Starfield's PlayStation 5 arrival is already showing cracks. The space exploration game has tumbled to £36.99 at Amazon UK, a dramatic markdown from its £44.99launch price just weeks after hitting the platform.
The price drop mirrors broader stumbles. Early sales figures are underwhelming. Analyst Rhys Elliott of Alinea Analytics reported the game shifted around 140,000 copies in its first week on PS5, a figure he characterized as "lukewarm." The contrast raises questions about Microsoft's strategy of porting flagship titles to PlayStation years after their Xbox exclusivity window closes. Forza Horizon 5, by comparison, has sold an estimated 5.7 million copies on PS5 since arriving in April 2025, despite launching more than three years behind its Xbox version.
Technical problems compound the soft launch. Bethesda acknowledged crash reports on PS5 and promised a hotfix. Beyond those initial warnings, players have documented freezes, crashes, and save data corruption affecting both standard and Pro hardware. Some have hit progression-blocking bugs within days of release.
The combination of aggressive discounting and technical friction creates an odd position for potential buyers. At current pricing, Starfield becomes tempting. But early adopters hoping for a stable, premium experience at full price face real risk.
Author Emily Chen: "This is the price of delay and poor execution hitting simultaneously, and it's hard to imagine Microsoft is pleased with either metric right now."
Comments