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It's hard to miss the excitement: Starfield is coming in less than two weeks, and now's absolutely the right time to explore your options to play the game. Short of, y'know, spending a full $70 for day one access to it! And though it goes without saying, now that Bethesda is operating under Xbox/Microsoft, all of its games are available on the Xbox Game Pass! And yes - this does include Starfield Game Pass access, too!
Access to an Xbox Game Pass subscription means an opportunity to play hundreds of games to your heart's content without overspending. Game Pass fits into virtually any budget, and if you're not much of a collector in the first place, it's the best gaming value proposition on the market.
READ MORE: Everything You Need to Know About Starfield on PC
Starfield Game Pass Availability: How Does It Work?
For newcomers, Xbox Game Pass is basically the ultimate gaming subscription service. Featuring a huge array of both first and third-party games under one low-cost subscription, Game Pass grants you quick and easy access to a massive list of awesome games. Day one game access to Microsoft's first-party offerings - like Starfield - is guaranteed, to boot! In other words, Xbox Game Pass is extremely interesting now that Starfield's about to come out.
For all availability and day one content details, you're going to want to consult our Starfield pre-order guide, but the bottom line is that Skyrim in space is coming out on September 6. Anyone with an Xbox Game Pass subscription will be able to play it, day-and-date! In the next couple of sections, we'll explain how it all works for Game Pass subscribers, if they'd be able to access the Starfield Premium Edition upgrade for the Shattered Space story expansion, and a wealth of other key questions as well.
How to Access Starfield on Xbox Game Pass
First things first - playing Starfield via Xbox Game Pass is going to be easy as pie. Whether you'll be joining the Constellation on your PC, your Xbox Series S, or Xbox Series X console - all you need to do to play Starfield is to get a Game Pass subscription of any type. This will give you day-one access to the standard edition of Starfield, meaning you'll be able to play on September 6!
You can find an exhaustive list of Xbox Game Pass offerings right here at 2Game, but it's worth underlining that even the cheapest tier of Game Pass will give you ready access to the game on September 6.
However, do note that if you'd like to get early access to Starfield, you can pay for the Premium Edition upgrade with Game Pass active! Pricing specifics will vary depending on your region, but it's a good way to save a few bucks and still get all the extra goodies. On top of - of course - playing the game on September 1!
The Many Benefits of Playing Starfield on Game Pass
While 2Game does offer some stellar (ha!) Starfield deals on PC, as shown in our pre-order primer, the fact of the matter is that straight-up buying the game ahead of its release is still rather expensive. Exceedingly so, in the case of the Premium Edition with the Shattered Space story expansion, some cosmetics, and early access.
Instead, it's far cheaper to play Starfield using the Xbox Game Pass subscription. Then, you can simply get the Starfield Premium Edition upgrade and save almost 50% off the base asking price with early access included!
So, by getting the Xbox Game Pass and then splurging on the Premium Edition of Starfield, you're getting all of the following at a fraction of the game's actual price:
- early access to Starfield, kicking off on September 1
- in-game bonus skins (Constellation skin pack, etc.)
- access to the Starfield Digital Artbook and Soundtrack
- all standard edition goodies - Starfield base game and its respective bonuses
- loads of financial savings
- full integration with other Xbox services, including (but not limited to) the ability to continue playing on your PC and/or Xbox Series X/S devices, should the opportunity arise
Granted, there are some downsides to playing Starfield on Game Pass, and they're good to be aware of.
Alternative Access Options
Though buying Starfield separately via Steam or the Microsoft Store is more expensive, there are good reasons to consider doing so, too.
Notably, buying Starfield proper, outside of the Xbox Game Pass gives you the following boons:
- full, unrestricted access to Starfield
- no subscription service downsides
- unlocked file structure for modding purposes
So, if you aim to keep playing Starfield for months on end, and if you're eager to get started with the Starfield Script Extender and other high-complexity mods once they come out - the full, permanent version of the game may be the better way to go. For everyone else, though, playing the standard edition of Starfield via Game Pass should not be ignored.
Join the Constellation in Early September, with 2Game!
Bethesda Game Studios' new flagship is very nearly upon us, and you can bet that the editorial team here at 2Game is itching at the bits to start preparing in-depth coverage for Starfield as early as of September 1! For that, and for heaps more content - especially now that the Gamescom week is about to kick off - you're going to want to stay tuned to the 2Game Community Hub.
We've already got everything you need to know about Starfield covered and prepped for your consideration, too! Be sure to scroll through our content to learn everything important about the new flagship, and why we believe it's going to be one of the finest games of 2023. One last thing to keep in mind: the big 2Game Gamescom Sale is now live, until August 27! Make use of our deals and discounts while you can, as it's your best chance at saving big bucks on big games!
Get in the Game ! 
