Starfield early access explained: Dates & how to play early
BethesdaStarfield will be officially released in a few days but hardcore fans can play it early through a number of ways. Here’s everything to know about Starfield early access, including the date it begins and how you can play the game early.
It wouldn’t be an overstatement to say that 2023 has been one of the best years ever for games. There’ve already been major game releases like Resident Evil 4, Street Fighter 6, Diablo 4, and Baldur’s Gate 3, and fans worldwide are now excited to dive deep into Starfield.
The space exploration game is supposed to be an endless adventure involving companions, plants, ships, side quests, and a lot more. Starfield is also a huge deal for Xbox as it’s the first game by Bethesda following the Microsoft acquisition.
If you can’t wait to try out Bethesda’s next big RPG, here’s when Starfield early access starts and how you can play it early.
When does Starfield early access start?
Early access to Starfield begins on Friday, September 1, 2023, at 12 AM UTC. Depending on where you are in the world, the game will launch at a different time. The following time zones will get access to the game on August 31:
- 5 PM PDT
- 6 PM CST
- 7 PM PDT
- 8 PM EDT
- 9 PM BRT
Meanwhile, the time zones given below will get access to the game on September 1:
- 1 AM BST
- 2 AM CEST
- 3 AM EEST
- 3 AM EAT
- 4 AM AED
- 5:30 AM IST
- 6 AM ALMT
- 7 AM ICT
- 8 AM CST
- 9 AM JST
- 10 AM AEST
- 12 PM NZST
You can also preload the game starting from Thursday, August 30.
BethesdaHow to get Starfield early access
The only way to get Starfield’s early access and play early is by purchasing one of the game’s special editions. These are:
- Starfield Premium Edition (Digital)
- Starfield Premium Edition Upgrade (Digital or Physical)
- Starfield Constellation Edition (Physical)
It’s worth noting that Starfield will be available on Xbox Game Pass from day one. So, the digital and physical upgrade editions are two great options for Game Pass subscribers.
On the other hand, the Premium Edition and Constellation Edition, which include the base game, are the two best options for those who want to play Starfield on early access and don’t have a Game Pass subscription.
That’s all you need to know about Starfield’s early access. In the meantime, if you’re interested in Starfield, we recommend checking out our other guides:
Starfield backgrounds & starting skills explained | Starfield Outposts explained | Starfield start screen controversy explained | Will Starfield be on Xbox Game Pass for PC & console? | Will Starfield have multiplayer or co-op? | Will Starfield have mod support at launch? | Will Starfield have New Game Plus? | Will Starfield be on Steam Deck? | Will Starfield have DLC & story expansions?