To play Starfield early on PC, follow these steps:
- Purchase the Premium Edition or Constellation Edition: Early Access to Starfield requires buying the Premium Edition (digital or physical) or the Constellation Edition (physical collector's box). The Premium Edition costs around $100 and includes extra content like a story expansion and digital artbook and soundtrack
- Install Steam and Activate the Game: Download and install Steam on your Windows PC. Create or log into your Steam account, then purchase and activate Starfield Premium Edition on Steam. You can also buy discounted Steam keys from authorized resellers like Games Planet, which still grant Early Access
- Download and Install Starfield: Once activated, download the game (about 86 GB) and install it on your PC. After installation, you will see a "Play" button to launch the game
- Early Access Start Time: Early Access begins 5 days before the official release, typically at 5 PM PT (8 PM ET) on August 31 in the US, and corresponding times for other regions
- Xbox Game Pass Option: If you have Xbox Game Pass for PC, you can also play Starfield early on the day of Early Access without purchasing it separately. Make sure to launch the game via the Xbox app and follow any troubleshooting steps if you encounter "too early" errors
In summary, to play Starfield early on PC, you either buy the Premium Edition on Steam or have Xbox Game Pass for PC and launch the game at the Early Access start time
