Starfield's DLC Introduces a Much-Needed Element to the Base Game

Nearly a year after Starfield first launched, its inaugural major expansion, Shattered Space, is on the verge of release. This expansion will delve into the enigmatic House Va'ruun, the third interstellar government within the Settled Systems, offering players new characters, locations, and an engaging storyline. Shattered Space was included as a perk in Starfield's Premium and Constellation Editions to encourage players to purchase these special editions ahead of the game's release in September 2023. However, it will also be available for purchase separately.

Despite various mentions and lore snippets about House Va'ruun in the base game, the faction’s main base of operations was never showcased.

Handcrafted Worlds Shine in Starfield's Shattered Space Expansion

One of the key selling points of Starfield during its promotion was the vast array of planets available for exploration, boasting roughly 1,000 planets spread across 100 star systems. These planets include a mix of "story" planets, which feature meticulously crafted environments tied to main factions and campaign storylines, and numerous procedurally generated planets that offer points of interest for looting, outpost construction, or resource extraction.

As confirmed by an Xbox Wire preview, Shattered Space will feature more of the handcrafted environments that fans of Bethesda’s games appreciate. The expansion has long been known to introduce brand-new locales, and with House Va'ruun at the forefront, speculation has centered on the possibility of exploring their home world, Va'ruun'kai. Players will likely have the chance to visit the house's headquarters in the capital city, Dazra.

Va'ruun'kai is a planet steeped in mystery—so much so that even its star system's location is unknown. To maintain this secrecy, House Va'ruun's agents are never given the coordinates to jump back home and can only return once summoned by their superiors. In Shattered Space, it seems players will stumble upon Va'ruun'kai after responding to a distress signal from a space station known as The Oracle.

Confirmed reports reveal that Shattered Space will offer a new, multi-hour adventure set primarily on this singular planet. When players arrive, they find Va'ruun'kai in chaos: a catastrophic grav drive experiment two weeks prior has obliterated Dazra and isolated parts of the planet in gravitational anomalies known as Vortexes. Notably, grav drive technology was also responsible for the destruction of Earth in 2203.

The leader of Va’ruun has vanished after the failed experiment, plunging the society into turmoil as factions vie for control. Meanwhile, extra-dimensional creatures have started to emerge from the Vortexes, turning the planet into a landscape of horror. This expansion aims to immerse players in a gripping narrative of political and physical conflict, as they seek to uncover the truth and possibly save Va'ruun'kai, all while expanding the lore introduced in the main game.

Why Starfield Needs More Handcrafted Content

Although some might be surprised that Shattered Space focuses on just one planet, this decision plays to Starfield's strengths. The game's handcrafted environments are rich with detail and personality, much like the diverse atmospheres of Akila City, the cyberpunk-infused Neon, and the utopian New Atlantis.

In Shattered Space, players can leave and revisit Va'ruun'kai whenever they wish. This focused approach has allowed Bethesda to craft another distinctive environment, even if it portrays a devastated world. This dedication to creating fresh, unique experiences lets the expansion lean heavily into its horror theme, providing something novel for players to explore.

One of the main criticisms leveled at Starfield was that, despite the appeal of exploring 1,000 planets, the reality of traversing procedurally generated worlds often felt empty and lifeless, with only a few exceptions offering meaningful interactions. While these planets were intended as blank canvases for players to build outposts and gather resources, the experience could feel monotonous.

To remedy this, Starfield could benefit from more handcrafted environments, even if it means revisiting and revitalizing existing planets with new cities or smaller settlements. This approach has proven successful in Shattered Space, where Xbox Wire's Joe Skrebels noted that the expansion feels like "a classic Bethesda Game Studios experience," similar to expansions from The Elder Scrolls and Fallout series. He described Va'ruun'kai as "deeply alien" with unique architecture, offering plenty of new experiences for players who have already spent time exploring Starfield's universe over the past year.

Since its launch, Starfield has made strides in improving exploration with features like land vehicles, but the game would benefit greatly from having more interesting and engaging locations to discover. Shattered Space is a promising step in this direction, and there is hope that Bethesda will continue to expand and enrich the game world, even through smaller updates and upcoming expansions.