Adding onto an old review isn’t something I’m one to do all that often. Of course, games as big as Starfield come around once in a blue moon, and with the Xbox version thoroughly and comprehensively reviewed at its launch, I can get into the more technical aspects of the brand new PS5 version. Specifically, how it’s playing on a PS5 Pro and if it’s worth double dipping or indeed, jumping in for the very first time. You can find my full thoughts on the games story, paths, sidequests and much more in the review above.

If you haven’t already looked, I gave the Xbox version of Starfield an eight out of ten. A very commendable, solid score for a game that seemed to falter an awful lot for people at launch, but didn’t affect me all that much. I enjoyed the ride and the wonder of exploring the cosmos searching for answers to the questions the game was throwing at me.

For the PS5 version, I’ve naturally had to start over and well, it’s been a good fun time retreading the main Starfield campaign. I think I can say I’ve been fortunate that ten to fifteen hours in I’ve not yet had the game crash on me, lose a save or have any issue landing on planets – apart from the obvious issue that it’s a massive pain the ass to do it at all, like. Instead, turning up the PS5 Pro exclusive dials up to 11 has allowed me to enjoy the game in a much higher resolution than I was before (having been confined to the Xbox Series S in my original run).

There’s no denying that the game looks utterly breathtaking in moments. Landing on any planet will ensure the sky box is full of planets to stare lovingly at, stars that you know you can go explore (‘see that star? You can go there’) whenever I wish. The conceit and wonder of Starfield hasn’t dimmed in the time between when I played it then to now. If anything, now it looks much, much shinier, I’ve come to appreciate the vastness of this universal playground a whole lot more.

I get a little lost just wandering around, staring at the shininess. The Pro Visual Mode – which offers a 4K resolution at 30fps or a Pro Performance Mode that targets 60fps – is something well worth turning up if you have yourself a Pro system. Bethesda have genuinely made a concerted effort to ensure Starfield looks as great as possible on PS5 Pro and it’s clear around every corner of Alpha Centauri, as you spend all your credits on weapons in New Atlantis.

Non-Pro PS5 owners can still hit 60 frames with Performance Mode, though if you’re a pristine visuals kinda player, Visuals Mode is your 1440p at 30fps. Effectively no matter what PlayStation you’re playing Starfield on, it’s gonna look the best it’s ever looked on a console.

The Free Lanes DLC arrived with the PS5 release (also available everywhere else), which brings some quality of life updates, if not enough. You’re now able to freely move between planets in a solar system, which is a glorious change considering the cumbersome nature of the still godawful UI which two and a half years later still doesn’t make anything as easy as it should be. Autopilot is now an option should you want to stretch your legs during a spaceflight and get on with some busy work that Starfield just adores to give to you.

There’s added collectibles (the action figures are now expanded for extra searchings), crafting additions, additional ship customisation and more to justify its existence at all. If you’re returning to Starfield I would say there’s enough here to justify a return to the skies, and not just because it looks so darn pretty now.

And Starfield simply remains a great game, despite the Bethesda-ness of it all. If you found the interaction mechanics of Elder Scrolls or Fallout annoying, Starfield isn’t going to ever change your mind on them. In fact, they’re probably worse here than ever and no amount of updates are going to change a core mechanic. The game still feels oddly linear despite its vastness. You can visit new planets whenever you wish, but when you’re there you’ll have a singular mission and the only areas worth exploring are normally the areas where the mission takes place. Once it’s complete, you can jump back into your ship and head on back to the Lodge.

If you fall deep into it though – like I did first time around clocking in over 57 hours in around ten days (wow did I have a lot more free time back then), falling back in love with this bewilderingly epic game is a treat if you’re really willing to give it the love it so deserves, despite how utterly rubbish a fair few of the mechanics and the UI still are, two and a half years later. Bethesda’s reliance on using their systems over and over again means Starfield continues to feel brand new but so, so dated in areas it should have moved away from.

Still, they’re never gonna change and as I said above, you’re either on board with how Bethesda are or you’re not. The combat in Starfield remains punchy and exciting, the soundtrack is still goosebump inducing in the right moments, and well, now it’s on a PS5 Pro, it looks incredible, and justifies its existence for that reason alone.

Starfield is available now on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S|X and PC.

Developer: Bethesda
Publisher: Bethesda

Disclaimer: In order to complete this review, we purchased a copy of the game. For our full review policy, please go here.

If you enjoyed this article or any more of our content, please consider our Patreon.

Make sure to follow Finger Guns on our social channels. Twitter, Facebook, Twitch, Spotify or Apple Podcasts – to keep up to date on our news, reviews and features