Skip to main content
If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy.

Starfield Early Access release date

Here's how to get Starfield early access and when the early access period begins

A large ship drifts in orbit around a planet in Starfield.
Image credit: Bethesda Game Studios
Ollie Toms avatar
Guide by Ollie Toms Guides Editor
Updated on

Wondering how to get Starfield early access? Bethesda's first single-player RPG in almost a decade, Starfield, is finally here. Within just a few short hours, Starfield early access will launch, allowing you to jet off into space and plot your own journey among the stars. It's an incredibly thrilling prospect, and with over 1000 planets to explore, it seems to also be a rather gargantuan task. If you're eager to spend every possible second roaming the universe, then you're in the right place.

In this guide, we break down how to get Starfield early access, so that you know exactly when it begins.

Was Starfield worth the wait? Liam and Alice B discuss this question - and more - in the video above.Watch on YouTube

Starfield Early Access start date and time

The Starfield early access start date is Friday, 1st September 2023, releasing at the following times:

  • East US: Thursday 31st August at 8pm (EDT)
  • Central US: Thursday 31st August at 7pm (CDT)
  • West US: Thursday 31st August at 5pm (PDT)
  • UK: Friday 1st September at 1am (BST)
  • Europe: Friday 1st September at 2am (CEST)
  • Australia: Friday 1st September at 10am (AEST)
  • Japan: Friday 1st September at 9am (JST)

That's five days before Starfield itself releases, although Bethesda notes that "actual play time depends on purchase date [...] and applicable time zone differences." Given how massive a game Starfield is shaping up to be, most players won't be able to get terribly far into the game in just five days. But even if you don't get early access, you'll still likely be able to watch the game being played on streams and videos by those who do have early access.

Of course, given how popular the Starfield early access is likely to be, there may be outages as Microsoft's servers are unable to handle the influx of many thousands of players. And it's a Bethesda game, after all. So don't expect an entirely smooth experience in early access!

How to get early access to Starfield

To get early access to Starfield, you need to purchase either the Premium Edition or the Constellation Edition. Both these options are quite a bit more expensive than the Standard Edition that most players will buy - the cost is £86 / $100 / €100 for the Premium Edition, or £250 / $300 / €300 for the Constellation Edition. But they also contain various extras - both digital and physical - in addition to giving you early access to the game. For more information, check out our dedicated guide on the different Starfield editions.

You can also upgrade your Standard Edition using the Premium Upgrade addon for £35 / $35 / €35, and this will also give early access to Game Pass players who have the Standard Edition included in their Game Pass subscription.

If you're preparing to dive deep into Bethesda's monumental RPG, then you'd best prepare with our guide on the Starfield PC requirements. Alternatively, if you're looking to play Starfield early access on your favourite handheld console, check out our primer asking: can Starfield run on Steam Deck or ASUS ROG Ally?

Read this next