What time is Starfield available? How to play the new video game on GamePass

Dina Kaur, Arizona Republic
Updated ·3 min read
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Looking to blast off into an adventure in space?

Now you can with the newest video game, Starfield. In the first new universe in over 25 years from Bethesda Game Studios, this generation role-playing game will have you among the stars.

Bethesda Game Studios are the award-winning creators of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Fallout 4. With this new game you can create a character and explore with “unparalleled freedom” as you go through an adventure to answer “humanity’s greatest mystery,” according to the Bethesda website.

Keep reading for more information on how you can play Starfield.

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When does Starfield early access start?

Early access opened at 5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 31. Fans can check out the game's website for a play-by-play of the backstory, including humans arriving on Mars, the establishment of The United Colonies and the formation of the space exploration organization Constellation.

If you own the digital premium edition for $99.99+ or the Constellation edition for about $299.99, you can get early access to the game.

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When does Starfield come out?

The Starfield video game officially launches at 5 p.m. MST on Tuesday, Sept. 5. Starfield will be available on Xbox Series X|S and Windows. The standard edition and the Constellation edition are also available on Steam.

What time can I play Starfield on Game Pass?

If you would like to play the game earlier with the Xbox Game Pass, you'll need to upgrade from the standard edition – the version you get with Game Pass – to the premium edition. This costs $34.99. You also get bonuses including the Shattered Space Story Expansion; the Constellation Skin Pack, which has an Equinox laser rifle, spacesuit, helmet and boost pack, access to the Starfield digital art book and original soundtrack, according to App Trigger.

Otherwise, Starfield will be available to play at 5 p.m. MST Tuesday, Sept. 5 through Xbox Game Pass. Subscribers don’t have to pay anything and they can even pre-install the game.

How many hours of gameplay will Starfield have?

Todd Howard of IGN told The Loadout that the length of Starfield is 30-40 hours for the main story and quests. If you want to complete all the side missions and optional content, that number will be much higher, ranging from 100 to 120 hours. He told the website that exploring everywhere could take a predicted 150 hours or more.

Pete Hines, Bethesda's head of publishing, said he’s spent 160 hours on Starfield so far. Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft gaming, said he’s at 200 hours. Both have been playing different in-development versions for about a year, according to Forbes.

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How many planets are in Starfield?

There are over 1,000 planets to explore on Starfield. These will run from north to south and east to west.

Reach the reporter at dina.kaur@arizonarepublic.com. Follow @dina_kaur on X, formerly known as Twitter.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: What time will Starfield be playable? How to get the new video game