Starfield: Shattered Space – Why the First DLC Received “Mostly Negative” Reviews on Steam

Bethesda’s highly anticipated space RPG, Starfield, has found itself in turbulent waters once again with the release of its first major DLC, Shattered Space. What began with a mixed reception quickly spiralled into a wave of negative reviews, particularly on Steam. The expansion, priced at $30, has garnered widespread criticism for its perceived lack of value, with many players feeling let down by both the content and its steep price tag. But what exactly went wrong? Let’s take a deep dive into the major issues players have raised and why Shattered Space has struggled to win fans over.

Price Tag Controversy – Is $30 Justified?

One of the most immediate complaints following the release of Shattered Space was its $30 price tag. Considering the scope and content offered, many gamers argue that the DLC does not provide enough value for the cost, particularly when compared to the base game. At nearly half the price of the original game, fans expected more. Several reviews voiced their dissatisfaction, with one player stating, “How is this $30 of content? This should not be priced more than $10.”

The DLC only adds a handful of new quests, and while some are enjoyable, the overall content feels limited in scope, leaving players feeling like they’ve been shortchanged. For a company like Bethesda, known for immersive and expansive expansions such as Far Harbor for Fallout 4, this release fell short of expectations.

Lack of New and Unique Content – More of the Same?

Another recurring issue raised by the community is that Shattered Space feels too similar to the base game, offering very little in terms of fresh, engaging content. Many fans had hoped that the DLC would bring a breath of fresh air, introducing new mechanics, environments, and challenges. Unfortunately, the new expansion appears to lack meaningful innovation. While it expands the game’s lore, it doesn’t introduce much in the way of new factions, unique weapons, or mechanics that stand out.

One reviewer lamented, “I was hoping for something that would elevate the story and gameplay of Starfield, but instead, it feels like I’m playing through more of the same missions. There’s no real sense of newness.”

Bethesda, which once set the bar high with memorable expansions like The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion’s Shivering Isles, seems to have dropped the ball with Shattered Space. The quests, characters, and environments feel rehashed, failing to offer the wow factor fans had been waiting for.

The Chosen One Narrative – A Missed Opportunity?

Beyond the price and lack of new content, Shattered Space has faced significant criticism for its narrative direction. Fans of Starfield were already divided over the base game’s story, and this DLC does little to address those concerns. The plot revolves around a “Chosen One” storyline, which many feel is overdone and lacks originality.

Players expected deeper character arcs, particularly for key companions like Andreja. Sadly, the companion arcs in Shattered Space left much to be desired. Andreja, in particular, had a weak and underdeveloped storyline, which led to further disappointment. One player pointed out, “I was genuinely shocked that Andreja barely acknowledged her home planet when we arrived. It felt like such a missed opportunity.”

In games like The Elder Scrolls: Morrowind, Bethesda excelled at weaving complex narratives that made players feel like they were part of a living, breathing world. However, Shattered Space appears to lack that depth and instead offers a formulaic, surface-level narrative that doesn’t resonate with players the way Bethesda’s previous titles have.

Bugs and Glitches – A Persistent Problem

It wouldn’t be a Bethesda release without some technical hiccups, and Shattered Space is no exception. Many players have reported bugs and glitches throughout the DLC, further souring their experience. From quests not triggering to broken dialogue sequences, these technical issues have only fuelled the negative sentiment surrounding the expansion.

While Starfield itself launched with its fair share of bugs, players hoped that Bethesda would have learned from past mistakes and released a more polished DLC. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. One frustrated reviewer remarked, “It feels like Bethesda just doesn’t learn. Every game or DLC they release has so many bugs, and it ruins the immersion.”

This ongoing issue has led to growing frustration among fans, especially considering Bethesda’s reputation for releasing buggy content at launch. The company has earned both love and criticism for its expansive games, but in the case of Shattered Space, the technical issues have only compounded the negative reception.

Steam Reviews – Are They Genuine?

Another aspect contributing to Shattered Space’s poor reception is the legitimacy of the reviews it has received. On Steam, the expansion has been flooded with reviews both positive and negative that don’t necessarily reflect the content itself. Since Steam does not separate the playtime of the base game from the DLC, anyone who purchased Starfield’s Premium Edition at launch is eligible to review Shattered Space, even if they haven’t actually played it.

This has led to speculation that some negative reviews may be more about expressing dissatisfaction with the overall game rather than a critique of the DLC itself. However, many of the negative reviews appear genuine, with players criticizing the DLC for its bugs, underwhelming story, and unremarkable gameplay.

That said, the current system on Steam leaves room for reviews that may not fully reflect the actual content of Shattered Space, which makes it difficult to gauge the DLC’s true quality. Some players have raised concerns that the expansion’s rating has been unfairly dragged down by those who haven’t even played it.

Shattered Space Versus Previous Bethesda Expansions – How Does It Compare?

When compared to Bethesda’s previous expansions like Dragonborn for Skyrim or Far Harbor for Fallout 4, Shattered Space falls short in several key areas. Those expansions were praised for their immersive worlds, memorable characters, and rich narratives, while Shattered Space feels more like an add on than a true expansion.

While Far Harbor introduced a compelling mystery, deep characters, and a sprawling, atmospheric island to explore, Shattered Space offers a more linear experience with fewer surprises. For fans who were hoping for another classic Bethesda-style expansion, Shattered Space has been a disappointment.

Player Base Decline – A Telling Sign

Alongside the negative reviews, Starfield’s player count has also taken a hit. While the DLC’s peak player count reached around 21,000 at its release, this pales in comparison to Bethesda’s older titles like Skyrim: Special Edition, which still manages to draw around 30,000 monthly players. Fallout 4, another decade old game, recently beat out Starfield’s numbers with a peak of over 23,000 players.

This decline in player base is a clear indication that Shattered Space hasn’t captivated the gaming community the way Bethesda had hoped. With new content failing to reignite interest in the game, Starfield is struggling to maintain a strong player base, especially when compared to Bethesda’s past hits.

Final Thoughts – Can Starfield Recover?

The negative reception of Shattered Space raises some important questions about the future of Starfield and Bethesda’s ability to deliver meaningful content for the game. While it’s too early to say if the game’s fortunes can be turned around, it’s clear that Shattered Space has not lived up to expectations. The combination of a steep price, lack of innovative content, and persistent bugs has made it difficult for fans to enjoy the expansion.

Moving forward, Bethesda will need to listen to player feedback and make significant changes if they hope to salvage Starfield’s reputation. Whether through additional patches, free content updates, or future expansions that deliver on the promise of a truly immersive space RPG, only time will tell if Bethesda can win back the trust of its player base.

For now, Shattered Space serves as a cautionary tale for developers looking to capitalize on DLC sales without offering substantial content.