Starfield's $300 Constellation Edition doesn't include a disc - Update
Bethesda's support account responded to a curious fan, and may have revealed that Starfield won't be getting a physical release.
26th Jun 2023 11:22
Images courtesy of Bethesda
Starfield's $300 Constellation Edition doesn't include a disc - Update
Bethesda's support account responded to a curious fan, and may have revealed that Starfield won't be getting a physical release.
26th Jun 2023 11:22
Images courtesy of Bethesda
Update:
Bethesda's Spanish Twitter account appears to have contradicted yesterday's tweet from the Support account, noting that the standard edition will include a disc, but the Constellation Edition will not.
“Hello partners! It depends on the edition,” the translated tweet says.
“For example, the standard has a disc, while the Constellation Edition has a code engraved on a collector's item.”
Original story follows:
We've had a great year of games so far, and we're only just over halfway through 2023. Between Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Diablo 4, and Final Fantasy XVI, there's one thing all of those titles have in common.
Aside from high Metacritic scores, they also all had physical releases, but as we look towards the blockbuster Microsoft is hoping may salvage its year after the disappointing Redfall, it appears Starfield may end up ditching the disc.
Starfield may launch without a physical disc
In a now-deleted tweet from Bethesda's Support account, the publisher's response to a fan asking if the game's physical standard edition for Xbox Series X would come with a disc.
"Hello! All physical editions include a code for the chosen platform," the tweet explained. "There are no physical discs."
The tweet may be gone, but given the likes of Alan Wake 2 will launch without discs to keep costs down and the game at a lower price point, surely Bethesda and Microsoft can spring for a physical release for the game expected to dominate the talk around 2023's holiday period?
As it happens, that may not be the case, with the wording of the tweet (notably the "all physical editions" part) suggesting that even those that spring for the $299.99/£249.99 Constellation Edition of Starfield will still need to download the entire thing.
Fans have already tweeted their disappointment, and while many are likely to play Starfield through Xbox Game Pass, it's still a shame for those hoping to buy the most expensive version of the game.
Perhaps we shouldn't be surprised given how prevalent digital media is, but in the interest of preservation, it's a blow. So many games are lost to the mists of time without physical versions, including the Pokemon franchise, and even entire portions of ongoing games like Destiny 2's Red War campaign.
Starfield launches on Xbox Series S|X and PC on September 6, 2023.
About The Author
Lloyd Coombes
Lloyd is GGRecon's Editor-in-Chief, having previously worked at Dexerto and Gfinity, and occasionally appears in The Daily Star newspaper. A big fan of loot-based games including Destiny 2 and Diablo 4, when he's not working you'll find him at the gym or trying to play Magic The Gathering.
