Starfield on PS5 Pro is the best it’s ever been, but it’s still Starfield

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Before playing Starfield in 2023, my experience with Bethesda RPGs was limited to Fallout 4 and Skyrim. I had trouble getting into Skyrim at first, as I kept running into bugs or performance problems with different versions. While I still enjoyed it, Fallout 4 didn’t click with me – I didn’t like how it looked or ran on Xbox One, and I wasn’t interested in the game’s setting. Because of these experiences, I didn’t have high expectations going into Starfield. However, I was immediately hooked, spending over 60 hours with the pre-release version. This was mainly due to three things: the game’s setting, its overall design, and the music.

Growing up, I was a huge fan of space, especially after watching countless hours of Star Trek and The Next Generation. With Starfield, I was initially drawn in by its look and feel – I even bought the controller just because I liked it! I’m happy I eventually played the game, though. Despite some flaws, I really enjoyed my time with it. The quests were memorable, I didn’t run into nearly as many bugs as I did in Fallout 4 or Skyrim, and I found a few of the game’s systems really engaging.

I didn’t finish playing Starfield when it first came out, and like many large role-playing games, I stopped to wait for updates and bug fixes. I noticed Starfield received several updates, especially leading up to the ‘Shattered Space’ expansion, but I still didn’t return to the game. Last year, getting back into No Man’s Sky reignited my interest in Starfield, but I decided to wait for either new downloadable content or the PlayStation 5 version, hoping that version would be more refined. After the announcement of the ‘Free Lanes’ and ‘Terra Armada’ DLC, I became excited about revisiting Starfield, though I was also hesitant because the PS5 version of another Obsidian game, Avowed, hadn’t seen significant improvements.

After spending almost 40 hours playing Starfield on both the standard PS5 and the PS5 Pro, it’s clear this is the best the game has ever been – but it’s still fundamentally Starfield. While that might not be enough for some to return to it, players who enjoyed the game when it launched in 2023 might find this version truly impressive. My biggest problems with the original release were the long load times, frequent loading screens, and the limited options for getting around. It didn’t feel like a next-gen experience on a console with a fast SSD. This was especially noticeable compared to the seamless exploration in games like No Man’s Sky, though Starfield did shine in other ways. Ultimately, it became the Bethesda game I invested the most time in, and I actually enjoyed its main storyline as much as – or more than – the side quests, which is unusual for their games.

Before I explain why I prefer playing Starfield on PS5 and PS5 Pro, it’s important to know the game has received many updates and improvements since its original release. Because I started playing later, I initially missed features like vehicles, console mods (called Creations), customizable difficulty settings, and the options for 60 or 40 frames per second on Xbox Series X, along with general map enhancements. However, the core Starfield experience remains the same. Revisiting the game with all these updates has been fascinating, especially discovering new quests. It’s made me think about other games that improved over time, like No Man’s Sky. While No Man’s Sky is still fundamentally the same game it launched as, it now offers so much more content, which greatly enhances the experience. Plus, it’s benefited from significant visual and performance improvements with updates and new platform releases, and major additions like multiplayer and cross-save functionality.

Starfield’s biggest problems aren’t things that can be fixed by simply adding more content. The game’s structure, with its frequent loading screens, would remain unchanged. A PlayStation 5 version could potentially offer faster loading times – I regularly play on both Xbox Series X and PS5 (including the PS5 Pro) and consistently see quicker loading in games on the PS5. While Xbox has Quick Resume to help with this, it doesn’t always work perfectly. I was hoping a PS5 version of Starfield would focus on reducing those loading times before adding new features or downloadable content. It did improve the initial load times, which is good, but unfortunately, the in-game loading screens and animations are still the same as on Xbox and PC.

Before I get too technical, the initial PS5 version of Starfield didn’t allow players to use any mods except for a few created by Bethesda themselves, like the Deimog vehicle. To see how modding works on consoles, I started a new game on Xbox with mods enabled. Even though console mods aren’t as extensive as those on PC, the random enhancements, new quests, and vehicles I downloaded already made the game much more enjoyable. The vehicles especially made exploring planets less tedious. I’m really hoping the game gets radio support in the future, with commentary about locations and music that fits the Starfield universe.

