Should you use a controller or keyboard for Starfield?

As a Bethesda game, Starfield comes from an interesting legacy. Modern gamers likely know the studio for titles like Fallout 4 and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, both of which launched on console and PC simultaneously. However, the company’s earliest works were PC-exclusive, excluding the odd Wayne Gretzky Hockey for the NES. For this reason, some may wonder if a controller or keyboard would be better for taking to the sea of stars in Starfield.

In short, both controller and keyboard players will have a good time with Starfield. Since the game was created with both console and PC environments in mind, it’s well optimized for either option. Menus are generally controller-friendly, and all your button prompts will make sense regardless. Keyboard players may benefit from a bit of extra precision in combat, but that’s true of almost any game that makes you shoot things. Meanwhile, controller players will have an easier time just laying back on their couch.

In other words, your decision will mostly revolve around precision vs comfort. Starfield fortunately makes it easy to seamlessly switch between the two devices if you want to test them. On PC, simply using your keyboard to move around will instantly change all prompts from controller to keyboard and vice versa. Feel free to use both if you really want to.

Controller and keyboard players may want to consider aim assist in Starfield

As an interesting note, Starfield does not feature aim assist. This is true whether you’re playing with a controller or using a keyboard and mouse. This may tilt the argument a bit in favor of not using a controller, but only slightly.

That’s certainly not enough reason to insist on a keyboard and mouse all on its own. However, if both are truly equal in your eyes, that may decide things for you.