Xbox seemingly confirms consumer-friendly Starfield feature and cross-save support at launch
Xbox Play Anywhere – one of Microsoft's most consumer-friendly perks – strikes again in Starfield.
Have you checked out the official Starfield page on the Xbox store? There's a little icon on there that's really making a fair few fans quite happy: as of an update, the Starfield page features the Xbox Play Anywhere label.
If you're not aware of the Xbox Play Anywhere feature, it's widely regarded as one of Microsoft's best (and most consumer-friendly) perks. It is a cross-device compatibility suite that allows players to buy the game once and own it on all Microsoft platforms, with saves and achievements carrying over between devices.
There were fears that it would be abandoned as the company moved into the Series X/S generation, but – if anything – it's actually become more robust.
Xbox wants to lower the barrier to play, as it's said often, and Xbox Play Anywhere allows that. I, personally, have used it a lot – it was ideal when traveling for work and wanting to play a game like Halo Infinite, which launched on three platforms (PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S). It meant I could get a few PvP games in while away from my console.
But it may not be as clear. The game does not appear on the store page if you search through the Xbox Play Anywhere list. Is this because the label has only been added to the store page, and the game has not yet been added to the database on the backend? Does it suggest the label has been applied to the game in error? At the time of writing, it's unclear.
It's worth noing that (per Reddit) the Bethesda Support Twitter account apparently confirmed the game would be Xbox Play Anywhere compatible some two months ago – though the actual tweet was promptly deleted. Was someone a bit too cocksure in making a statement that they shouldn't have?
We're keeping our eye on the official channels and will update you as soon as we hear anything more official.
Starfield arrives on Xbox Series and PC on September 6 (or September 1 if you pre-order the game's digital edition).
Pre-order Starfield today or get ready with discounted Game Pass codes
Starfield will be launching exclusively for Xbox Series X/S and PC (Windows) on September 6th 2023. Pre-order your copy of Bethesda's upcoming action RPG from the links below and get set for the new galactic adventure.
Players who pre-order the premium edition can play Starfield early from September 1st. That's five days before it lands on Game Pass! PC Players looking to upgrade their PC can also get Starfield for free when you buy select AMD Ryzen processors, AMD Radeon graphics cards, or a gaming system that contains both.
Alternatively, you can play Starfield on Game Pass on day one. Our shop here at VG247 is currently offering a 5 per cent discount on Game Pass codes and Xbox Credit - simply redeem the code "VG247" at the check out. The code is valid until 31st July, so stock up now to save money on a Game Pass membership or discounted Xbox Credit if you're buying Starfield on the Xbox Store.
