A Breakdown of Starfield’s Shattered Space Expansion

Starfield has made waves since its release, becoming the biggest launch in the history of Bethesda Game Studios. Despite a bit of controversy, the player base and continuous feedback have propelled the game’s success, prompting the team to introduce new features, technical upgrades, and the long-awaited REV-8 land vehicle.

Now, Bethesda is opening up the horizons even more with its first major expansion, Shattered Space, launching on September 30th for Xbox & PC. Alongside a brand new trailer, here’s everything we can expect:

A New Handcrafted World Awaits…

Shattered Space takes players to a brand-new, fully handcrafted world: Va’ruun’kai, the isolated home planet of House Va’ruun. Unlike the expansive and open nature of Starfield’s main galaxy, Va’ruun’kai offers a more contained experience, focusing entirely on life within this single planet. The storyline revolves around the secluded Va’ruun people and their survival, cut off from the rest of the Settled Systems.

From the moment you set foot on Va’ruun’kai, the story draws you into its deep history, with every location, side mission, and discovery centered around the planet’s unique culture and struggles.

This expansion will have a heavy focus on thriller/horror experiences, with the the planet itself being shaped by House Va’ruun’s devotion to the Great Serpent. Their society is built on a singular vision and purpose; devotion. However, it has led to a distinct alien-like environment, full of gravity anomalies and extraterrestrial landscapes that make Va’ruun’kai feel rather… odd.

An otherworldly scenery shot of Va’ruun’kai, the focal planet of Starfield's expansion, Shattered Space. Broken, shattered rocks on a desolate planet, dark pink/red sky, planets and stars in the background — Va’ruun’kai – Starfield, Shattered Space Expansion

A Rift in Spacetime

At the heart of Shattered Space is a failed grav drive experiment that has left House Va’ruun in chaos. The incident resulted in a massive rift in spacetime, swallowing a large portion of the capital city, Dazra, and creating a vortex that tore through reality.

The disaster has left the ruling Va’ruun government in disarray, with its leader missing and presumed lost in the vortex. The remaining minor houses of House Va’ruun are now locked in a power struggle, fighting for control of their faction’s future.

While navigating this political landscape, players have to contend with various hostile forces. Zealots, a former part of Va’ruun society, have splintered off and now threaten to reclaim power, using the chaos to their advantage. These zealots demand credits, firearms, or even a seat on the High Council in exchange for their loyalty.

Beyond human threats, Va’ruun’kai’s wilderness is filled with extraterrestrial dangers, including creatures like the Vortex Horror, which emerge from the rift. These otherworldly beings sense disturbances in the fabric of reality, creating terrifying ambush scenarios. The expansion also focuses more on close-quarters combat, moving away from the long-range gunfights of the base game and instead emphasizing chaotic, up-close encounters.

First person shot, wielding a gun, pointed at an alien creature called the 'Cavern Bonecrest Queen' in a cave — The ‘Cavern Bonecrest Queen’ – Starfield, Shattered Space Expansion

The Fight of House Va’ruun’s future

Shattered Space is more than just a battle for survival – it’s a test of leadership and influence. As players explore the ruins of Dazra City and Va’ruun’kai’s dangerous terrain, their decisions will ultimately shape the fate of this isolated faction, determining whether the Va’ruun people can rebuild or fall to the forces of chaos.

Bethesda has worked hard to create a unique and unforgettable experience in Shattered Space, promising a blend of mystery, danger, and political intrigue that fans of Starfield are sure to enjoy. Whether it’s fighting off zealots, uncovering the truth behind the grav drive experiment, or deciding the fate of House Va’ruun, this expansion offers players a rich, immersive journey into the expanded universe of Starfield.

First person screenshot, approaching a strange temple in space, lens flare through a decorative art wall — A Strange Temple – Starfield, Shattered Space Expansion

The Shattered Space expansion arrives on Xbox & PC soon – September 30th. Haven’t played Starfield yet? Grab a copy here:

🛒 Starfield (Xbox Series X) via Amazon UK
🛒 Starfield (Xbox & PC) via Amazon US

Or, grab a digital copy via Steam:

🛒 Starfield (PC) via Steam
🛒 Shattered Space ONLY (PC) via Steam

Buckle up, adventurers… It’s time to explore the galaxy, again.

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