Starfield’s Shattered Space Expansion Debuts at Xbox Showcase with New Trailer, Fall 2024 Release

After months of speculation, Bethesda officially dropped the long-awaited trailer for Starfield’s first expansion, Shattered Space, during the Xbox Games Showcase — and it’s far more cosmic horror than fans anticipated. The DLC is set to launch in Fall 2024 and brings players back to the Settled Systems with a darker, more mysterious edge.

The new cinematic and gameplay trailer opens with an ominous voiceover and haunting imagery: derelict ships, a decaying alien temple, and unsettling whispers heard as explorers enter the remnants of a once-hidden civilization. Bethesda confirmed that Shattered Space will explore “an ancient power awakened” in a previously uncharted region of the galaxy. Fans are already drawing comparisons to Lovecraftian horror, with eerie architecture and distorted figures glimpsed in deep-space ruins.

The expansion promises a full storyline set in a brand-new area of space, alongside fresh gear, weapons, and ship parts. More notably, Shattered Space aims to revitalize space exploration itself, a core feature some players found lacking in the base game. With the new focus on cosmic mystery and danger, Shattered Space may deliver the narrative drive fans have been craving.

Bethesda’s Todd Howard briefly appeared after the trailer, confirming that the expansion has been in parallel development since before Starfield’s launch. “This is the part of the universe we always intended players to discover,” Howard said. “It’s stranger, it’s more unpredictable — and it’s going to change everything you think you know about the Settled Systems.”

The trailer, which quickly trended on social media following the showcase, ends with a chilling glimpse of what appears to be a massive, unknowable entity emerging from the shadows — a tease that has only fueled community speculation. With a Fall 2024 release window confirmed, players won’t have to wait too long before diving into Starfield’s darkest chapter yet.

Shattered Space will be available as part of Starfield’s Premium Edition and sold separately for standard edition players. More gameplay details are expected at QuakeCon 2024 this August.