I’ve recalibrated my expectations forStarfield: Shattered Space. As more content has come out over the past months andnew information was teased via Gamescom 2024, I no longer hope and wish for wide-ranging changes like the ability to design my own mech, but I do hope they get one thing right. Thestory inShattered Spacemust be solid. Bethesda has already explained in an interview withScreen Rantthat most of the environments inShattered Spacewill be intentionally designed, so the prospect of hand-crafted environments paired with a superb story is something I look forward to.
[Warning: This article contains spoilers for Starfield.]With the release date ofStarfield: Shattered Spaceright around the corneron September 30, however, doubts have certainly crept into my mind. After all, I’ve been following the game closely since it was released in 2023, and while some wide-ranging QoL and performance updates have significantly improved upon what was released initially, much of the updates have come at a fairly slow pace. As the first major expansion forStarfield, Bethesda has a lot of pressure to live up to whatever expectations gamers now have for the company.
There Are Still Many Unanswered Mysteries
Shattered Space Should Get Super Weird
A ton of hidden lore and content can be found in different logs and dialogues withinStarfield. That said, Emil Pagliarulo,Starfield’s lead writer said in a Q&A that he did on Discord (reposted toReddit) that thecurrent Va’ruun lore withinStarfieldis merely based on rumor, stating, “So, in the game, you’re not really sure what the complete truth is” which gives the writers open license to change “existing” lore and opens the possibility for a lot of unexpected things to be revealed inShattered Space.
In that Q&A, Pagliarulo also fleshes out the origins of the green ones, which is explained in further detail in logs and dialogue withinStarfielditself. Va’ruun originated from a lost colony ship and a passenger named Jinan Va’ruun, who communicated with what the religion now calls The Great Serpent. This would lead to the Serpent’s Crusade in 2240, in which Va’ruun went from primarily spreading the religion of The Great Serpent to eventually making a drastic turn and setting out to destroy all non-believers.
In the currentStarfieldtimeline where the game takes place, there are just remnants and whispers of the faction, but they don’t actually have an explorable planet or faction headquarters. On top of this, there are still a ton of unanswered questions, like whether Jinan Va’ruun’s experience was real or a result of being lost in space and what exactly The Great Serpent is. As there isUnity and the Starborn, it’s more than possible that the being is an actual celestial being and could tie into one of the many multi-dimensional elements ofStarfield.
House Va’ruun’s Storyline Is The Most Compelling
I Am An Andreja Stan
I’ll admit it. Theone and only companion I actually took the time out to romance was Andreja. I typically prefer anti-heroes in any media, so she was perfect. Although her"secret" identity was painfully obvious from the jumpfor anyone paying attention, it was still arguably the most interesting narrative thatStarfieldhas to offer (though becoming Barrett’s best friend was also interesting and rewarding).
While it seems preposterous that the game’s main Va’ruun character wouldn’t be a core part of the DLC dedicated to her faction, stranger things have happened.
Run-ins with the Va’ruun Zealots and other NPCs were always fun encounters with the added benefit of some of the best item drops in the game. However, unless one is paying close attention, it’s easy to miss all of the Va’ruun backstory and relegate the faction to religious fanatics talked about in hushed whispers.Shattered Spacehopes to change all this by fleshing the faction out more, and I’m hoping that the game becomes stronger for it.
All Romance Options In Starfield, Ranked
The universe in Starfield has a few different romantic options, but selecting which character to settle down with might be hard to do.
Most Current Va’ruun Content Lies With Andreja
Possibly The Most Compelling Companion
A lot of House Va’ruun content can be found within the game, usually hidden behind dialogue trees and logs. Andreja and her personal quest “Divided Loyalties” has the player searching for her two lost friends, Jaeda and Eren. After a few dead ends, it eventually leads to an encounter with Tomisar, Andreja’s contact with House Va’ruun’s High Council. Here, it’s possible to choose tokill Tomisar or spare him, with another option that enables players to let Andreja kill him. Metaphorically, it represents Andreja shedding her past, and gameplay-wise, it can lead to marriage.
However, what’s probably the most curious and related toShattered Spaceis that Andreja is now hated by House Va’ruun — and not just any regular fanatics; the High Council is now gunning for her head. How thewriters plan to reconcile thisin the upcomingShattered Spaceis probably the biggest question I have.
One path could see the expansion as a revenge mission with Andreja by our side as a mandatory companion, while another world could see her excluded from the Va’ruun activities altogether as she’s now technically exiled. It’s made clear by the end of the quest that Andreja can never return, though I suppose that’s not relevant anymore if we’re planning on taking them down. While it seems preposterous that the game’s main Va’ruun character wouldn’t be a core part of the DLC dedicated to her faction, stranger things have happened.
I’m Looking Forward To The Horror Twist
It Feels Appropriate For Shattered Space
As a horror fan, Bethesda couldn’t have picked a more perfect genre for me. Combine this with my admiration for Andreja andStarfield: Shattered Spaceis basically developed for a person like me. I’m not a big stickler about “canon,” and I don’t really care where they take the story, but what I am hoping and wishing for is that it’s quality and keeps me glued to my seat either way. Bethesda has a pretty good track record of making solid DLC and expansions, so regardless of the company’s other weaknesses, it’s looking good forShattered Space.
That said, I’m going to keep my expectations right now to a medium, so there’s a greater chance of me being pleasantly surprised rather than let down. Only time and the release ofStarfield: Shattered Spaceon July 25, 2025 will determine whether the DLC and expansion live up to my and other fans' expectations.
