Summary
Starfieldis just now coming up on its first anniversary in September, but theShattered SpaceDLC has been long-awaited since the base game’s initial launch. Following its release,Starfieldhas received a series of updates that have helped make the game feel more complete. However, what makesShattered Spacesuch an exciting update is the DLC’s mission to expand the lore ofStarfieldby finally introducing House Va’ruun.
Throughout the game’s events, one of the biggest mysteries left unanswered after players finishedStarfield’s story wasthe mysterious House Va’ruun, which appears to be the foe ofShattered Space. The base game’s main villain resides in The Hunter, a powerful Starborn. Although the character, and Starborn in general, are somewhat compelling, The Hunter fell flat as a substantial antagonist. This is whereShattered Spacewill hopefully shine, as House Va’ruun is noticeably playing a more hostile role than many may have expected.
Shattered Space Presents a Stronger Antagonist
House Va’ruun Sets Out to Correct Starfield’s Antagonist Problem
On paper, The Hunter is a fascinating character. As a Starborn, The Hunter has become apathetic toward humanity over time, which has led to a general disregard for the lives of others.Power is the main goal of The Hunter, as the process of becoming a Starborn has made him incredibly detached. Although he’s not afraid to kill people in order to achieve his personal pursuits, he is also driven by a jaded outlook, which makes him intriguing, but not exactly the most harrowing antagonist.
This is whythe official trailer forShattered Spaceis so exciting. It seems likeStarfieldwill finally have a villain that is actually an intimidating adversary, especially if House Va’ruun has a ruthless head who is akin to a cult leader. There were theories thatShattered Spacewould feature House Va’ruun in some capacity, but the trailer revealing a more horror-themed take on the theocratic group was a pleasant surprise.Starfieldis gearing up to make House Va’ruun a cult-like force to fear, and it’s a much-needed change of pace for the space adventure.
House Va’ruun worships a mysterious deity known as The Great Serpent.
Starfieldbrings some wonderful space exploration to life, butShattered Space’s embrace of horrorseems to finally bring heavier weight to the game. Although the base game’s main story was an interesting adventure, there wasn’t really any threat that brought forth a sense of urgency, and House Va’ruun will hopefully change that.
House Va’ruun Bringing a New Chapter to Life
WithStarfieldseemingly leaning into the more terrifying aspects of the vastness of space,Shattered Spaceis far more compellingnow that there is a general idea of what the story entails. The prospect of facing an isolated space cult is an unexpected direction for Bethesda to take, and it will be interesting to see how far developers take the teased horror elements. The base version ofStarfieldheld the attention of many players, but one of the biggest complaints was criticism of the game being boring. These criticisms were somewhat valid, but it at least seems like Bethesda has been listening to player feedback to bring forth a new chapter that completely subverts expectations.
Exploring the mystery of House Va’ruun will add to the horror element of isolated space…and it’s an adventure that we very much need in Starfield!
House Va’ruun is still a huge mystery, but it won’t be that way for long. As the game’s release window draws closer, there will hopefully be one more sneak peek before launch, but if not, it’s still great to know thatStarfieldis taking a different direction. The Hunter may not have stuck the landing as a main villain, but House Va’ruun has plenty of potential to bring some great horror-filled tension toStarfield.
