Everyone is disappointed with Starfield because it's not up to expectations.

Starfield has caused a lot of online arguments since it became available for everyone on Wednesday. On one hand, PlayStation 5 fans are upset that an Xbox exclusive is getting the limelight. On the other, hardcore Bethesda fans don't want to admit that their idols could make something disappointing. These debates are made worse by Bethesda withholding review copies, which some people have tried to explain away as a mistake.

I decided to try it out for myself with my Game Pass subscription. My verdict? It's okay. It's nothing amazing, and pretty much what I expected. I can already tell it’s going to be a flawed and forgettable experience. In my opinion, it's the mediocre games that always cause the most disagreement. When something is undeniable good or bad, there's rarely much argument. But when something is in the middle, it's open season.

I would say Starfield's combat is average, but because it's not terrible, and there are plenty of options and weapons, you could make an argument that it's better. It's this kind of debate that often arises from hype and unrealistic expectations for a game. People pretend it's exactly what they were hoping for, whether it is or not.

Take, for example, the space travel and exploration in the game. It's impossible to describe it as anything more than average, but there are still plenty of apologists who pretend it's perfectly fine. This is despite the fact that there are plenty of games that have done similar things much earlier.

I'm not saying Starfield is a terrible or even a bad game. But I am saying it's not a particularly good one. This is where the argument and disagreement is coming from. With Bethesda acting as if they've made the best game ever and not showing any humility about it, the debates are only going to continue for a while. We will have to wait and see if this will blow over in a few weeks, or if Microsoft and Bethesda will keep pushing it and pretending it's had universal praise.

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