With Starfield, players were introduced to an open galaxy, while Shattered Space adds a “more isolated, hand-crafted location,” says producer Joe Mueller. “Kind of like what we’ve done in previous expansions.” As an isolated society, House Va’ruun presents the opportunity to offer a standalone experience that develops and keeps players on the planet Va’ruun’kai. There is the option to leave at any time, but narratively Shattered Space is centered on the home planet of the Va’runn.
“Everything we discover, every place we go, every side quest we do, it all tells the story of what happened here,” says Joe Mueller. “And how the Va’ruun people have survived away from the comforts of the Colonized Systems and the rest of humanity.” Starfield is a major theme of humanity’s quest for knowledge, and Shattered Space continues that, “but it also shows us what happens when you take it too far,” says Brian Chapin, mission designer. “It’s an extreme quest that has gone horribly wrong for the people of House Va’ruun.”
What went horribly wrong was an experiment with grav-drive technology that caused a massive rift in the fabric of space-time, wiping out a significant portion of Dazra, the capital of the Va’ruun. The player landed on the planet Va’ruun’kai shortly after the incident, so the crater is still there, reconstruction hasn’t begun, and people are still searching for their loved ones. One of those missing is Anasko Va’ruun, leader of the Va’ruun people, and in his absence the lesser houses that make up House Va’ruun are vying for control over the future of the faction.
In addition to visiting Dazra, players will be able to explore Va’ruun’kai in their vehicle to discover a hostile planet with abandoned areas occupied by zealots, spacers, and the Crimson Fleet. There are also wastelands with creatures other than humans that are able to cross the line between reality and the vortex. To confront these enemies, Shattered Space focuses on closer combat than in the base game, adding a touch of terror and more aggressive enemies.
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