Support NeoGAF

[GetInTheRobot]

I've felt the hype after review copies went out, and review embargo is soon...I think that after bg3 people are still hungry for what a good bgs game brings.

 

[Adam_802]

Yeah anyone's deluding themselves if they think Starfield will be anything less than massive. Game will sell tons of Xbox hardware and Game Pass subscriptions and sell millions on PC as well.

 

[xBlueStonex]

The amount of PlayStation salt in this thread is too damn high.

 

[gothmog]

I think D4 had more hype from what I've seen so far. Maybe it will pick up over the next few weeks?

 

[Vox Machina]

Google trends agrees with you at least

Well all of those games have released and people interested in knowing more about the game or googling to get help with a certain quest or item or whatnot are going to show up there.

Here's a more representative sample. This is a 1-week span ~2 weeks before launch of Baldur's Gate 3 (as an example), the same point in time we are with Starfield's launch:

There were more people Googling "Starfield" than there were people Googling "Baldur's Gate 3" 2 weeks before launch of BG3.

 

[Guerilla Munch]

Actually this is probably the least hyped AAAA game of all time, and I own a Series X. Very low energy. Sad.

 

[jzosa]

The last game I can remember that had this type of hype leading up to its release was Red Dead Redemption 2.
It's trending on twitter every day. Forums and social media are all about Starfield, and MS hasn't advertised jack shit for it.

I haven't really been a Bethesda guy, but I am a space guy, so this game is for me, but was the hype like this when the last Elder Scrolls came out?

As much as this is an exaggeration, I sincerely hope the game delivers and is great!

 

[In Cold Blood]

Cyberpunk 2077 had similar amounts of hype leading up to it's launch. Definitely gonna play Starfield after some patches

Yeah, Cyberpunk was pretty hyped. It's funny because both had some "controversy" around them. Cyberpunk had the green haired freaks calling for a boycott, and as Starfield is exclusive there is people complaining about that.
I wonder how much that contributed to the hype.
If you go one twitter right now, and look at the trending Starfield posts, half of them are Sony fans bitching about the game.

 

[bitbydeath]

If you go one twitter right now

I mean, it’s Twitter

 

[James Sawyer Ford]

It’s a big release for Xbox but it’s not all that hyped to the lay person.

Multiple games will get bigger exposure this year

 

[In Cold Blood]

Actually this is probably the least hyped AAAA game of all time, and I own a Series X. Very low energy. Sad.

Not sure if serious?
Half the posts on Gaf are about it. It has been the number 1 trending thing on Twitter for gaming for awhile.
Do a google analysis of the search term of Starfield vs Baldur's Gate, one of the best released games in recent history, and Starfield smashes it.

 

[Vox Machina]

Well all of those games have released and people interested in knowing more about the game or googling to get help with a certain quest or item or whatnot are going to show up there.

Here's a more representative sample. This is a 1-week span ~2 weeks before launch of Baldur's Gate 3 (as an example), the same point in time we are with Starfield's launch:

There were more people Googling "Starfield" than there were people Googling "Baldur's Gate 3" 2 weeks before launch of BG3.

Following up on this with some more pre-release data:

Here's the comparison the day of the Xbox/Bethesda presentation where the Starfield Direct was shown (June 11th):

And here's the comparison the day of Larian's "Panel From Hell: Release" presentation (July 7th):

This is not meant to disparage Baldur's Gate 3, or Larian, at all. It's simply meant to show that pre-release interest for Starfield seems to be higher both right now, and during their respective marketing beats. And I only use Baldur's Gate 3 here as a comparison because so many have brought it up in this thread.

 

[Heisenberg007]

So clearly it should do over 3 million unit sales in September WW right?

It's releasing on 2 platforms, instead of just 1. It's also releasing in the first week of the month.

If we compare it with, say, Final Fantasy 16 that sold 3 million copies, releasing on 22nd and only on PS5, 3 million for Starfield seems absurdly low.

By that metric, it should do at least 7+ million in the first month.

 

[M.W.]

The hype is real.

 

[James Sawyer Ford]

It's releasing on 2 platforms, instead of just 1. It's also releasing in the first week of the month.

If we compare it with, say, Final Fantasy 16 that sold 3 million copies, releasing on 22nd and only on PS5, 3 million for Starfield seems absurdly low.

By that metric, it should do at least 7+ million in the first month.

It being on GP muddies the water

I expect it could be played by 8-10 million people first month

Sales? 7M seems quite high to me. I think it does 4-5

 

[anthraticus]

Following up on this with some more pre-release data:

Here's the comparison the day of the Xbox/Bethesda presentation where the Starfield Direct was shown (June 11th):

And here's the comparison the day of Larian's "Panel From Hell: Release" presentation (July 7th):

This is not meant to disparage Baldur's Gate 3, or Larian, at all. It's simply meant to show that pre-release interest for Starfield seems to be higher both right now, and during their respective marketing beats. And I only use Baldur's Gate 3 here as a comparison because so many have brought it up in this thread.

Soooo disparaging....lol

Like hype is this good thing or something. Maybe for the Toddler and Swen who are making $$ off that....but for the average gamer...

 

[Lucifers Beard]

I’d say that it’s the opposite. I’m looking forward to the game but I’ve not seen anyone talking about it or any sites hyping it up. I think people are hoping for the best but are being a bit cautious due to the last couple of games they released.

 

[Edgelord79]

What’s Starfield?

 

[Dthomp]

Not sure if serious?
Half the posts on Gaf are about it. It has been the number 1 trending thing on Twitter for gaming for awhile.
Do a google analysis of the search term of Starfield vs Baldur's Gate, one of the best released games in recent history, and Starfield smashes it.

