Starfield has toughed it out. Despite being included in Xbox's Game Pass subscriptions, it managed to carve a spot for itself on Steam’s highest-earning promotion, Best of 2023. Surprisingly, this success came in the midst of receiving 'mostly negative' feedback from its user base.
The phenomenal appeal of Starfield's massive universe prompted players to immerse themselves in the experience, crafting their own space sagas. Launched in September, the game's vast cosmos proved one of the main attractions compelling gamers to explore its infinite space.
However, the tide of overall sentiment turned against the game over time. Falling into the 'mostly negative' category of user reviews on Steam caused some concern. Modders, who create customized game modifications, even began expressing reluctance to continue developing mods for Starfield, citing its lack of appeal due to perceived blandness.
Despite these setbacks, Starfield soldiered on. In the face of adversity and negative reviews, it did not falter in becoming one of Steam's highest-earning games of the year. This was facilitated by Valve launching its 'Best of 2023' promotion, placing Starfield within the esteemed range of platinum level games on the digital distribution platform.
The specifics of its ranking within the top 12 remain undisclosed. Nevertheless, securing a spot in such a prestigious tier indicates Starfield's strong performance in earnings for the year on the Steam storefront.
This comes as an unexpected surprise for a couple of key reasons. Firstly, the dip in player sentiment should theoretically have impacted the game's sales performance, due to the usual reliance on positive word of mouth for continued success in gaming titles.
However, to share their negative assessments, players had to first purchase and engage extensively with the game. This likely contributed to the spike in sales. Such a phenomenon disproves the assumption that initial negative feedback can severely hinder a game's performance in sales.
That said, the more surprising factor lies in the availability of the game on Game Pass. Given that Game Pass subscribers could access Starfield at no extra charge, a significant dip in the game's sales on Steam would seem inevitable.
Contrary to this expectation, it appears a significant population of PC users opted for ownership of the game over acquiring it through a Game Pass subscription. This again underscores Starfield's successful sales record despite its critics' unfavorable reviews.
Bethesda's decision to charge a premium for an early access period a week prior to the game's introduction to Game Pass could be another contributing factor to Starfield's success. Many players, eager to immerse themselves in the game's universe, might have chosen immediate access over waiting for its inclusion in Microsoft's subscription service.
In any respect, these factors point towards vast interest in Starfield. Irrespective of the unfavorable reception it received, the game benefited from tremendous player curiosity and an innate drive to own it.
The game's standing might currently be less than stellar due to its recent unfavorable reviews. However, should it continue receiving support and attention from the gaming community and modders, it might well enjoy a longevity comparable to Bethesda's other successful titles, such as Skyrim and Fallout 4.
In conclusion, Starfield’s performance is a testament to its undeniable appeal. Gamers’ eagerness to dive into Starfield's expansive universe and craft their unique adventures has catapulted the game towards significant success, despite its challenges. Time will tell if this trend continues and Starfield can maintain its place amongst the stars.