Starfield's Shattered Space DLC Should Correct a Big Missed Opportunity

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Starfield's Shattered Space Shouldn't Miss the Chance to Correct a Missed Opportunity

Starfield

Highlights

Starfield's delayed release on September 6, 2023, was a missed opportunity to honor Skyrim's iconic launch date of November 11.
The Shattered Space DLC for Starfield has the potential to embrace a tradition of launching Bethesda games on November 11.
Bethesda's silence around Shattered Space's release date hints at a possible surprise drop or a deliberate wait until a specific date approaches, with the symbolic November 11 launch being a genuine possibility.

As Bethesda's latest release, Starfield offers players the chance to indulge in some immersive space exploration. In a year full of huge games, Starfield was one of the most anticipated launches of 2023, but that wasn't always the case. The game was originally supposed to arrive in November 2022, but ultimately had to be pushed back almost a full year.

Despite the delay, Starfield was finally released on September 6, 2023. However, the game's original release date was far more symbolic and meaningful. Skyrim, one of Bethesda's most successful games to date, also launched on November 11 back in 2011. Starfield's original release date was November 11 in honor of the fantasy RPG, but being forced to delay the release foiled Bethesda's plans. However, Shattered Space is a second chance to embrace a release date homage.

Starfield Was Smart to Cut Underwater Content

Starfield doesn't feature underwater excursions for players to undertake, but the game never really needed them in the first place.

Starfield's Shattered Space DLC Has A Perfect Release Date

So far, all that is known about Starfield's upcoming Shattered Space DLC is that the expansion is set to release sometime later this year. There are high expectations for Shattered Space, but the DLC could do something great by having the original release date that was intended for Starfield.

Starfield may have had to forego a symbolic launch date, but November 11 would be the prime release date for Shattered Space. There are plenty of ways that Shattered Space can improve Starfield, and starting with the time frame of its launch would be the best place to begin. Not only could this give Starfield its moment to honor its predecessor, but it also finally gives Bethesda the chance to kick-start the tradition that it originally intended to bring to life. Seeing this focus around November 11 finally becoming a reality with Shattered Space could be incredibly exciting for both the studio and many fans.

Skyrim set a huge standard for Bethesda, and beginning a tradition that was based around such a beloved game is something that many were looking forward to with Starfield 's original release date.

Shattered Space Releasing On November 11 Feels Inevitable

It feels as though Bethesda has been purposefully quiet about Shattered Space's release date. The vague confirmation that it will be released sometime in 2024 indicates that the expansion is almost ready to go. Either Bethesda is staying silent in order to surprise fans with a surprise drop, or the company is waiting closer to the DLC's intended release date to reveal detals. There is a general expectation that Shattered Space will expand Starfield in some exciting ways, and one of the most thrilling possibilities would be a November 11 release date that brings everything back full circle.

After failing to begin the tradition the first time around, Shattered Space is presenting a second chance for Bethesda. Not choosing to release the DLC on November 11 would be one of the biggest missed opportunities of the year. There is always the chance that Bethesda could release The Elder Scrolls 6 on November 11 down the line, but Starfield also deserves to be associated with that special date in some way.

If the base version of Starfield couldn't be released on November 11, then Shattered Space should get the honor. It may just seem like a random date, but there was a lot of excitement surrounding Starfield getting to be released the same day as Skyrim. Skyrim is one of the most influential titles in modern gaming, and such an important game deserves to have a tradition based around it. Hopefully, Shattered Space will be the Bethesda release to do just that.