Photo: Bethesda
Bethesda is sending mixed signals on social media, which isn't doing any favors for its already wrinkly public image. Less than 12 hours ago, a Twitter user asked Bethesda if the physical edition of Starfield for Xbox Series X will include a disc, to which the company replied with a hard negative. Here comes the plot twist! Less than two weeks ago, they were saying the exact opposite.
Twitter user @its_zum asked @BethesdaSupport on Twitter if the Standard Edition of Starfield has a disc. Bethesda simply said: "All physical editions include a code for the chosen platform. There are no physical discs."
This being said, on June 13, the Spanish Bethesda Support Twitter account said (translated) that the Standard edition does come with a disc. It was the Constellation Edition that only came with a code engraved on a collector's item that you can use digitally.
Logic would dictate that there has been an internal communication error within Bethesda. We need to wait for further official information to see if the Standard Edition does come with a disc.
If we were to put on our tin foil hats for a brief moment, we could assume that they went completely disc-free, but the reasoning behind it might turn out to be legit.
Before we get to that, though, let's head over to Xbox's arch-nemesis, PlayStation. More specifically, God of War Ragnarok, which had discs for the Standard PS4 and PS5 versions, but the Collectors and Jotnar editions only featured a digital code inside the case.
The reasoning behind it is that PlayStation couldn't have known if you had a PS4 or a PS5, so they made the case a neutral-looking Steelbook Edition and put a code inside it. This way, no matter your console, you wouldn't have had any problems playing Ragnarok.
As Xbox Series X has an optical drive, but the Series S is entirely digital, it would make sense not to print discs in the first place and just make it digital for everyone. At the same time, making cases with both discs and codes for Series S and X users would also make sense.
The disc vs. digital debate rages on in the gaming community, and if Bethesda doesn't nip this in the bud, it will only create confusion and more pointless arguments about which version is superior. Not to mention streaming vs. disc vs. digital...
This whole thing seems like Bethesda got its signals crossed, and the employees from the accounts involved didn't get their facts straight. The deletion of the last Tweet would suggest as much. All that remains is for them to get on the same page and communicate better.
Starfield arrives on PC and Xbox Series X|S on September 6, but before you pre-order the game, I'd advise you to first try it out on Game Pass, rather than waste money if the game doesn't turn out to be as impressive as Todd Howard made it out to be.
This being said, on June 13, the Spanish Bethesda Support Twitter account said (translated) that the Standard edition does come with a disc. It was the Constellation Edition that only came with a code engraved on a collector's item that you can use digitally.
Logic would dictate that there has been an internal communication error within Bethesda. We need to wait for further official information to see if the Standard Edition does come with a disc.
If we were to put on our tin foil hats for a brief moment, we could assume that they went completely disc-free, but the reasoning behind it might turn out to be legit.
Before we get to that, though, let's head over to Xbox's arch-nemesis, PlayStation. More specifically, God of War Ragnarok, which had discs for the Standard PS4 and PS5 versions, but the Collectors and Jotnar editions only featured a digital code inside the case.
The reasoning behind it is that PlayStation couldn't have known if you had a PS4 or a PS5, so they made the case a neutral-looking Steelbook Edition and put a code inside it. This way, no matter your console, you wouldn't have had any problems playing Ragnarok.
As Xbox Series X has an optical drive, but the Series S is entirely digital, it would make sense not to print discs in the first place and just make it digital for everyone. At the same time, making cases with both discs and codes for Series S and X users would also make sense.
The disc vs. digital debate rages on in the gaming community, and if Bethesda doesn't nip this in the bud, it will only create confusion and more pointless arguments about which version is superior. Not to mention streaming vs. disc vs. digital...
This whole thing seems like Bethesda got its signals crossed, and the employees from the accounts involved didn't get their facts straight. The deletion of the last Tweet would suggest as much. All that remains is for them to get on the same page and communicate better.
Starfield arrives on PC and Xbox Series X|S on September 6, but before you pre-order the game, I'd advise you to first try it out on Game Pass, rather than waste money if the game doesn't turn out to be as impressive as Todd Howard made it out to be.
Bethesda Support deleted their tweet for some reason regarding a physical disc for Starfield pic.twitter.com/w4c5SVtzPm
— Wario64 (@Wario64) June 25, 2023
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