Okay, so I was really interested to see what the Free Lanes update would do for getting around in space. It doesn’t totally get rid of those loading screens when you jump between star systems, but it’s a great compromise. Now, while my ship’s on autopilot, I can actually wander around inside, feel more engaged with the journey, and even stumble into random fights or interesting things along the way. Plus, they’ve added new stuff to find and collect that lets me really fine-tune how my character plays. Honestly, I think the update is downplaying how much it actually improves the game. It’s not just about exploring space – it’s a bunch of little changes and quality-of-life improvements that just make Starfield feel smoother and more fun to play overall.

As I mentioned previously, I never completed Starfield on Xbox or PC last year, and I still haven’t. It’s not that I haven’t had the time, but I prefer to fully explore these kinds of games instead of rushing the main story. There’s a lot I didn’t get to do initially – side quests, new gameplay features – and I’m really enjoying experiencing Starfield more thoroughly now, especially with the improved performance on my new save file.

Starfield has always been a good game, but the recent PlayStation 5 version is now my favorite. This is largely due to the innovative use of the DualSense controller. I also had a frustrating issue with the original release: navigating the menus was a hassle, requiring a lot of back-and-forth. On PS5, Bethesda has fully embraced the controller’s features, including immersive haptic feedback for nearly everything, adaptive triggers for actions like mining and shooting, a lightbar that reflects your health, controller speaker for radio sounds, and a particularly useful touchbar for quick access to functions.



I’ve been playing Starfield, and honestly, the way it uses the PS5 controller’s touchpad is fantastic! Most games just make it act like a big button, but Starfield lets you use both sides to change how you look around or pull up the map. But the best part? The swipe gestures! I can quickly bring up my skills, inventory, mission list, and powers just by swiping. You can even customize what those swipes do. I didn’t realize how much I relied on those quick swipes until I started playing on Xbox. It made me realize I need to set up the extra paddles and buttons on my other controllers when I revisit the Steam version – using Steam Input should really help smooth out the menu navigation and make the whole experience even better.

Starfield utilizes the controller well, but it’s missing a feature called gyro aiming. Adding gyro support for movement and aiming would significantly improve the experience, and I’m hopeful Bethesda will add it in a future update, as they’ve already done a great job with the controller’s other functions.

I haven’t started the Shattered Space DLC yet, so I was hesitant to finish the Terran Armada storyline. However, I began the quest earlier than recommended (level 50) and was immediately hooked. The initial radio message was intriguing, and I especially liked how the quest seamlessly integrated the Free Lanes cruise mode from the very beginning. It feels like a genuinely new quest line added to Starfield, not just extra content thrown in for the update and new platforms. I’ll share more thoughts on the story once I’ve finished both DLCs.

Starfield PS5 Pro visual modes and options

Starfield on the standard PlayStation 5 offers the same graphical settings as the Xbox Series X, letting you choose your preferred frame rate (30, 40, 60, or uncapped), toggle v-sync, and prioritize either visual quality or performance. The performance option lowers resolution and some visual details to try and achieve a smooth 60 frames per second. On the PlayStation 5 Pro, you get all those options – with improvements in both visual modes – plus a new “Enhanced” mode. This mode is designed to take full advantage of the PS5 Pro’s hardware, maximizing detail and resolution while maintaining high-quality effects, lighting, and crowds. However, I found that the Enhanced mode didn’t run consistently well with the frame rate uncapped or set to 60fps. I ended up playing with either the Enhanced mode targeting 40fps (which occasionally dropped while driving) or the Performance mode at 60fps.

