Bethesda Softworks has revealed the official Starfield preload date after stating that the game had gone gold. With Xbox preload starting as early as this week, it gives players plenty of time to find enough space on their console to accommodate the RPG’s large file size. Those preloading the game on Steam will be cutting it a bit fine for the early access period, though.
When is the Starfield preload date?
The Starfield preload date for Xbox Game Pass players and those on the Microsoft Store for Xbox Series X|S and PC is August 17, 2023. PC players who pre-ordered the game on Steam have to wait until August 30 to preload. The game will take up 126.1 GB of space on Xbox consoles. The PC file size is even bigger at 139.84 GB.
However, the latter date certainly doesn’t give Digital Premium Edition players on Steam a lot of time to download the massive game ahead of the early access date. Those who have purchased the Premium Edition will be able to start playing Starfield on September 1, which standard edition owners can upgrade to using the Premium Edition Upgrade. Xbox Game Pass members can even make use of a 10% discount for the upgrade.
Now the game has gone gold, Bethesda will likely be working hard to eradicate bugs before the game’s full release on September 6. Xbox Game Studios head Matt Booty has already claimed that Starfield will have the fewest bugs of any Bethesda game that’s ever shipped. Meanwhile, the game’s director Todd Howard has said it is “the best-feeling game that [the studio has] had.”