Summary
From its opening seconds, the first trailer forStarfield’sShattered SpaceDLC makes it clear that the upcoming expansion is offering up a new take on the game’s sci-fi universe. Showcasing a decidedly dark tone and surreal visuals that stand in stark contrast toStarfield’s sometimes sterile NASA punk aesthetic,Shattered Spacelooks to be addressing player complaints that the main game lacked a distinct visual identity. And although giving the game’s first expansion a hefty infusion of the fantastical won’t guarantee success, it could draw in players who’d been turned off byStarfield’s otherwise grounded sci-fi stylings.
This radicalshift in style forShattered Spaceshows that Bethesda isn’t content to leave the game’s universe feeling static, and this bodes well for the future ofStarfield.While the sprawling sci-fi RPG received plenty of praise for its grounded and realistic setting upon release,Starfield’s distinctive NASA punk aesthetic left players who’d been expecting a somewhat more exotic sci-fi world feeling underwhelmed. But by seemingly embracing elements of both sci-fi fantasy and horror, Shattered Space looks set to show thatStarfield’s universe may be far stranger than players ever imagined.
Starfield’s NASA Punk Aesthetic Left Some Players Feeling Underwhelmed
The marketing campaign forStarfieldplaced a heavy emphasis on how nearly every element of the game was imbued with realism, with Bethesda going togreat lengths to detailthe game’s grounded, NASA punk aesthetic. And while the end result was a setting that felt fairly plausible compared to many other sci-fi games, it could also feel remarkably sterile at times. Some creative players managed to add a bit of excitement to the game by designing wildly unique spaceships usingStarfield’s powerful shipbuilder, but its overall design could still feel somewhat bland at times.
This focus on grounded realism at the expense of visual flair didn’t stop with the game’s tech; it carried forward toStarfield’s hundreds of planets. Even though players could visit far-flung worlds with scientifically accurate sunrises and sunsets, many complained about feeling underwhelmed after encountering countless barren, boring, and lifeless planets on their journey. But thanks to its darker and more fantastical sci-fi stylings that seem to draw more fromDead Spacethan the NASA archives,Shattered Spacelooks like it could giveStarfieldthe makeover many players have been waiting for.
Shattered Space Looks to Embrace Elements of Sci-fi Fantasy and Horror
With a storyline focused onStarfield’s mysterious House Va’Ruun,Shattered Spacegives Bethesda the opportunity to show players a new and darker side of the game’s universe. This tonal shift is evident throughout its debut trailer’s three-minute runtime, with theShattered Spaceteaser showing off new locations and enemies that lean heavily into sci-fi fantasy and horror tropes rather than the base game’s gritty realism. While someStarfieldmissions already included elements of these sci-fi subgenres, its first expansion looks to be embracing them wholeheartedly.
As players explore the dark reaches of the cosmos under the control of theworshipers of the Great Serpent, they’re likely to encounter all sorts of unusual sights that feel worlds away fromStarfield’s main campaign. From dragon-like creatures flying through the sky to enemies that look more like apparitions than aliens to the ominous, mysterious monolith at the center ofShattered Space’s teaser trailer, the Va’Ruun homeworld of Va’ruun’kai looks to be a drastic departure from everythingStarfieldplayers have seen before.
By letting players experience a story that fully embraces some of sci-fi’s more fantastical elements,Shattered Spacelooks set toexpandStarfield’s universein some intriguing ways. With a slew of new guns, gear, and foes to fight, the expansion should also give players plenty of exciting new ways to pass the time. And if Bethesda can deliver on the tonal shift promised in the trailer forShattered Space, it could even giveStarfieldthe second shot at success it so richly deserves.
Starfield
WHERE TO PLAY
Starfield is the first new universe in 25 years from Bethesda Game Studios, the award-winning creators of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Fallout 4. In this next generation role-playing game set amongst the stars, create any character you want and explore with unparalleled freedom as you embark on an epic journey to answer humanity’s greatest mystery.The year is 2330. Humanity has ventured beyond our solar system, settling new planets, and living as a spacefaring people. From humble beginnings as a space miner, you will join Constellation – the last group of space explorers seeking rare artifacts throughout the galaxy – and navigate the vast expanse of the Settled Systems in Bethesda Game Studios’ biggest and most ambitious game.
