Starfield: Shattered Space DLC FAQ — Release date, price, Xbox Game Pass, features, and other questions answered

As a seasoned spacefarer who has traversed countless cosmic realms, let me tell you that Starfield: Shattered Space has piqued my interest like no other DLC in recent memory. The handcrafted world of Va’ruun’kai promises to be a breathtaking and terrifying odyssey, with its dangerous terrain, gravity anomalies, and alien wildlife sending shivers down my space-hardened spine.

A little over a year ago, Bethesda Game Studios, known for The Elder Scrolls and Fallout, launched their long-awaited space exploration RPG, Starfield. Since then, they’ve been consistently updating the game with technical improvements, popular features, new content, and official mod support using the Creation Kit. Now, they’re about to give it a significant boost: the Shattered Space story expansion. Originally announced at the time of Starfield’s release in 2023, it’s now set to be released on Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC (Steam and Microsoft Store) in just under two weeks.

The developers have been fairly tight-lipped about Shattered Space until recently, and as a result, plenty of fans have plenty of questions about the DLC. To help them out, I’ve rounded up the most frequently asked questions I’ve seen and have answered them in this article. Below, you’ll find everything you need to know about Starfield: Shattered Space’s release date, price, Game Pass availability, story, gameplay, and more.

What is the Starfield: Shattered Space DLC?

Starfield: Shattered Space DLC FAQ — Release date, price, Xbox Game Pass, features, and other questions answered

What is Starfield: Shattered Space?

Starfield: Shattered Space marks the debut of two significant narrative extensions for Bethesda’s space RPG, focusing solely on the planet Va’ruun’kai – a key location for the House Va’ruun faction, their homeworld and operational base. The House Va’ruun reveres an enigmatic deity known as the Great Serpent, ranking third among interstellar governing bodies in the Settled Systems. Following the devastating failure of their war against humanity, called the “Serpent’s Crusade,” they have largely cut themselves off from the rest of the cosmos.

What is Starfield: Shattered Space about?

In contrast to Starfield’s vast universe exploration, Shattered Space offers a more immersive, concentrated storyline set on the world of Va’ruun’kai. The narrative unfolds as players journey to the planet to unravel the aftermath of an ill-fated Grav Drive experiment that catastrophically distorted space-time, causing a rift that swallowed large sectors of Dazra’s capital city. Significantly, the Scaled Citadel, the ruling stronghold of House Va’ruun, was trapped in this rift at the onset of Shattered Space.

During the expansion, you’ll collaborate with survivors from the “vortex event,” try to uncover what became of House Va’ruun’s leader Anasko Va’ruun, and come across various factions vying for control in the chaos following the incident. One of these groups is known as the Zealots – a fierce contingent of Va’ruun warriors who wish to initiate another Serpent’s Crusade.

Though specifics about the plot aren’t clear yet, Bethesda has hinted that players will uncover the truth behind recent events, find themselves in the midst of a power struggle between lesser houses, and ultimately determine the destiny of House Va’ruun. This decision could have far-reaching consequences for the entire Settled Systems.

When does Starfield: Shattered Space take place?

In the year 2330, the events of the Shattered Space expansion unfold simultaneously with Starfield’s main storyline. Approximately a few weeks have passed since an incident that severely impacted House Va’ruun’s leadership and their people, the Va’ruun’kai.

When is Starfield: Shattered Space’s release date?

The Starfield: Shattered Space DLC is set to debut on September 30, 2024 for Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC. While the exact launch time isn’t confirmed yet, it might be around 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time or 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time, following previous update patterns. The release date was hinted at in the trailer for the game’s REV-8 rover vehicle.

How much does Starfield: Shattered Space cost?

Compared to the main version of the space exploration RPG, Starfield: Shattered Space is priced at a lower rate due to being an expansion rather than a completely new game. It retails for $29.99 and is now available for pre-order across all platforms where Starfield is distributed. However, please be aware that since it’s downloadable content, you must already own Starfield in order to purchase and play Shattered Space.

Something important to note is that if you play Starfield on Valve’s PC gaming platform Steam, you can take advantage of a cool CDKeys discount (read our CDKeys FAQ for more on the retailer and why we recommend it) that knocks the cost of preordering the expansion down to $27.69. Admittedly, you’re only shaving a few dollars off your purchase with that deal, but hey — it’s the only one available for the DLC at the moment, so there’s no reason to turn your nose up.

Is Starfield: Shattered Space free for Premium Edition owners?

