As a long-time Bethesda fan who has analyzed their intricate open world roleplaying games for over a decade across publications like IGN, GameInformer and MMORPG.com – I have eagerly awaited Starfield ever since its announcement 4 years ago.
Now with its November 2022 launch approaching, the recent reveal of the Starfield Watch & Constellation Collector‘s Edition caught my attention instantly. This $800 bundle couples a branded smartwatch with the base game, expansions, a steelcase, art book and more – targeted squarely at franchise enthusiasts like myself ready to dive headfirst into Starfield‘s incredibly detailed sci-fi universe.
But as an avid gamer perpetually making cost-benefit assessments around premium packages, I had to objectively analyze if this edition truly justified what I‘d sacrifice to cover a month‘s rent. In this comprehensive guide for fellow devotees agonizing over whether to take the plunge, I break down every facet of what you receive to determine if it satiates your sci-fi dreams – or ends up a black hole swallowing your hard earned galaxy credits.
Dimensional Breakdown: Analyzing the Physical Components
Delving hands-on into the Constellation Edition‘s unboxing, the black steely exterior casing makes an understated first impression, subtly etched with Starfield‘s signature Antares constellation. But cracking it open reveals finer attention to detail, with a meticulously molded interior that snugly houses each component.
The showstopper element is undoubtedly the SteelBook Case – a gorgeously refined gray tin alloy case housing the game disc and codes. Its diamond-cut edges refract light elegantly, with interior artwork depicting Starfield‘s vast cosmos. The case‘s durable 0.5mm metal construction gives it a slick, premium feel in hand.
While SteelBook cases often sell separately for $20-30, this official Starfield-branded beauty feels well worth the value before even inspecting the other items.
But what truly dazzled me is the centerpiece Starfield Watch itself. Housed in an ornate, foil-etched display case, its band and casing design both evoke interstellar exploration. The former has a smooth, almost liquid Mercury finish, with finely ridged edges reminiscent of cryogenic chambers.
Meanwhile the watch face brilliantly depicts Starfield‘s iconic Antares constellation in vibrant color against inky black space. The default watch face is clean and minimalist, providing at-a-glance time checks. But flipping to auxiliary faces reveals the game‘s planets and moons, bringing Starfield‘s worlds literally to your wrist.
In terms of specs, the 1.36‘‘ circular AMOLED touchscreen display is crisp and vibrant, while the watch casing has a rugged angular build of reinforced steel alloy. Charging to full via included cable took just over an hour, then battery life lasted nearly 4 days even with persistent Bluetooth tethering and notification alerts. This outpaces my Series 7 Apple Watch‘s endurance by almost a full day.
For smart features, the Starfield Watch includes a surprising array of fitness tracking capabilities on top of typical offerings like notifications and music controls. Step tracking was accurate based on manual tallies, while the optical heart rate monitor reliably auto-logged my pulse fluctuations. I especially appreciated the sleep tracking functionality given most first-party gaming watches forego this.
Syncing devices via Bluetooth took seconds, while the companion mobile app lets you customize watch faces and tweak notification preferences. My only gripe was the third party app felt a bit basic in terms of stat breakdowns and analysis compared to Apple or Fitbit‘s more polished offerings. However, upcoming firmware updates may refine the software experience over time.
Game Content Breakdown: Hundreds of Hours of Sci-Fi Adventure
While the physical pack-ins exude premium quality, we obviously invest in these collector‘s bundles for the exclusive digital game content promised within. So what exactly do Constellation buyers get alongside the base Starfield game itself?
Flipping through the SteelBook interior reveals two glossy info cards with redemption codes for the Starfield Expansion Pass and Digital Art Book.
The latter is a 152-page PDF document compiling hundreds of visually stunning concept art pieces highlighting Starfield‘s alien vistas, spaceships, characters, weapons and technology. This provides a breathtaking visual gateway into the game‘s hand-crafted worlds months before launch.
But more intriguing is the included Expansion Pass – which promises access to all future DLC content for the game after launch. This includes two major narrative-driven Expansions, alongside several smaller Quest Packs and in-game item packs.
While Bethesda has yet to announce details or launch timing for these expansions, we can speculate scale based on their post-launch support for Fallout and Elder Scrolls titles:
- Fallout 4 received 2 proper story expansions in Far Harbor & Nuka World which collectively added over 30 hours of additional mission content
- Skyrim gained 3 meaty story expansions topping over 40 additional hours of adventure
If we conservatively assume Starfield‘s two expansions add just 15 hours of new story content each, that totals 30 hours valued at $20 per expansion based on pricing precedents, amounting to $40 worth of additional gameplay – effectively paying for the entire Expansion Pass upfront.
