Starfield Launches on PS5 April 27 — Full DualSense Support and All DLC Included

Bethesda's Starfield — the studio's first new IP in 25 years — launched in September 2023 as an Xbox and PC exclusive under Microsoft's first-party umbrella. Two and a half years later, with the console exclusivity window having long since expired, Starfield finally lands on PlayStation 5 on April 27, 2026. And this time, Sony players aren't getting a lesser version: Starfield: Complete Edition bundles the base game and all released expansions, including the critically evaluated Shattered Space DLC.

What's Included in the PS5 Version?

Starfield: Complete Edition for PS5 includes the base game and the Shattered Space expansion, which adds a new planetary system, 20+ hours of story content focused on House Va'ruun, new weapons, gear, and outpost mechanics. Bethesda has also confirmed that all major updates released since launch — including the City Maps, Bounty Hunting overhaul, and the Starfield Tracker questline — are baked into the PS5 version from day one.

The Complete Edition retails at $59.99, representing significant value given that the Shattered Space DLC sold separately for $29.99 on Xbox and PC. PlayStation players are essentially getting a year-three version of the game at an introductory price, with all the quality-of-life improvements and content additions that Bethesda has shipped since the original September 2023 launch.

DualSense Integration: What to Expect

Bethesda has worked closely with PlayStation's technical team to implement DualSense features throughout Starfield's PS5 version. Adaptive triggers provide resistance when firing different weapon types — pistols feel light, shotguns deliver a satisfying kick, and plasma weapons have a build-up and release feedback that matches their charging animations. Haptic feedback activates during environmental traversal, space combat, and specific story moments.

The DualSense's touchpad is used for the scanner overlay — swiping across it activates the scanning mode and scrolls through planet data, a more intuitive implementation than the button-mapped version on Xbox. The lightbar changes color based on your spaceship's shield status during combat, providing at-a-glance tactical information without cluttering the HUD.

Performance on PS5

The PS5 version of Starfield offers two graphics modes: a 4K Quality mode targeting 30fps with ray-traced shadows and full draw distance, and a Performance mode that targets 60fps at dynamic 4K resolution. Bethesda's engineers confirmed in a Digital Foundry analysis that the Performance mode maintains 60fps in the vast majority of gameplay scenarios, dropping only during extremely dense city environments.

Is This a Good Time to Try Starfield?

For PlayStation players who missed Starfield's divisive 2023 launch, the PS5 Complete Edition is arguably the best way to experience it. The game has been substantially improved by updates: exploration is more rewarding, the UI is cleaner, fast travel is less obtrusive, and the Shattered Space story content is genuinely excellent. The core open-world space RPG loop has always been compelling — what's changed is the surrounding systems are now polished enough to showcase it.