Keep in mind that Microsoft wrote an IOU last June to its fans during the Xbox and Bethesda Showcase, promising that they would continue their work. Starfield This game would be one of many highly anticipated titles launching during the first half 2023. It will also be accessible the same day as Xbox Game Pass subscribers, and, like first-party games.

The updates we got Wednesday from Xbox and Bethesda on Wednesday show that the first half of Microsoft’s 2023 game calendar now looks like this:

• April 18 — Minecraft Legends
• May 2 — Redfall
• June 20 — Online Necrom: The Elder Scrolls Online
• TBA 2023 — Forza Motorsport

Unless the Xbox folks have a surprise shadow drop, à la Tango Gameworks’ Hi-Fi RushPlanned Starfield — which would seem ill-advised — the sci-fi RPG’s release is starting to feel slippery. (As it is Forza’s; Microsoft and Turn 10 seem unwilling to recommit to a first-half-of-2023 window for their racing game.)

All the latest information regarding Starfield’s launch came last May, in which Bethesda told fans that it had been pushed to a first-half of 2023 launch window (along with Redfall.) Microsoft, during last year’s E3-adjacent summer showcase, made a big deal out of telling fans all the things they wanted to play would arrive by the first half of 2023. Starfield implimented to be one.

In November, Howard, Bethesda Game Studios’ creative director, spoke with podcaster Lex Fridman about Starfield And the hard decision to put off the game’s launch in November 2022, and to give it a slightly longer window of time.

“I wish it was soon,” Howard said. “We want it out, too. And I wish they didn’t take as long as they did. But, they do.”

We’ve asked Xbox and Bethesda representatives if Starfield It should not be treated as delayed. It’s doubtful they’ll want to comment on that, but if they do, we’ll be sure to update it here.