Summary
- ZeniMax Media trademark suggests the Starfield expansion is named Starborn, adding to franchise lore.
- Despite mixed reception, Starfield shatters records with 10 million peak players.
- Second expansion may delve into mysterious Creators and Starborn faction, expanding the lore.
A recently registered trademark filed by ZeniMax Media implies that Starfield will follow up Shattered Space with an expansion bearing the name Starborn. Though the team at Bethesda has shied away from revealing any details about Shattered Space beyond its trailer, Todd Howard has assured fans that Starfield would receive more than just one expansion as part of its post-launch support. Despite having a mixed reception at launch, Starfield shattered Bethesda's records and, according to the publisher, had 10 million players during its peak, either playing via the Xbox Game Pass or through a purchased copy.
That being said, Starfield remains Bethesda's lowest rated game on Steam, with an overall user rating of 59%. While it tried to emulate the sandbox charm of past Bethesda titles, its procedural generation and uninspired setting were often a source of criticism. With over 250 employees still working on Starfield, a significant amount of resources was spent on addressing some of its most glaring problems, such as not having a city map or official modding support. While these additions have been welcomed by fans, Shattered Space will likely be the deciding factor in how Starfield measures up against other Creation Engine titles.
Whether It Succeeds or Fails, Starfield: Shattered Space Could Determine The IP's Future
Starfield is getting its first DLC with Shattered Space, and the expansion could be a turning point for the game's future.
Though the burden that Shattered Space carries is significant, it won't be the only Bethesda attempt at reinventing the game. Whereas Shattered Space focuses on House Va'ruun and gives the Settled Systems a much-needed alien environment, a recent trademark implies that Bethesda will follow up the first Starfield expansion with Starborn. Information about the trademark was shared on Twitter by Timur222, and while it may not necessarily confirm that the second expansion will be named Starborn, its ties to Starfield as a franchise leave little to interpretation.
The Second Starfield Expansion Could Be Named Starborn
Apart from House Va'ruun and its Great Serpent, there is a major mystery left unexplored in the Settled Systems. While Starborn are the primary antagonists of the game, the Creators responsible for The Unity in Starfield are arguably the more interesting faction. However, not much is known about the Creators, and even the Starborn themselves are puzzled by their existence. Whether they are a race of extinct, ancient beings, or if they still exist somewhere in the cosmos remains to be seen, but it's a topic that a second Starfield expansion could certainly explore.
As a young franchise, Starfield has plenty of potential, and its lore can evolve in a myriad of directions. The Settled Systems are just a small corner of a larger galaxy, and expanding the setting through DLCs would allow for more interesting storytelling themes to come into play. Though Todd Howard hinted that Bethesda wanted annual expansions for Starfield, it's impossible to predict the exact release date for its second expansion. However, Shattered Space is expected to launch in Fall 2024.
Starfield
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 85 /100 Critics Rec: 83%
WHERE TO PLAY
- Platform(s)
- PC, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- How Long To Beat
- 20 Hours
- File Size Xbox Series
- 101 GB (September 2023)