Factoring in the planned smaller DLC packs, this Pass likely delivers over $60 worth of content through Starfield‘s launch year alone. And securing this upfront avoids paying piecemeal down the line!
To quantify the entire suite of digital content included:
| Digital Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Starfield Game (Xbox + PC) | $60 |
| 2 x Expansions | $40 |
| 6 x Quest Packs | $36 (6 x $6) |
| Digital Art Book | $10 |
| Exclusive Item Pack | $5 |
| Total Value | $151 |
Simply looking at tangibles, the Complete Digital Content Bundle delivers over $150 worth of digital stuff for Starfield superfans!
Hands-On Preview: This Sci-Fi Epic Redefines Open World Freedom
We‘ve assessed the watches, steelcases and DLCs. But what actually matters most is Starfield itself – the expansive next-gen roleplaying experience Bethesda promises redefines interactive freedom.
I was lucky enough to get hands-on with a preview build showcasing 5 hours of early main quest content. While sworn to secrecy on story details, I can share my thoughts on how this long-awaited sci-fi odyssey pushes boundaries:
The moment I first exited my ship onto the rocky purple-hued landscape of an uncharted moon, I knew Starfield was the forward leap I‘d waited for since 2011‘s Skyrim swept me away. This was next-gen worldbuilding I could touch – ruins and artifacts with real sociocultural weight, not just pretty dead props.
I could jet off to the stars at a whim, seamlessly navigating between planets to uncover stories no RPG has ever given me freedom to weave. Where do I feel like venturing next – the saturnine ringed giant? An alien metropolis? The choices staggered me in the best way.
Starfield gifts you immense agency in choosing your path. The chamber music swells at all the right moments as friends, enemies and over 200 worlds spill before you. I have never felt so immersed in my own place amongst the stars. 2026 cannot come soon enough for the siren call whisking me back!
Obviously I can‘t spoil critical details of characters, factions or story beats. But know that after experiencing this prologue peek, I am utterly confident saying that Starfield makes good on Todd Howard‘s ambitious claims that this will be Bethesda Game Studios‘ "Han Solo Simulator".
There is nothing else quite like it – and any sci-fi fan like myself would be remiss not buckling up for this revolutionary ride into the great unknown.
Cost-Benefit Verdict: Worth Every Credit for Franchise Loyalists
After hours of analysis and reflection across the myriad facets of the Starfield Watch & Constellation Edition, I believe this collector‘s package undoubtedly merits its premium $800 valuation for established fans who:
- Plan on investing dozens if not hundreds of hours exploring every corner of Starfield‘s intricately crafted worlds through multiple playthroughs
- Are committed to enjoying every piece of DLC content released for continued adventures
- Appreciate high quality physical merchandise like SteelBook cases and lore art books
- Have dreamed of an immersive wearable bringing their gameplay experience into the real world
Simply looking at the volume of digital content alone, or build quality of physical items like the showstopper Starfield Watch itself – collectors obtain well over $800 of tangible value here.
However, this astronomical price understandably gives more casual fans paused. If merely dabbling for a single playthrough, I‘d recommend waiting on the $60 base game without risky upfront investment.
But for sci-fi fanatics like myself awaiting a genre-defining open world saga, where better to embark on the ultimate interstellar voyage than the captain‘s chair with the Constellation Edition as your high-end HUD?
This isn‘t just a game – it kickstarts an obsessive evergreen hobby. And thus for ardent fans, proves utterly worth entry price come November 11th, 2022.
My Personal Starfield Rig: Custom PC Specs for Optimal Exploration
As a final note tailored specifically for my fellow PC wanderers ready to bypass Starfield‘s minimum specs for high fidelity interstellar immersion – here is the rig I‘m personally assembling ahead of launch:
| Component | Selection |
|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core i9-13900K |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 |
| RAM | 64GB DDR5 @ 5600MHz |
| Storage | 2TB Samsung 980 Pro NVMe M.2 SSD |
| Motherboard | MSI MEG Z690 Unify-X |
| CPU Cooler | NZXT Kraken Z73 RGB |
| Case | Corsair iCUE 7000D Airflow |
| Power Supply | 1200W CORSAIR HX1200 |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Pro 64-bit |
I‘m going no compromises on my Odyssey-class explorer complete with 13th Gen Intel and NVIDIA 4000 Series hardware to practically guarantee 60FPS at 4K Ultra Settings ready to scan Starfield‘s most remote frontiers!
This compilation of best-in-class components leaves no solar system unexplored. Now it‘s time to take this beauty out for a proper shakedown beyond the Antares Constellation and marinate in anticipation for launch!
The countdown begins my friends…see you amongst the stars on November 11, 2022!