Game Discussions Bethesda Softworks Starfield Space RPG

[Northpin]

It was December last year I logged on to Windows; I have Windows 10 knocking around somewhere, bought in May 2021. Will I still be able to use that? I ask because I will be getting a new laptop before the end of the year and my 6 year old laptop with a GTX 1080 clearly won't cut the grade.

Usually new laptops will "require" Windows 11
However, you can install your W10 copy and free-upgrade it to Windows 11 (usually after the first session of windows updates post install) - that is if your laptop requires W11 (due to drivers, support, etc). If not, you can stay with that W10

Also I bought the smart watch version so does that mean I will launch the game differently and not via Steam?

There are 2 versions of Starfield: XB/PC from Microsoft store (single buy, you can run this on either xb or pc through ms account) or Steam version, that you can play only on PC through Steam

So, the answer is: it depends on what version you purchased

 

[Navigare Necesse Est]

I've a few questions if anyone can help me out/point me in the right direction.

It was December last year I logged on to Windows; I have Windows 10 knocking around somewhere, bought in May 2021. Will I still be able to use that? I ask because I will be getting a new laptop before the end of the year and my 6 year old laptop with a GTX 1080 clearly won't cut the grade.

Also I bought the smart watch version so does that mean I will launch the game differently and not via Steam?

Can't wait to play this even though it won't be on launch day.

Thanks in advance folks!

Where did you buy the game?

 

[Comandante]

Usually new laptops will "require" Windows 11
However, you can install your W10 copy and free-upgrade it to Windows 11 (usually after the first session of windows updates post install) - that is if your laptop requires W11 (due to drivers, support, etc). If not, you can stay with that W10



There are 2 versions of Starfield: XB/PC from Microsoft store (single buy, you can run this on either xb or pc through ms account) or Steam version, that you can play only on PC through Steam

So, the answer is: it depends on what version you purchased

Thanks Northpin. I bought the Game store watch version, PC, so I guess that means it will not be the Steam version. I suppose it doesn't matter though, really.

The laptop will be the latest and greatest (mainly for development) so I guess I will have to upgrade to Windows 11. It will be a Clevo model running Linux; all I need is Windows with enough space to fit Starfield, Star Citizen and ED. Although as time has moved on I've had my time with ED and it's moved off in a different direction so might not install that at all. Which makes me feel really sad.

 

[Comandante]

Where did you buy the game?

Game store watch exclusive thing. UK.

 

[WhiteHaulerMan]

I finally caved and bought Fallout 4 when it was on sale as my next 'going away game' (6 month appointment this time, yeesh), and will put this on my wishlist, same as BG3, as something to get when they go on sale for half their retail price 6 months after launch.

Who knows, the early steps of the inevitable Star Wars mod may have reared its head by then.

 

[Northpin]

The laptop will be the latest and greatest (mainly for development) so I guess I will have to upgrade to Windows 11. It will be a Clevo model running Linux

If it's running an intel 12 or 13 series - aka with P+E cores - you kinda need to run W11 since W10 cpu scheduler cannot differentiate between P and E cores

I got an Asus running a Ryzen 9 7945HX - and ASUS still requires W11 (no official drivers support for W10) even tho it doesnt have P+E cores - so i had to make the jump to W11

 

[Ashnak]

116 GB!?!

Yowieeeeee!

I finally broke down and bought a second SSD for game files. 1 TB for 50 €, should be good for ... 5 games?

 

[Navigare Necesse Est]

Game store watch exclusive thing. UK.

There must be some kind of card or info relating to the distribution platform. You purchase along with merch, my guess is the Microsoft platform is your means of game authentication.

 

[Comandante]

There must be some kind of card or info relating to the distribution platform. You purchase along with merch, my guess is the Microsoft platform is your means of game authentication.

OK. If it turns into a PITA I don't mind purchasing the Steam version separately since I am in a good position (for now at least) with cash, and mainly, I haven't bought a game since 2018. This Windows stuff is completely alien to me which is why I asked; I've RTFMd the information on Windows 11 and cannot for one moment consider even accepting having to have a Windows account.

Like I said, Windows for me is for logging into 3 games, 2 of which I don't currently play (ED, Star Citizen) and one (Starfield) which isn't even out yet! In fact the first time I got Windows after university was to play ED in 2013/4...

Thanks both Northpin and Navigare for your responses. I am sure I'll plague this thread sooner or later for some more Windows advice!

