Starfield Faces Slow Sales on PS5
- Analyst reports Starfield's PS5 sales at 140,000 copies
- Long-term viability of Xbox's delayed releases is questioned
- Starfield may struggle to cover its significant development costs
Starfield's sales on PlayStation 5 have been described as "lukewarm," sparking concerns over Microsoft’s strategy to release its games on competing platforms after an initial rollout on Xbox and PC. Analyst Rhys Elliott from Alinea Analytics reports that the RPG sold approximately 140,000 copies within a week of its PS5 launch, raising eyebrows considering its status as a major title for Bethesda.
While this performance would be acceptable for many other ports, it falls short of expectations for a flagship title. Elliott emphasizes that Starfield's PS5 sales underscore doubts about the sustainability of Xbox’s delayed multi-platform release model, especially since other games like Forza Horizon 5 have outperformed it since their launches.
Despite the anticipated revenue generation, there are concerns whether Starfield has recouped its substantial development costs, with estimates suggesting revenue across all platforms has exceeded $300 million, which may not suffice given Bethesda's investment.