Yes, We Are Looking At You, Elden Ring

Starfield is one of those rare titles whose reception slowly soured day by day after release. Whether it be due to technical issues or half-baked mechanics, what began as a promising sci-fi adventure from the creators of The Elder Scrolls has, so far, struggled to be even remembered by many.

However, with the arrival of Shattered Space, the game’s first major DLC, Bethesda has taken a clear step towards improving its base game design. It’s not something revolutionary by any stretch of the word, but it does what perhaps even Shadow of the Erdtree failed at accomplishing, sticking the landing.

Starfield’s Shattered Space Expansion Proves Simplicity Wins at the End of the Day

With this new story pack, Bethesda has introduced a wealth of new content into the game, from a slightly more engaging narrative to improved world-building quests and interactions. By all accounts, the DLC is a success in fleshing out Starfield’s overarching lore and mythos while offering players a new and tightly designed side of the base game that they would never have expected to see before.

Coming to specific plot beats, although the golden line this time is rather small, it is unbelievably more cohesive, with notable improvements in pacing, NPC interactions, and environmental storytelling. So, for our money, Shattered Space accomplishes something that Shadow of the Erdtree struggled with, making a good first impression on its respective player bases.

On the one hand, Shadow of the Erdtree brought with it a massive difficulty spike and lackluster narrative that caused many to feel alienated from the game. Many believed that FromSoftware had finally lost the plot when it came to making its games. On the other hand, Starfield manages to be a more approachable experience of the two, with Bethesda just trying to do what they’ve always done best.

Now, understandably, the comparisons between the two DLCs may seem rather surface-level in nature. After all, they are new content for two wildly different games from different genres. Still, comparing the two’s initial reception has been a fun thought exercise.

Coming back to our adventures on Va’ruun’kai, however, there is a point to be made that this expansion hasn’t arrived without flaws of its own. While this expansion builds upon Bethesda’s base design structure, it still stumbles in a number of areas.

Shattered Space Is a Flawed but Promising Expansion Which Shows Bethesda’s Still in the Game

So, yes—despite all its improvements, Shattered Space isn’t Bethesda’s best DLC. In fact, if we’re being brutally honest, several of its aspects still aren’t flat. For starters, the new we’re largely reskinned versions of old ones, lacking the customization options that made the base game’s gear system stand out.

Similarly, the new armor sets feel underwhelming, failing to meaningfully complement the gear players already have. Furthermore, while the faction storylines are intriguing, the side quests sometimes feel forced, with some criticizing the writing as shallow.

But here’s the thing: if you enjoyed Starfield for what it was, Shattered Space will likely win here again. At the end of the day, it’s a piece of content that builds on the foundation that was already there, addressing the fans’ complaints yet still leaving room for improvement.

Sure, the world is more engaging, and the plot beats are more tightly knit now. Still, Bethesda missed out on a lot of untapped potential, and since it’s the end of our time with Starfield until the following two story packs arrive, it leaves us only with an intense craving for something better.

But with all that said, what are your thoughts on Shattered Space so far? Do you think it made a better first impression than Elden Ring? Let us know in the comments below!