 

[Comandante]

If it's running an intel 12 or 13 series - aka with P+E cores - you kinda need to run W11 since W10 cpu scheduler cannot differentiate between P and E cores

I got an Asus running a Ryzen 9 7945HX - and ASUS still requires W11 (no official drivers support for W10) even tho it doesnt have P+E cores - so i had to make the jump to W11

That is some excellent information that I didn't know about! I do not know yet which laptop it will be but I am imagining that the Windows 11 will be the one that I end up going for. I was hoping for a GTX 4070, possibly 4090, still haven't made up my mind yet and I know NVidia cards can var a lot.

 

[WhiteHaulerMan]

116 GB!?!

Yowieeeeee!

If you think thats bad, you errr... don't want to see my DCS folder.

 

[Space Menace]

I can't rate Starfield as a proper space game without seamless space to planet flight/landings. It'sgoingto be similar to NMS, kindof planet hopper. There is nothing wrong with that because planet exploration is fun, but space becomes an addon feature like NMS.

 

[Astaran]

If you think thats bad, you errr... don't want to see my DCS folder.

/cries in modded Ark: Survival Evolved

I can't rate Starfield as a proper space game without seamless space to planet flight/landings. It'sgoingto be similar to NMS, kindof planet hopper. There is nothing wrong with that because planet exploration is fun, but space becomes an addon feature like NMS.

I disagree. Judging from what we know so far, there's a lot going on in space (e.g. combat, boarding, trade etc.). The fact, that you can customize your own ship to a very large degree indicates that space will play a vital role in the game loop.

 

[Navigare Necesse Est]

/cries in modded Ark: Survival Evolved



I disagree. Judging from what we know so far, there's a lot going on in space (e.g. combat, boarding, trade etc.). The fact, that you can customize your own ship to a very large degree indicates that space will play a vital role in the game loop.

I've seen somne zero g activity in teasers. I'm counting on that. Space games don't need spaceship simulation and pilot seats. They need to have action happen in space. That is sufficient for being a space game.

 

[Old Duck]

116 GB!?!

Yowieeeeee!

Yeah but look at all you get for that 116 GB. IMO there will be a whole lot more content per byte than Odyssey's big footprint. What worries me is that Microsoft's installer will be just as rubbish as it is for MSFS2020, which means it will take forever to download this game, and every update will require you to basically redownload the game, even if that update only contains one changed line of code...

 

[Northpin]

I've RTFMd the information on Windows 11 and cannot for one moment consider even accepting having to have a Windows account.

you dont have to login into windows with a MS account, but you'd need one to use an XB or buy XB/PC games like Starfield
(i'm using a local account for my brand new laptop that came with windows 11 preinstalled - there is an workaround for this, Google knows about it )


Else, if you dont want to deal with telemetry data sent to MS, you'd need to use Windows Server 2022 as Morbad does.

 

[Morbad]

Will I still be able to use that?

Yes.

Usually new laptops will "require" Windows 11
However, you can install your W10 copy and free-upgrade it to Windows 11 (usually after the first session of windows updates post install) - that is if your laptop requires W11 (due to drivers, support, etc). If not, you can stay with that W10

There is essentially no hardware that has Windows 11-only drivers at this point.

Else, if you dont want to deal with telemetry data sent to MS, you'd need to use Windows Server 2022 as Morbad does.

Or an Education, Enterprise, or LTSB version of 10/11, if you don't want to have to mangle the OS overly much.

 

[Northpin]

There is essentially no hardware that has Windows 11-only drivers at this point.

Manufacturers will say they're not supporting W10 on their new laptops (i got this response from XMG for example which are top notch with support - even tho they've also said that W10 will most probably work with W11 drivers, Asus is not listing W10 as an option for drivers, etc - not to mention that starting with Intel series 12 CPUs, W11 is required for proper scheduling between P and E cores - but you know this all too well)

 

[Mole HD]

Yeah but look at all you get for that 116 GB. IMO there will be a whole lot more content per byte than Odyssey's big footprint. What worries me is that Microsoft's installer will be just as rubbish as it is for MSFS2020, which means it will take forever to download this game, and every update will require you to basically redownload the game, even if that update only contains one changed line of code...

The Xbox app installer was pretty quick-ish for me...no slower than Steam or any of the other apps. Peak time download, I was averaging a steady 85-90Mbps which was pretty good on my 100Mbps down 20Mbps up connection... and being geographically challenged to boot

 

[Navigare Necesse Est]

Yeah but look at all you get for that 116 GB. IMO there will be a whole lot more content per byte than Odyssey's big footprint. What worries me is that Microsoft's installer will be just as rubbish as it is for MSFS2020, which means it will take forever to download this game, and every update will require you to basically redownload the game, even if that update only contains one changed line of code...

The longer it takes, the better it becomes. That is called maturation.