If you already own Starfield’s base game, you’ll have to buy Shattered Space separately. However, if you purchased the Premium Edition, you’ll automatically gain access to the DLC upon its release since it comes bundled with that version of the game, along with extras like the Constellation skin pack, a digital soundtrack, and an art book.

If you’re the owner of the base game and are interested in obtaining Shattered Space and additional extras that come with the Premium Edition, you can upgrade for $35 (or $28.89 on Steam with this deal). Alternatively, you can choose to purchase only the expansion. However, if you don’t currently own Starfield and wish to get it along with the DLC, your best bet is to buy the Premium Edition instead. It typically retails for $99.99, but at CDKeys, you can find the Steam version for a discounted price of $68.59. The Xbox One version is also available for $94.99 at CDKeys, though with a smaller discount compared to the Steam version.

Is Starfield: Shattered Space on Xbox Game Pass?

Observing from here, it seems that since Bethesda Game Studios has transitioned to being a first-party Xbox developer, it’s reasonable to anticipate that the Shattered Space expansion for Starfield would also be accessible via Xbox Game Pass. However, contrary to assumptions, only the standard version of Starfield is included in the subscription service, not its Premium Edition which offers access to Shattered Space. Unfortunately, this means that with a standard Xbox Game Pass, PC Game Pass, or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription, you won’t be able to enjoy the perks of the Starfield Premium Edition, including playing Shattered Space.

The good news, though, is that Game Pass does enable you to get the $34.99 Premium Edition upgrade or Shattered Space itself without paying for Starfield’s base game on Xbox (Game Pass Standard, Ultimate) or the Microsoft Store on PC (PC Game Pass, UItimate). Therefore, you should absolutely take advantage of that if you’re subscribed to Microsoft’s service.

What are Starfield: Shattered Space’s gameplay features?

Regarding gameplay, Bethesda has hinted that players can anticipate over 50 distinct and immersive locations to unearth within Va’ruun’kai, accompanied by challenging new adversaries such as House Va’ruun Zealots, Crimson Fleet pirates, and Spacer outlaws. It is worth mentioning that unlike many planets in Starfield, which are procedurally generated, the world of Va’ruun’kai and its locales have been meticulously crafted by hand to offer a unique experience reminiscent of Bethesda’s Far Harbor expansion in Fallout 4. In essence, Shattered Space appears to share similarities with this expansion.

As an analyst, I can attest that Va’ruun’kai is portrayed as a perilous landscape, filled with unusual terrain and gravity aberrations causing pockets of weightlessness throughout the environment. The native extraterrestrial life forms are hostile, adding to the overall sense of danger. Furthermore, an incident involving a vortex has led to a breach between our reality and a mysterious alternate dimension, resulting in the emergence of entities from that realm with otherworldly, almost supernatural abilities. In essence, the developers aim to convey a chilling atmosphere in Shattered Space, reflected in closer-range combat scenarios, a faster, more unpredictable pace, and even elements of horror.

In the DLC, details about fresh loot and rewards have been scant, but it seems reasonable to expect an abundance of new weapons, armor sets, upgrades, and other items. These can be obtained by pillaging defeated enemies, raiding their lairs, or finishing missions. Known for sure is a set of novel grenades that you’ll be able to manufacture using a gatherable organic substance. I’m certain there will also be new firearms, melee weapons, and additional items as well.

How big is the Starfield: Shattered Space DLC?

In the absence of specific measurements from Bethesda, it’s clear that Shattered Space and Va’ruun’kai are significantly larger and deeper than other destinations in the game, given that they encompass over 50 distinct locations. However, we won’t know the exact extent of its map until the expansion is launched.

How long is the Starfield: Shattered Space DLC?

From my perspective as a curious gamer, it seems that the developers have yet to disclose the approximate play duration for the Shattered Space DLC. However, considering its similarity to Fallout 4’s Far Harbor, I anticipate around 8-10 hours of gameplay if you strictly stick to the main quest. But remember, Bethesda’s open-world adventures are often at their best when you wander off the well-trodden paths. You can expect to spend significantly more time with this expansion if you choose to explore the less traveled areas.

Starfield: Shattered Space trailers and deep dive

Check out the official trailer for Starfield: Fragmented Cosmos, accompanied by a detailed overview directly from Bethesda, which sheds light on numerous features players might encounter in the upcoming DLC.

As a dedicated fan, I can hardly contain my excitement for the release of Starfield: Shattered Space on September 30, 2024. This game is shaping up to be one of the exceptional titles not just among Xbox games, but also PC games. For those of us who crave immersion in more profound worlds rather than expansive ones, it seems that Va’ruun’kai offers a depth that surpasses most other locations within Starfield.

2024-09-18 23:39