Bethesda’s highly anticipated expansion for Starfield, titled Shattered Space, has faced a cold reception from fans and critics alike. Released on September 30, 2024, the $30 expansion was expected to breathe new life into the space role-playing game, but player feedback and declining player counts suggest otherwise. Described by some players as a “boring mess” and a “waste of money,” Shattered Space has failed to meet the high expectations set by both the developers and the fanbase.
Starfield, which was Bethesda’s first major release since Fallout 4 in 2015, had massive expectations attached to it. The game, launched in 2023 after seven years of development, promised players an expansive and immersive space exploration experience. However, despite its initial hype, Starfield failed to captivate a significant portion of its audience, with many citing unengaging missions and mediocre combat as major drawbacks. Bethesda hoped that Shattered Space would fix these issues and attract both new and returning players, but fan reviews suggest that the expansion has only magnified the game’s shortcomings.
Declining Player Numbers and Fan Criticism
According to data from SteamDB, the highest number of concurrent players on PC since Shattered Space was released has been 21,792. However, that number has quickly dropped, with the most recent peak reaching only 17,074 players in the last 24 hours. At the time of writing, there are just 11,961 active players on PC. This is significantly lower than the concurrent player numbers of Bethesda’s older titles. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition, released in 2011, currently boasts 17,145 concurrent players, while Fallout 4 from 2015 has 12,512 players online.
This dip in player engagement reflects fans’ disappointment with the new content. Out of 1,255 Steam reviews for the expansion, only 719 are positive, leading to a mixed-to-negative reception. One frustrated player, Galahad, expressed their dissatisfaction by saying, “No new features, no fixes to the fact that this game is STILL a boring mess, not even an attempt to fix the game’s core issues. What a joke.” Another user, Teepo, echoed similar sentiments: “Please don’t buy this DLC. It’s way too short, boundlessly lazy, addresses/acknowledges nothing, fixes nothing, and at $30 is a complete waste of money.”
Disappointing Sales and Reception
Despite Bethesda’s hopes that Shattered Space would revitalize interest in Starfield, the expansion has not only failed to boost player engagement but has also garnered harsh criticism. Its Metacritic score currently sits at 54 out of 100, based on just seven reviews, while its user score is 6.1 out of 10 based on 288 reviews. Adding to the criticism, the DLC was not made available to reviewers before release, which likely contributed to the initial negative reaction from players.
A Critical Moment for Bethesda and Microsoft
Starfield was seen as a crucial release for Bethesda, which spent years developing the space RPG, but also for Microsoft and Xbox, who were counting on the game to boost console sales. Although the game performed decently well at launch, especially in the U.S., Xbox console sales dropped the same month Starfield was released, casting further doubt on its long-term impact.
The expansion’s lukewarm reception indicates that Shattered Space has failed to address core complaints about the base game. While some fans who enjoy Starfield may appreciate the added content, others have advised players to steer clear of the DLC. As the game’s player numbers continue to fall, it remains to be seen whether Bethesda can regain momentum or if Starfield will ultimately be remembered as a misstep for the studio.
