Regarding next-gen gaming, 4K resolution, ray-tracing, and frame rates come to the top of the list for gamers. While many prefer 4K resolutions and ray tracing enhancements, there are those who swear by frame rates. Starfield for Xbox players will sadly not be 60 FPS, Bethesda has made that clear.
That is until a recent bending of the rules by Xbox themselves popped out of the woodwork. Starfield could see 60 FPS on Xbox after all, well, for Xbox Series X, at least.
The Xbox Problem
Microsoft made the purchase of Bethesda via their buyout of ZeniMax, Bethesda's parent company. This means Starfield, and likely most Bethesda games, will be Xbox exclusives. Great for Xbox owners but not so much for those over on PlayStation.
Starfield will be on both Series S and Series X consoles; after all, Xbox has said time and time again the Series S is a next-gen console. This goes against public opinion and even that of some developers. So naturally, people began to voice their concerns about the Series S holding back developers because Xbox requires parity of games with the Series X version.
Phil Spencer, during an interview with Giant Bomb, said the following regarding Starfield not running at 60 FPS on console:
"We obviously have games that are running at 4K/60 on the platform. It’s not a platform issue; it’s a creative decision. I trust the decisions Bethesda Game Studios makes, and I trust what I'm playing."
When Starfield was announced to be locked at 30 FPS on console due to Bethesda seeing 4K with ray tracing as a creative choice, fans started to question the statement. Why question this, you ask? Well, because the PC version is not locked to 30 FPS, and the Series X could indeed match the specs required to see the game come with a performance mode allowing for higher frame rates on a lower resolution.
Baldur's Gate 3 To The Rescue
Baldur's Gate 3 is set to release for the PlayStation 5 on September 2 after a successful launch on PC. The Xbox version will not, with no confirmed release date at the time of writing, Baldur's Gate 3 for Xbox will apparently still launch in 2023. So what has this got to do with Starfield running at 60 FPS on Xbox? Let us explain.
Once again, fans assumed the Series S was holding back another huge title due to Xbox requiring parity on both next-gen consoles. Turns out they may have actually been correct all this time!
Larian Studios CEO Swen Vincke has tweeted out the following:
"Super happy to confirm that after meeting @XboxP3 yesterday, we’ve found a solution that allows us to bring Baldur’s Gate 3 to Xbox players this year still, something we’ve been working towards for quite some time."
"All improvements will be there, with split-screen coop on Series X. Series S will not feature split-screen coop, but will also include cross-save progression between Steam and Xbox Series."
The removal of a feature for the Series S version is a first for Xbox to agree on. It could also mean that other developers will follow suit to get titles running optimized for the Series X, like Starfield, running at 60 fps while sacrificing resolution.
We genuinely hope this is the case and Bethesda will be allowed to add a Series X patch to unlock higher frame rates for the premium console. Giving gamers the option is always the better choice, especially now they have seen the parity rule be bent for another company.
We will keep you updated on this story should it develop further. Talking of options, why not take a peek at the different factions in Starfield that you can join? Or take a browse of our comprehensive prep list to get ready for launch.
For all things Starfield, stick with us at Starfield Portal.
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