Parent Game: Stellaris
Stellaris: Console Edition

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Summary

The universe is getting bigger every day! Paradox Development Studio is bringing the grand strategy genre to consoles for the first time ever with Stellaris: Console Edition.

Featuring the same deep strategic gameplay, rich and diverse alien races and emergent storytelling, Stellaris: Console Edition puts the complexity of the galaxy at your thumbsticks.


Stellaris: Console Edition Activation Instructions

Stellaris: Console Edition Reviews & Ratings

50
Review by HaloFever [user]
July 19, 2022

Stellaris was already a problematic game on PC? And the PS4 version makes those problems worse. The user interface is obtuse, bloated, andStellaris was already a problematic game on PC? And the PS4 version makes those problems worse. The user interface is obtuse, bloated, and impenetrable for new users. If you played this on PC, you probably saw all of the quality of life mods. Paradox could have implemented some of those ideas for PS4. Instead they created a frustrating interface for controllers. Best I can say is that this game fills a niche that others do not and it played well on PS5.The big issue on PS4 are the many, many menus that clutter the screen. More is not always better and Stellaris proves this. Finding relevant info feels like a hidden object game. If I was in charge of fixing this game, I would start by taking away factions, edicts, most of the +5% techs, blockers on planets, much of the diplomacy screen, a few redundant buildings, the ship designer, and about 1/2 of fleet management. Then I would give players the option automate many of the tasks in this game like surveying systems, building housing, and responding to pirates. A lot of players would change a lot about Stellaris, especially on PS4. The DLC adds a lot to the game, but like I said, more is not always better.Another longstanding issue in the game is the waiting. This is like the next turn in Civilization 6 except Stellaris runs in real time. So you need to keep watching the game, hoping that something happens so you can click something and at least pretend you are playing a game. I would prefer a turn based Stellaris. I have to keep pausing the game to make decisions anyway.Finally, Stellaris has major limitations for strategy and tactics. Long term strategy depends on random opportunities to research new techs and find habitable planets. (If you get lucky and can research terraforming soon enough, you can make every planet habitable.) Tactics are almost non existent. The battles are decided by numbers, and the bigger number wins. The best you do on defense is bait the ent into attacking a system with a space station that can hurt the enemy’s shield and slow them down. There are no hit and run tactics. There are no fighter versus carrier battles. There are no stealth ships with first strike advantages. As a long time fan of games like Dune II and Civilization, the battles are disappointing.Full disclosure: I downloaded this from my PS+ Essential collection. I also played the PC version with more of the DLC. (My son bought it and I paid him half after I played it.) I am not going to convince myself this is a 10/10 game when it has so many issues with easy fixes. Rule of thumb, if you want mods to make a game better, it was never perfect.

85
Review by Vandal
June 24, 2020

Stellaris is a fantastic game, and so is its console version. The menu and control system has been successfully adapted, and players can have a similar experience playing it with a controller.

50
Review by ClutterBrain [user]
January 28, 2020

While the game itself may have good depth and strategy, it is sorely lacking in-game instruction and information. You will probably need toWhile the game itself may have good depth and strategy, it is sorely lacking in-game instruction and information. You will probably need to spend many hours on Google, YouTube, Reddit, etc before fully grasping this game. In doing so, you will possibly be rewarded with a robust experience seldom found on console. If this sounds like too much of a time and energy investment though, you might want to pass on this title altogether.

85
Review by Worth Playing
September 11, 2019

Stellaris: Console Edition is a mighty impressive game in and of itself. It also did the impossible: make a fairly complex and grand strategy title enjoyable on a console. That should stand as its own achievement. If you have access to Stellaris on a powerful PC, the console edition isn't for you. Even though it is a great title, the console version still feels somewhat restrained and pared down, but that may change with future updates. Regardless, if you're a fan of the genre and only game on a console at home, this is as close as you can get to a great strategy title running in its full glory on a TV.

100
Review by Dudeguy4755 [user]
June 19, 2019

One of the best games of all time! I have gotten multiple friends to play the game and everyone can see how deep the game really is. We areOne of the best games of all time! I have gotten multiple friends to play the game and everyone can see how deep the game really is. We are always trying to come up with different ways to dominate the galaxy while still trying to master the game. Not hard to grasp and very good controls for a console port. I’m very impressed how easily it has been ported from the PC. Good job Devs!

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Game Information
Release Date February 26, 2019
Publisher Paradox Development Studio, Tantalus Media, Paradox Interactive
Content Rated E10+ (Everyone 10+)
Game Modes Single player, Multiplayer
Genres Simulator, Strategy
Themes Science fiction, 4X (explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate)
Platforms PlayStation 4, Xbox One