Shattered Space, Bethesda’s first major expansion for Starfield, has encountered a lukewarm reception since its recent release. Despite initial excitement, both player engagement and reviews on PC have been underwhelming.
According to SteamDB, Starfield currently shows a peak concurrent player count of 17,074 in the last 24 hours, with 9,740 players active at present. These figures are notably lower than The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition, an older Bethesda title that continues to draw a 24-hour peak of 21,494 players, with 13,772 currently exploring its world.
Criticism of the expansion is evident in its “mostly negative” rating on Steam, where many players argue that Shattered Space doesn’t deliver enough content to justify its price. Complaints about the expansion’s shallow storytelling and minimal additions to the base game are common.
One frustrated reviewer remarked, “Less is more, they say. In Shattered Space, Bethesda delivers less and charges more.” Another player expressed their disappointment, stating, “I gave Starfield some leniency as a new franchise, but after seeing how little the expansion offers, it’s not worth the investment.”
Even some of the more positive comments carry a critical tone. One user sarcastically noted, “The story is so dull it could help with insomnia. Perfect if you need to get some sleep before a busy day.”
Elsewhere, gaming commentator Michael (@LegacyKillaHD) took to Twitter to share his dissatisfaction, describing the DLC as “dull and boring.” He criticized the $30 price tag, adding that it took only five hours to complete the main storyline, with an additional five hours spent exploring and finishing side quests.
On Metacritic, Shattered Space holds a modest critic score of 54 based on seven reviews—two positive, three mixed, and two negative. While many are disappointed, there are players who find value in the expansion. One Steam reviewer pointed out, “If you enjoyed the base game, this DLC will likely be worth your time.” Another echoed this sentiment, adding, “Fans of the base game should check it out, but if you didn’t like Starfield, this expansion won’t change your mind.”
Before Shattered Space launched, Bethesda had touted its new planet Va’ruun’kai, boasting over 50 locations to explore. However, that hasn’t been enough to sway the general sentiment surrounding the expansion.
As for the future, Bethesda’s Todd Howard confirmed that another expansion for Starfield is in the works. Speculation is already swirling, fueled by a recent trademark filing for “Starborn” by Bethesda’s parent company, ZeniMax, sparking curiosity about what the next DLC might offer.
