Starfield: Shattered Space
First major expansion for Starfield, set on the planet Var'uun'kai.
Starfield: Shattered Space is the first major expansion pack for the action role-playing video game Starfield, developed by Bethesda Game Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks. Announced during the Starfield Direct event on June 11, 2023, it was released on September 30, 2024, for Windows and Xbox Series X/S, and later on PlayStation 5 on April 7, 2026. The expansion received mixed critical reviews and negative user reception, becoming one of Bethesda's lowest rated properties and their lowest rated DLC.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Bethesda Game Studios
- Publisher
- Bethesda Softworks
- Engine
- Creation Engine 2
- Platforms
- Windows
- Xbox Series X/S
- PlayStation 5
- Genre
- Action role-playing
- Modes
- Single-player
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The expansion is principally set on a single planet, Var'uun'kai, the homeworld of House Va'ruun, contrasting with the base game's multiple star systems. This design choice allows for a more focused and detailed exploration experience, emphasizing a dense and intricate environment with detailed interiors and diverse terrains. The plot begins when the player encounters a mysterious space station called The Oracle transmitting a distress call. Boarding it, they find much of the station bathed in a strange blue liquid and encounter aggressive 'phantoms'. After restoring power, the station Grav Jumps to Var'uun'kai, where the capital city of Dazra has been devastated by a massive explosion centered on the capital building. The player is inducted into House Va'ruun after it is revealed that only they can hear the Speaker, Anasko Va'ruun, who has become a phantom. Working with the three noble Houses—Ka'dic, Veth'aal, and Dul'khef—the player investigates the explosion's cause and seeks to breach the gravitational barrier around the Scaled Citadel. Ultimately, the player enters the Citadel and can choose to follow Anasko's command to complete an experiment enabling phantom-powered soldiers for a holy war, or deactivate the power safely. Regardless of choice, the player fights Anasko and his phantom soldiers to destroy the experiment, then casts the deciding vote on whether to resume the holy war.
Reader's Guide
Starfield: Shattered Space is notable for its concentrated design on a single planet, a deliberate departure from the base game's sprawling procedural generation. Design director Emil Pagliarulo described it as 'a DLC dedicated to bespoke goodness,' emphasizing hand-crafted environments. House Va'ruun was developed in parallel with the base game's two factions but saved for this expansion, designed to be 'alien,' 'weird,' 'truly unique,' 'kind of Klingon,' and '2/3 Cthulhu cult.' The expansion introduced new factions, creatures, bosses, weapons, armor, equipment, and crafting materials, as well as a car mech system. Despite these additions, the expansion received mixed critical reviews and negative user reception, becoming Bethesda's lowest rated DLC on Steam. Creative director Todd Howard stated the studio planned to release a story expansion for Starfield every year. The expansion's legacy is tied to its attempt to deliver focused, hand-crafted content in a game known for procedural generation, though its reception suggests it did not meet player expectations.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did critics and players react to Starfield: Shattered Space?
Metacritic scores landed in the mixed-to-average range, while player ratings were notably negative. It went on to become one of Bethesda's lowest-rated properties and their worst-reviewed DLC to date.
What game engine does Starfield: Shattered Space run on?
Like the base Starfield game, the expansion is built on Creation Engine 2, Bethesda's in-house engine for their open-world titles.
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