Bethesda's Starfield has had its share of ups and downs! Its first DLC, Shattered Space, didn't quite hit the mark, even though the developers at Bethesda put in so much work!
Shattered Space and Its Reception
Fans were pretty disappointed with Shattered Space for several reasons, primarily due to its limited amount of new content. The introduction of House Va'ruun also fell flat. Many players also didn't think Shattered Space measured up to other successful DLC expansions from titles such as Elden Ring (Shadow of the Erdtree) and Cyberpunk 2077 (Phantom Liberty). These provided far more content for the price.
Shattered Space's Improvements
Despite some issues, Shattered Space did improve some parts of the base game. Enemy AI is much better, leading to more strategic combat. New enemies (the Phantom and Horror types) are much smarter and capable of flanking and ambushing, offering more challenging combat.
- The environments in Va'ruun'kai are amazing and take sci-fi horror to a new level. Both the surface and underground locations really shine.
- The DLC adds some exciting new gear. Vortex Grenades stand out, having some cool, unique abilities that range from blasts to messing with reality.
- The storyline provides some solid and exciting components. It introduces the Phantoms and develops the overall mystery. There are player choice options that really make you feel part of the story!
Ongoing Issues
Although there are some positives, many still didn't think Shattered Space was quite what they expected. There wasn't enough new content for many, complaining that only seven new weapons and similar armor pieces were disappointing and should have been vastly improved. Many also thought that Dazra, and the surrounding planet, wasn't big enough, nor had enough interesting spots to make it worthwhile.
Even the new cult's story feels too similar to the main game. Even though House Va'ruun sounds awesome and the concept has a cool place in the story. But it isn't developed enough and players didn't see that depth expected in the lore! Bethesda needs to develop better culture elements. These should provide unique situations within the context of the sci-fi setting!
A Step in the Right Direction
One big change that came out before Shattered Space was the introduction of the drivable REV-8 buggy. While a really cool addition, its release probably overshadowed the DLC expansion a little. Maybe it helped get players excited, but it definitely did little to get rid of the overall negative vibes.
Besides the buggy, several bug fixes and smaller changes got rolled into the release. Many didn't really notice but did improve Gameplay.
What Fans Want in Future Updates
Starfield still has a lot of potential for amazing expansions, despite the release of Shattered Space! The criticism at launch includes a huge absence of immersion! Fans hope Bethesda takes note of these comments as players felt there could be better immersion through launch and landing!
Ships still need some serious improvement. Even the small amount of additions in Shattered Space are very important, as Fans hoped that things like improved customization will help in the long-run.
More content, perhaps something across the universe is an idea that fans really hope to see. That will help to connect the various parts of Starfield into a far more meaningful whole and allow more options with truly big consequences! Better maps would also help improve exploration as will ongoing mod support for passionate Fans who want to play even after release!
Ultimately, Shattered Space isn't a complete failure but is also not everything that Starfield could have achieved. Future expansions, particularly if they take this advice to heart, will prove what this really needs! Even so, the game is much improved and that may get many to continue their space exploration!
