The gaming landscape has evolved with the advent of Game Pass, but it’s still intriguing to look back and gauge how Starfield’s launch measures up against Bethesda Game Studios’ (BGS) previous iconic titles.
After an extensive development cycle, Bethesda Game Studios has finally released its highly anticipated sci-fi RPG, Starfield. The game’s launch has been nothing short of spectacular, with impressive statistics to boot. As of September 7, the game has already drawn in a whopping 6 million players, and it boasts an impressive 1 million concurrent users.
While these numbers are undeniably impressive, it’s only natural to compare them to the launch figures of BGS’s previous juggernauts, such as The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Fallout 4, and Fallout 76. However, it’s important to note that the gaming landscape has shifted significantly. The introduction of Game Pass means that players can now access titles through a subscription model instead of purchasing them outright. Furthermore, Bethesda is now under Microsoft’s ownership, which has resulted in Starfield exclusively being available on Xbox consoles, unlike Skyrim, Fallout 4, and Fallout 76, which were multiplatform releases.
With these important distinctions in mind, let’s delve into how Starfield’s launch compares to the three aforementioned BGS releases.
Starfield
On September 6, Starfield officially launched for everyone, following a pre-release period for early adopters. Impressively, the game achieved 1 million concurrent players on its launch day, spanning all available platforms, including PC, console, and cloud gaming. This accomplishment is noteworthy as only a few games have managed to surpass the 1 million concurrent player milestone. For context, as of today, only one game, CS: GO, has achieved more than 1 million concurrent players on Steam.
When it comes to sales figures, it’s a bit more complex. Microsoft and Bethesda have yet to disclose specific sales numbers for Starfield. However, it was revealed on September 7 that the game had amassed a player base of 6 million since its launch. This figure presumably encompasses everyone who played Starfield from its initial availability on August 31 for the $100 Premium Edition and $300 Constellation Edition through September 7. It’s important to note that Starfield is accessible through Xbox Game Pass, allowing subscribers to enjoy the game without any additional cost.
Players who dived into Starfield between August 31 and September 5 had the option to purchase a copy, as Microsoft also offered a $35 upgrade for Game Pass members, granting early access starting on August 31.
Whether Bethesda or Microsoft will officially disclose concrete sales figures for Starfield remains uncertain. Microsoft has indicated that Starfield’s value lies in its potential to attract new Game Pass subscribers, focusing on engagement metrics rather than traditional sales numbers. With the rise of Game Pass, the gaming industry’s paradigm has indeed undergone a transformation.
Fallout 76
Before Starfield, Bethesda Game Studios’ previous release was Fallout 76 in 2018. Initially, the game received mixed critical reception, but Bethesda did not disclose sales figures for the online title. The NPD, however, revealed that Fallout 76 ranked as the fourth best-selling game in the United States during its launch month in November 2018, following behind Battlefield V, Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, and Red Dead Redemption 2. Notably, this ranking considered only physical sales, as Bethesda did not share digital sales data with the NPD, now known as Circana, making Fallout 76’s achievement even more remarkable.
Over the years, Bethesda continuously improved and supported Fallout 76, and by the end of 2022, the game had attracted over 13.5 million players. While it may not have sold as many copies, this player base is a commendable achievement in its own right.
Fallout 4
Delving deeper into BGS’s history, we encounter Fallout 4, released in 2015, which experienced a colossal launch. Bethesda proudly announced shipping 12 million copies globally on launch day alone, representing sales exceeding $750 million. For comparison, Rockstar’s GTA V generated $800 million in revenue during its first 24 hours in 2013. It took the 2023 hit Hogwarts Legacy two weeks to reach the 12 million copies sold milestone.
The Fallout series continues to expand, with the upcoming Fallout TV show from the creators of Westworld and the highly anticipated Fallout 5 on the horizon.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
In 2011, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim burst onto the scene, selling 3.5 million copies within its first 48 hours and surpassing 7 million copies within its first week. On Skyrim’s launch day, the game also boasted more than 280,000 concurrent players on Steam.
Skyrim has remained BGS’s most beloved and enduring title to date. It has impressively sold 60 million copies, securing its place among the top 10 best-selling games in history.
The game’s enduring success has even become something of a cultural phenomenon. Game director Todd Howard humorously remarked in 2018, “If you want us to stop releasing it, stop buying it.” Although the player base may have tapered off in recent years, thousands of gamers still explore the world of Skyrim on a daily basis, especially on Steam.
As BGS shifts its focus toward the next installment in The Elder Scrolls series, The Elder Scrolls VI, which is currently in active development but still years away from release, the legacy of Skyrim continues to cast a long shadow.