Does saying half the GAF posts are about it count when most of those are in fact...you? I'm super glad you're excited for this, but as somebody who doesn't live on twitter at all and spends a decent amount of time on Twitch/YT most hype for anything outside of the Xbubble has been about Baldurs Gate 3, with a likely big boost to that already when it launches on console as well. Google searches aren't really all that meaningful in the end as it could be random Bob checking a release date or some crazy dude obsessed with Starfield just pumping that search button on any site that'll take it with a Starfield avatar

 

[Mr Reasonable]

Based on my limited sample, it seems like a big deal everywhere but on neogaf.

 

[FullMetalx117]

Yup I’m genuinely excited/intrigued by this game. Enough so that I’ll be there midnight and have my constellation edition ready

 

[balls of snow]

SO hype that xbox series consoles are flying out of shelves and into peoples home!

 

[Flutta]

Where’s the hype your talking about?

Or are just forcing this ”hype” on people… That’s cringy.

 

[Dcr1d3r]

I really hope it works out well for MS!

 

[FoxMcChief]

Well fuck me. I’ve tried to play 4 different games tonight. All I can think was, this isn’t what I want to play. Starfield has consumed me.

 

[MidGenRefresh]

It’s the most hyped game since Cyberpunk 2077, for better or for worse.

 

[Pop]

 

[ByWatterson]

It's obviously going to do well, but there is a certain je ne sais quoi it lacks. I don't think they've done a very good job of describing the world, the stakes, or especially how it feels to occupy the space.

Like Skyrim is 94% about how it feels. I have no idea how Starfield feels.

 

[iHaunter]

Last few Bethesda games were broken messes. That still makes me worried.

 

[Vox Machina]

 

[Neilg]

It's going to do alright but I'm mostly seeing articles about BG3 still. It's not as loud as it would be if it was a multiplat disc release.

 

[Ozriel]

So clearly it should do over 3 million unit sales in September WW right?

Very likely, yes.

It‘s certainly tracking to outperform what we’ve seen from BG3

 

[Ozriel]

It's going to do alright but I'm mostly seeing articles about BG3 still. It's not as loud as it would be if it was a multiplat disc release.

You don’t think that has to do with the game being released and all?

There’s more talk about BG3 than Spiderman 2 at the moment. Guess which one will sell way more ?

 

[Davevil]

MEH

 

[Majormaxxx]

I don't see hype...

Will play it once the price comes down

 

[Seyken]

Gotta be honest with you, not seeing the hype both online and across my irl friend circles.

Personally, I'm on the camp that wishes for the best, but braces for the worst. I'm just not seeing how what they showed so far will make for an engaging gameplay loop. Exploring mostly planets devoid of life? Wow, riveting stuff. No Man's Sky is a thing already, I tried to enjoy that game several times and always got bored VERY quickly.

Last games that I remember having some REAL palpable hype before release were probably Elden Ring and Cyberpunk.

 

[Rick Dangerous]

No hype for me. PS owner only, so as M$ made it exclusive and removed thé release on PlayStation, no way for me to play it (i won't buy a console nor subscribe to GP). Fucking office money...

 

[Snake29]

On the contrary, I am surprised that there is little marketing from MS itself around Starfield. They don't really know how to capture casuals. They focus too much on their existing fanbase, so they don't grow much in numbers. Even Spiderman 2 already got more push from its platform holder than Starfield got from Xbox.

 

[Mr Reasonable]

Based on my limited sample, it seems like a big deal everywhere but on neogaf.

No hype for me. PS owner only, so as M$ made it exclusive and removed thé release on PlayStation, no way for me to play it (i won't buy a console nor subscribe to GP). Fucking office money...

Ah, I see.

 

[NiiloPielinen]

Yeah. I can’t wait to play it. Took some vacation time from work on that week

You took vacation time from work to play bethesda game at launch? Without waiting for reviews? Would waiting a month or two have been too much?

 

[Lukaku's First Touch]

I'm hyped because of the giant bug compilations. Tod howard is a giant lying hype man.

 

[anthraticus]

I'm glad op is getting some support. Was starting to feel bad for him.

 

[Banjo64]

Walked outside of my house in a quaint little town in England in February: Hogwarts Legacy plastered all over bus stops and busses themselves, it’s on TV, it’s on billboards. Starfield, open my browser: see Xbox ‘fans’ promoting the game.

It’s going to be a great game but Xboi’s gunna do what they do.

 

[TransTrender]

I'm more eager to see if it lives up to the hype.

 

[Paasei]

Is it really? I liked what I saw during that showcase. But it seems it’s just one of their earlier RPGs but in space. Which is great, but not something to be truly hyped about.

Those games get elevated by mods, anyway. The only reason to never truly stop playing these games.

 

[SJRB]

Not really...

I'm looking forward to it but there's like zero hype in the bubbles I'm in. Hardly see anyone talk about it on Twitter or Reddit (outside of the subreddit and even that one is not that exciting).

If any I feel a lot of people are pretty skeptical about a Bethesda game this time around.

 

[Kumomeme]

i dont notice that level of hype.

it is massive hype for sure, but not that level.

also it got lot of attention due to controversy surrounding the title that relate to console war tribalism

 

[Raven117]

I feel like this poster was paid to post this

 

[drotahorror]

Never liked a single Bethesda RPG.

Not hype but I'll check it out on gamepass.

 

[MidGenRefresh]

What I like to use to measure hype is Steam top sellers and yeah this game has been on the list for months now.