10 years in the making, Bethesda's sci-fi RPG Starfield has finally landed, and while the game is only sold on Xbox and PC, those aren't the only platforms where the game is playable right now. Thanks in part to Xbox Game Pass, Starfield is actually available across a wide variety of devices, so you don't even need a console--let alone a beefy PC--to play the ambitious spacefaring game. You will, however, need a controller of some type to play Starfield.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers automatically get access to cloud gaming, which opens up a host possibilities for where and how they can play Starfield. This is all part of Microsoft's ambition to think beyond the console as it looks to the future.
One benefit of playing Starfield over the cloud is that there is no local download required, and players are always updated to the latest version of the game. The game does not run locally but on outside servers, so Starfield can be played on the phone you might have in your pocket right now. And it should boot up near instantly, again, without any local download required.
Something to keep in mind, though, is that a strong and consistent internet connection is necessary for cloud gaming to be at its best. Also worth considering is whether or not you have a data cap because streaming takes up a good amount of bandwidth. Streaming might also not be the optimal experience for Starfield in terms of imagine quality and latency, in case those are important factors for you.
Starfield was reportedly originally in development for PlayStation and might have been exclusive to Sony's console like Bethesda's Ghostwire: Tokyo and Deathloop were at launch. Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer said when Microsoft caught wind that Starfield could be exclusive to PlayStation, this drove him to pursue an acquisition of ZeniMax and Bethesda.
Play Starfield on your phone or tablet
Anyone with an Android or iOS phone can play Starfield via the cloud. Players need the Xbox Game Pass mobile app on Android, and from there, they can play anything in the Game Pass catalog that supports cloud gaming. Android users need to run OS 6.0 or newer, and iOS must be updated to 14.4. The iOS version, meanwhile, brings you to a browser to stream Starfield and other games.
iPads are supported, too, provided they are updated to version 14.4 or newer. Android tablets work as well, as long as they're updated to 6.0.
Play Starfield on your TV without an Xbox
Microsoft and Samsung have partnered up to allow Game Pass Ultimate subscribers to play Starfield through the Samsung Gaming Hub. This is supported on 2022 and 2023 Samsung TVs, as well as monitors and the Freestyle 2nd Gen portable projector.
2020 and 2021 Samsung TVs also support Starfield through the Xbox app. In fact, support for 2020 model Samsung TVs was just added today, September 6, for the launch of Starfield.
Samsung TVs support standard Xbox wireless controllers, as well as PlayStation's DualSense and DualSense Edge gamepads. The Xbox Adaptive controller is supported as well, as is Amazon's Luna controller, the Nvidia Shield controller, newer Logitech controllers, and many more. You can see a list of supported devices on Samsung's website. Samsung also supports the Amazon Luna virtual controller, which is free to download.
Play Starfield on Steam Deck
Valve's handheld device, the Steam Deck, supports Xbox cloud gaming, and that means it supports Starfield. It's not the most intuitive to get started, however. You can read GameSpot's in-depth, step-by-step guide for how to get Xbox Game Pass running on Steam Deck to play Starfield.
Play Starfield on PlayStation Portal?
Sony's PlayStation Portal streaming device isn't the the first device that comes to mind when you think about Starfield, but many are theorizing that Starfield might actually work on the device. The $200 device reportedly runs on a version of Android. While it might not be simple or straightforward--or even allowed in the terms of use--you can imagine modders might find a way to get Starfield running through the Game Pass app for Android. Again, nothing is confirmed here, but modders are known for simply... finding a way.
Now that Starfield is in the hands of players, people are making major discoveries, like how having sex every day is a good way to level up and how to print infinite money. It's also been discovered that Starfield has really good potato physics. For more, check out GameSpot's Starfield guides hub, and take a look at the gallery below to see Starfield's best weapons and learn how to get them.
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