Why Are Active Players Leaving Starfield in Droves?

• Starfield's rapid player base decline and review rating slip on Steam
• Top 10 most-played games on Steam Deck - October 2023
• Starfield's high expectations versus current performance
• Comparison of Starfield's player count with other RPGs
• Public sentiment and gameplay critique of Starfield

Starfield: A Fading Star?

In the aftermath of Bethesda's much-anticipated RPG Starfield's release, the game has drawn attention for the rapid decline in its player base on Steam. The game's user reviews rating on Valve's digital store has also slipped from "Positive" to "Mixed". This raises the question: Why is one of the biggest RPGs of recent years losing player favour so quickly?

Video: Top 10 Most-Played Games on Steam Deck - October 2023

Discover the top 10 most-played games on the Steam Deck for October 2023. Subtitles available in English.

Sharing Options

You can share this video on Facebook, Twitter, via Email, on Reddit, or copy the link directly. You can also view the video directly on the site.

Starfield's High Expectations

Starfield was released with colossal expectations and was designed to provide numerous hours of gameplay. Starfield Creative Director Todd Howard stated that the game's large size was chosen to offer an experience meant for long-term play.

Starfield: One Month Later

However, within a few months, the initial excitement surrounding the game's release has quickly diminished. The highly promoted RPG is nearing the end of 2023 without a Game of the Year nomination at one of the gaming industry's most prestigious events. It is also falling behind other single-player, AAA RPGs in player counts, with significant and vocal criticism of its shortcomings. For a game expected to reach such heights, this is disappointing.

Starfield's Player Count in Context

Starfield's active player counts on Steam, while only representing one aspect of the game's distribution, are concerning at first glance. The game saw a 66.61 percent decrease in players one month after its release. Two months in, the remaining active player base was halved. Here's how this compares with other games of similar scope and ambition:

• In 2012, Bethesda's The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim also experienced declining player counts after launch, with a second-month player drop on Steam of 30 percent. Currently, Skyrim usually has more active players on Steam than Starfield.
• A more recent Bethesda RPG, Fallout 4, had its Steam player count decrease by 58 percent a month after its November 2015 release. Its active player base is around the same as Starfield's current numbers.

Contemporary RPG Comparisons

Compared to two modern RPGs, Baldur's Gate 3 and Cyberpunk 2077, Starfield's current active player count of around 16-20,000 is overtaken by Baldur's Gate 3's 83k-115k, and Cyberpunk's 40k. Even Skyrim Special Edition has more players than Starfield, with 24k-26k players currently.

Public Sentiment on Starfield

These numbers, along with those for other single-player games, show that player drop-offs are expected. However, even among other AAA RPGs, including those made by Bethesda, Starfield seems to be underperforming. Public opinion seems to suggest a reason for this.

Starfield's Gameplay Critique

Many players, including myself, have spent over 160 hours in Starfield. Despite this, the game seems to be leaving players feeling both bored and frustrated.

Boost your Stream with Elite Digital Designs

Welcome to Streamers Visuals, where your streaming vision comes to life. Dive into a treasure of digital designs, crafted for passionate gamers like you.

Looking to express yourself? Our emotes and twitch badges are tailored to make you stand out. Elevate your stream's visual appeal with our eye-catching overlays and immersive stream packages.

Remember, we're not selling physical gear, but the digital designs to elevate your streaming experience. Our ergonomic desk graphics, professional-quality microphone visuals, and more, are all ready to be instantly downloaded and showcased.

So, why wait? Dive in, level up your streaming aesthetics, and engage your audience like never before!