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Starfield is already a massive game, and the Shattered Space DLC is just going to make it bigger. With a thousand worlds, numerous NPCs, and a ton of secrets to discover, Bethesda’s newest franchise could easily become the same kind of forever game as Skyrim did. Information about Shattered Space is scant, leaving fans plenty of time to speculate about what changes the DLC might bring. There’s a lot to love about Bethesda’s sci-fi masterpiece, but there’s room for improvement too. Here are some of the biggest improvements the Shattered Space DLC needs to deliver.
Better Outposts In Shattered Space
Base building is a love-it-or-hate-it mechanic. For some players, it contributes nothing, while for others, it’s the best part of any game in which it appears. Starfield allows players to create custom outposts and then order their companions to live and work there. In theory, these outposts can be used to develop elaborate supply chains to provide the player with valuable crafting components. In practice, these outposts often feel superfluous. Anything the player wants, they can just buy or find instead. The bones of the base building in Starfield are excellent, but Shattered Space could expand upon them. In addition to adding more modules, Bethesda could improve or add to outpost mechanics to make these custom bases more valuable.
More Radiant Quest Types
Starfield checks pretty much every box when it comes to missions. Deep main story? Check. Elaborate side missions? Check. Endless radiant quests? It’s got those too. Radiant missions are somewhat controversial since many fans consider them little more than busy work. Others, however, appreciate the endless stream of content they provide. For those who enjoy a steady drip of daily quests, the mission boards in Starfield are ideal. The only major downside to these missions is that they come in only a handful of types, and many boil down to fetch quests or hunting assignments. Even if Shattered Space could only add one or two new radiant quest types, it would help a great deal.
More Faction Quests
Starfield gives players a giant universe to explore, and the factions are some of the best parts of that exploration. Whether you align yourself with the United Colonies, Freestar Collective, or the Crimson Fleet, there are plenty of friends and enemies to be made. The faction storylines arguably provide the most fun that Starfield has to offer. They are typically well-written and interesting with enough twists to keep the player engaged. Shattered Space aims to provide a significant expansion to the game’s story, so we can only hope that expansion will include some meaningful additions the faction quests.
Expanded Skill Trees
Starfield offers five unique skill trees, and each skill can be leveled multiple times to provide increasing benefits. There’s already a great deal of content here, and players who want to spend their time theory crafting the best builds won’t be disappointed. That said, there’s serious room for expansion. The skill tree will inevitably get an update from modders, but it would be nice to see what Bethesda could do. Though the Combat tree has arguably been pushed to its limits, diverse skill trees like Science and Tech could easily be the model for new content. That said, even Combat could see an update if Bethesda decides to add new weapon types to the game.
More Ship Parts In Shattered Space
Many players have fallen in love with Starfield’s shipbuilding, and it’s easy to see why. Working on these highly adaptable vehicles boils down to playing space LEGOs. From the missiles to the paint job, everything is customizable, and creative players are already showing off their inspired creations. As every LEGO fan knows, you can never have too many pieces. There are already enough parts in the game to provide a solid foundation, so Shattered Space could get a lot of mileage out of just a handful of added parts. Weapons, engines, and shields could all get overhauls. If NPC vessels received access to these same parts, space combat would receive a facelift as well.
Morally Diverse Companions
Starfield has a unique problem with its companions: they’re too good. At least, too many of them are good. There’s little moral flexibility and no outright evil on display. Players who want to roleplay dark or criminal characters inevitably find themselves upsetting their companions over and over again. For hardcore roleplayers, that’s a major inconvenience. Even if the player likes generic Good Guys, all the companions start to feel the same after a while. The best fix is the simplest: add some evil and amoral companions to diversify the lineup. It’s a big galaxy, full of pirates, crooks, and killers. Shattered Space should explore the depth and complexity of Bethesda’s universe the way it deserves.
Starfield is available for PC, and Xbox Series X/S.
