PlayStation Logo Pops Up on Work-in-Progress Starfield Creation, Sparking PS5 Release Speculation

Speculation surrounding a PlayStation 5 release of Starfield intensified after fans noticed a PlayStation logo on Bethesda's official Creations website, attached to a work-in-progress ship decal. While the Creation was subsequently removed, the incident fueled rumors of an upcoming PS5 launch for Bethesda's sci-fi title, currently exclusive to PC and Xbox. A Reddit user, u/Dollar99Man, noted the logo's presence, suggesting potential beta testing involvement.

This discovery naturally leads to questions about potential future content updates, perhaps even a new expansion, timed with a PS5 release. Recent months have seen relatively quiet activity surrounding Starfield, following the release of the less-than-stellar Shattered Space expansion. With Microsoft anticipated to host another summer showcase, that event could be the ideal platform for Starfield announcements.

Bethesda has hinted at "exciting things" planned for Starfield this year, addressing player concerns regarding communication and updates. In June 2024, Bethesda reaffirmed its commitment to Starfield's support, confirming at least one additional story expansion beyond Shattered Space. In an interview with MrMattyPlays on YouTube, Bethesda Game Studios' Todd Howard expressed the aim to release an annual story expansion "hopefully for a very long time."

Starfield, released in September 2023, marked Bethesda's first new IP in years and its first mainline single-player game since Microsoft's acquisition of ZeniMax Media in March 2021. IGN's review awarded it a 7/10, stating that despite several challenges, the game's expansive roleplaying and combat ultimately proved compelling.

In January, Microsoft's Phil Spencer declined to rule out a PS5 release for Starfield. Reports from March 2024 suggested both Starfield and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny were under consideration for PS5. Indiana Jones subsequently received a PS5 release, a few months after its PC and Xbox launch. While Starfield's PS5 release remains unconfirmed, Spencer's comments hint at its possibility.

Several Xbox games are already available on PS5, including Sea of Thieves, Hi-Fi Rush, Grounded, and Pentiment. Microsoft's existing PlayStation presence includes Minecraft, with future releases encompassing Doom: The Dark Ages and Ninja Gaiden 4. Forza Horizon 5 is also slated for a PS5 release, and reports even suggest a potential Halo release on PlayStation.

Xbox's multiplatform strategy, as stated by Spencer in August 2023, aims to boost Microsoft's gaming revenue, especially considering the significant investment in Activision Blizzard. This broader approach aligns with Microsoft's goals for growth across consoles, PC, and cloud platforms.

Bethesda Game Studios, a 450-person team, currently manages five projects: Starfield, Elder Scrolls VI, Fallout 76, mobile titles, and external development partnerships.