When looking at how the PS5 and PS5 Pro handle graphics, the PS5 Pro’s ‘Performance’ mode often looks better than the standard PS5’s ‘Visuals’ or ‘Quality’ mode. For example, a distant sign that appeared in the standard PS5’s image was missing in the PS5 Pro’s ‘Performance’ mode, but overall, details, plants, and filtering looked clearer on the PS5 Pro. It’s a noticeable improvement over the standard PS5’s ‘Performance’ mode too. I also compared it to the PS5 Pro’s ‘Enhanced’ mode, and included a side-by-side image of the same scene on both consoles in all three modes. To keep things consistent, I didn’t use the 40fps option; I aimed for 30fps in ‘Visuals’ or ‘Enhanced’ mode and 60fps in ‘Performance’ mode.






I tested Starfield on both Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 Pro. While my Xbox has a VRR display, my PS5 and PS5 Pro don’t. On Xbox, I noticed some performance dips in the cities of New Atlantis and Akila City, but overall it ran smoothly. On the PS5 Pro, I didn’t encounter any significant problems in the areas I tested. However, during gameplay after recording comparison footage, the game frequently switched between 60 and 40 frames per second.

Starfield load times on PS5, PS5 Pro, Xbox, and Steam Deck

Aside from generally long loading times – especially when first loading a save file – I found the forced animations during takeoff and fast travel particularly disruptive. This feedback is based on testing the final retail versions of Starfield for PlayStation 5 and PS5 Pro, which are the same builds as the Xbox and Steam versions from a few days ago, prior to today’s Free Lanes update. Because I don’t yet have access to the update and DLC on every platform, I won’t be doing my usual detailed visual comparison. I’m sharing these results to provide context and show how the newest version compares to the game before the latest update, including on PC handhelds.

Throughout my testing, Starfield was installed on the internal SSD of each platform. I timed how long it took to reach the game’s title screen from the platform’s main menu (Title), load a game saved near the beginning in New Atlantis (Save), fast travel from The Lodge to my ship (Ship), launch the ship and fly out into space (Take Off), and then fast travel back to The Lodge from space (The Lodge).

Platform Title Save Ship Take Off The Lodge
PS5 Pro 22 20-21 7 21 15
PS5 25 22-23 9 23 17-18
XSX 28 38-42 7 23 18
Steam Deck 26-27 43 7 29 24
ROG Ally 16 27 10 30 25

Many of the loading screens feel repetitive due to reused animations and cutscenes. However, I was surprised to find the initial load into New Atlantis takes significantly longer on the Xbox Series X than on the PlayStation 5. I suspect handheld PCs are slower because of the game’s demanding CPU requirements and overall weight. Hopefully, a future update will allow us to skip these animations and cutscenes for faster loading times. I’ll also be looking for mods that can help improve performance once they become available.



Look, I’ve played a lot of Bethesda RPGs, and honestly, if Oblivion Remastered hadn’t come out last year, Starfield would be my all-time favorite. I still really enjoy both games, even with their flaws. I’ve already sunk over a hundred hours into Starfield since it launched – which I know isn’t a ton for these kinds of games – but it’s the most time I’ve ever spent with a Bethesda title. I’m really excited to keep playing it, especially now that I’m getting the PS5 Pro and the new DLC is coming out.

I was starting to lose faith in Bethesda role-playing games after playing through Skyrim and Fallout 3, but I’m happy I gave Starfield and the remastered Oblivion a chance last year. I likely won’t enjoy Fallout 3 because I’m not interested in its setting, but after loving Oblivion so much more than Skyrim, I know I need to play Morrowind. Sometimes, a game’s world is enough to make up for its flaws, and Starfield has improved so much with updates and additions that it’s almost the game I originally wanted – it feels great to play, especially with the PS5 controller.

It would be great to see cross-platform saves and the ability to share creations added in future updates, along with all the DualSense features, for the Steam version. If you didn’t play Starfield before and are thinking about getting it now on PS5, especially with the reduced price, this is a perfect opportunity to give it a try. While the game isn’t perfect, you’ll likely have a lot of fun if it clicks with you. And if you already own it on Xbox Series X or Steam but haven’t played in a while, now’s a good time to revisit it.

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2026-04-07 18:29