Microsoft stakes Xbox video game sales on Starfield

One small step for a crew of 24th century space explorers could be a giant leap — or flop — for Microsoft when the Xbox-maker launches its long-awaited video game Starfield.

Players must fend off pirates, navigate strange moons, build outposts and fix their own starships in a space epic that is due out on Xbox in September after years of development and delay. Microsoft gave its most detailed glimpse of the upcoming game at a Los Angeles event Sunday.

The release could be one of the most important in Xbox’s history as it looks to attract gamers with a headliner on par with Nintendo’s latest Zelda game and Playstation’s upcoming Spiderman 2, said Mat Piscatella, a game industry analyst for market researcher Circana.

After months of watching Nintendo’s Switch console and Sony’s Playstation steal the momentum in a lagging market, Microsoft could use a blockbuster to drive sales of its Xbox consoles and its monthly game subscription service.

— The Associated Press