Summary
September was a fantastic month for RPG fans as the gaming industry seems to have treated them well. Not only did PS5 players get to finallydive intoBaldur’s Gate 3, but Xbox players got their hands on the hotly anticipatedStarfield. Along with that, both consoles were treated toCyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, which promised to rectify many of the game’s past mistakes. And it seems to be doing that splendidly so far.
WhileCyberpunk 2077: Phantom Libertymay be great, it also puts a bit of pressure onStarfield: Shattered Spaceto deliver. Launching only a couple of weeks after Bethesda’s RPG, it seems to have taken the spotlight away from that title. Many players have begun comparing and contrasting the two experiences, and some have even usedCyberpunk 2077’s newfound success to find the many flaws inStarfield. Because of this, the game’s first major DLC pack will have a lot to prove to RPG fans when it finally launches sometime next year.
RELATED:What Starfield’s Shattered Space DLC Could Bring to the Table
Starfield Shattered Space Has a Lot to Prove
After the rocky launch ofCyberpunk 2077, it was hard to see a time when the game was going to be good. However, CD Projekt Red seemed committed to improving upon it, and improve it the studio did. After years of bug fixes, the game was completely overhauled with the massive 2.0 update. Along with that,the Phantom Liberty DLC expanded the game immenselywith so much exciting new content for players to explore. While the studio’s past mistakes should not be forgotten, all of this content has helped makeCyberpunk 2077feel like the fantastic RPG that was promised all those years ago.
Cyberpunk 2077’s redemption is great to see, but it also seems to beovershadowingStarfielda bit. WhileStarfieldmay be a massive success for Bethesda, its flaws feel more apparent than ever after Phantom Liberty’s release. It just feels like there was a lot of potential for the game, yet it failed to deliver on multiple fronts. It is still a lot of fun and is easily one of the best games of the year, though that does not mean it is a perfect experience.
Bethesda has not revealed anything aboutStarfield’s Shattered Space DLCyet since the base game just launched. However, that DLC has the chance to fix many of the game’s problems and bring the focus back onto the sci-fi RPG. If it can deliver an exhilarating story mostly free of bugs, then Shattered Space has the chance to improve the game tenfold. But that may be easier said than done, especially if the DLC follows in the footsteps ofFallout 4’s DLC model rather thanCyberpunk 2077’s.
Fallout 4had some good DLC, but much of it was disappointing. The majority of the packs were centered around the settlement system with only two packs devoted to massive new stories. That said, onlythe Far Harbor DLCwas truly worth it as Nuka World forced players to play as raiders even if they did not want to. This took the choice away from the freeform nature of the RPG, which is something that Shattered Space cannot do. It needs to feel more in line with Far Harbor andCyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, because otherwise players may tune out.
There is a lot riding onStarfield: Shattered Space, so hopefully it can deliver when it releases next year. If it falters or falls flat, then the future ofStarfieldmay be adversely affected. But if it follows in the footsteps ofCyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty,then it has the chance to reinvent the RPG for the better.
Cyberpunk 2077:Phantom Libertyis available for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
MORE:After Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, CD Projekt Red’s Next Step is Clear
