Starfield’s ‘Shattered Space’ expansion hasn’t launched yet, but we may already know the name for the next DLC in 2025

Starfield's 'Shattered Space' expansion hasn't launched yet, but we may already know the name for the next DLC in 2025

What you need to know

  • Starfield is the most recent game from Bethesda’s core team behind The Elder Scrolls and mainline Fallout games. 
  • Starfield is an expansive sci-fi odyssey whose galactic ambitions garnered it a bit of a mixed reception amongst Bethesda’s core fans, despite attracting millions of players. 
  • Starfield has received solid post-launch support thus far, and many are hoping the upcoming expansion Shattered Space will add even more new features. 
  • But what about after 2024? A new trademark suggests the next Starfield expansion may be called “Starborn.” 

As a longtime fan of Bethesda games, I’ve followed the development and release of Starfield with great anticipation. Having played through the game extensively, I must admit that it has left me feeling somewhat divided.


Starfield has proven itself to be an oddly controversial game, despite its vast popularity. 

Starfield, an expansive science fiction adventure in space created by Todd Howard and his esteemed Bethesda team who brought Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim to life, is set in the 2300s. In this era, humankind has achieved dominion over the stars and has become proficient in interstellar voyages.

Despite the grim reality of a sparsely populated galaxy where most humans are recuperating from a devastating interstellar conflict, you carve out your living as an independent explorer affiliated with a guiding organization. Your character’s actions and motivations hold significant weight in this Bethesda-style RPG, allowing you to engage with various factions in various ways – be it by joining space pirates, sabotaging enemies, or remaining neutral. A diverse arsenal of weapons, including stealth tools, melee implements, and sci-fi laser rifles, is available for you to utilize in your journey. However, the game has sparked some debate since its release due to certain aspects.

Starfield on Steam holds a “mixed” evaluation due to several factors. Although it delivers an engaging experience on its own, some aspects may seem regressive from an RPG standpoint. For instance, the quests in this game provide fewer possibilities compared to Bethesda’s earlier RPG titles. Additionally, the game’s violence and gunplay are noticeably less intense than in Fallout series, making the shooting feel somewhat lackluster.

Critics argued that the game felt hollow with its vast collection of unremarkable planets offering limited discovery and exploration opportunities. Contrarily, some players expressed disappointment over the game’s lifeless NPCs and companion characters, while others were put off by Bethesda’s paid mods marketplace.

Despite its flaws, Starfield offers much to appreciate. In my assessment of the game, I pointed out how Bethesda’s distinctive style manages to overshadow some of its imperfections when at their best. Moreover, the game’s vast potential shines through, regardless of any shortcomings.

Some players are eagerly anticipating upcoming game updates to unlock the hidden potential of the game, similar to how Fallout 4 was enhanced in the past. The initial DLC, named “Shattered Space,” is set to release later in the year and explores the enigmatic House Va’ruun cult. There’s a strong possibility that we have learned the title of the following Starfield expansion based on this recently filed trademark.

Belonging to Zenimax Media, a subsidiary of Bethesda Softworks, and registered as a trademark, the term “Starborn” is earmarked for software applications on computers. The name aligns well with the Starfield theme and holds significance in the game’s narrative and mechanics, which I won’t reveal for those yet to experience it.

If you haven’t had a chance to experience the game yet, you can easily access it on Xbox Game Pass at no additional cost. As a bystander, I would advise you to move past the upcoming segment, as I intend to delve into the potential implications of Starborn for the game, containing some moderate story spoilers.

What could Starfield: Starborn mean? (Spoiler warning)

Starfield's 'Shattered Space' expansion hasn't launched yet, but we may already know the name for the next DLC in 2025

For individuals who have completed Starfield, you’re familiar with the game’s conclusion, where you transform into a “Star-born” entity, gaining the unique ability to travel between parallel dimensions, much like in Interstellar. The “Star-born” also possesses supernatural powers over gravity, time, and reality. An expansion centered around this concept could diverge from a narrative-driven DLC pack like Shattered Space. Instead, it might focus on enhancing the player experience through quality-of-life upgrades or gameplay mechanics. Fallout 4 introduced six DLC expansions post-launch, not all of which were story-heavy. Some added workshop items, improved base game engagement, and offered new mechanics. Following this model, a “Starborn” expansion could potentially concentrate on these aspects, making the game more enjoyable for players or enhancing the New Game Plus experience.

Although it might turn out to be a complex expansion of the storyline similar to Shattered Space, it’s also possible that this isn’t related to Starfield at all and we may have strayed far from the mark. What are your thoughts on this?

Regardless of the approach, it’s unlikely that we’ll receive an official explanation of what “Starborn” means before the release of Starfield: Shattered Space later in the year.

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2024-07-29 14:39