“Starfield” tops the PS5 pre-order chart — Microsoft is playing pretty hard with this move

On the subway I opened the PS Store just to casually browse discounted games, and the very first line of the pre-order chart had “Starfield Premium Edition” in big letters. For a second I thought I’d accidentally opened the Xbox store. The sight was a bit subtle, but somehow hilarious.

According to the old way of thinking, whenever PS5 is mentioned, what pops into your head are Sony flagships like The Last of Us and God of War, and it feels like the “exclusive blockbuster” label is stuck on it really tightly. But in the last two years, the PS Store’s hot and pre-order charts have started giving people the illusion of walking into a co-branded supermarket: the shelves are getting more and more Microsoft-flavored, and overall the boundaries between platforms are starting to look blurry.

The current pre-order chart is pretty interesting too. Right now, the highest pre-ordered title on Sony’s console is exactly Starfield Premium Edition, while the Standard Edition is still wobbling around in sixth place. Diablo IV’s Standard and Ultimate Editions have also squeezed into the top dozen or so. When you see all these names lined up together, it feels like you’re in a mall watching the Sony counter and the Microsoft counter doing a joint promotion.

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen something like this. Around the same time last year, titles that used to feel more like “Xbox camp” games, such as Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and DOOM: The Dark Ages, were already starting to show up on PS5 charts. That shows players don’t really care much about the label on the box—as long as the game itself is fun, they’re willing to hit the pre-order button no matter which console it’s on. For casual players, this kind of consumption habit is actually quite friendly.

From the publishers’ perspective, Microsoft in recent years has simply stopped fixating on console sales. Xbox Series is clearly lagging behind PS5 and Switch in terms of hardware numbers, but instead they went crazy acquiring studios, pushing Game Pass, and then putting their own games on every platform including PS5. It all comes down to one conclusion: if the console can’t win the sales race, then let the games make money everywhere. For commuters who just want a place to play a few rounds, this strategy actually turns into a comfortable experience of “no matter where you sit, you can order the same takeout.”

Sony’s situation is almost the opposite. Its first-party exclusives are indeed high quality overall, but the release pace is relatively slow, giving people the feeling of waiting for a few big holidays each year. Meanwhile, Microsoft controls more studios and has higher output density, so it’s easier for its titles to keep showing up on charts across platforms. This isn’t about which side is better in quality, though—it’s more like one is making gourmet cakes, while the other is opening a chain bakery. Which one you buy depends on whether you’re in the mood to celebrate, or just want to grab some bread to fill your stomach.

If you’re a casual player like me, you can actually choose by scenario: if you like playing a bit on your commute and are already used to the PS5 controller and interface, then just relax and wait for those Xbox-line games to come to PS5. It’s like seeing another network’s variety show land on your own streaming platform—just click and watch. If you’re genuinely tempted by the Game Pass subscription model and thinking “I’m going to be hopping between games anyway,” then consider getting an Xbox or going with PC, and pick the device that’s easiest for you to power on in daily life.

Another interesting point is that when Starfield launched in 2023 it was surrounded by tons of controversy, yet PS5 players are still very enthusiastic about pre-ordering it now. That shows that for many people, all that previous noise wasn’t that important—more like gossip they scrolled past online. Once the game actually lands on their own platform, curiosity still pushes them to hit the pre-order button, just like how a movie everyone calls “average” hits streaming, and people staying home on the weekend will still click to watch it.

From a trend perspective, Microsoft is no longer going head-to-head with PS5 and Switch on hardware, but instead relies on full multiplatform releases to make money from content, and this approach has already proven to be “highly effective.” In the future, cross-platform situations like Diablo IV and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle will likely only become more common. For players, the biggest upside is “fewer boxes to buy, more points of access to choose from.” The only truly annoying part left may just be deciding which wallet to use to pay during the sales seasons.