Starfield: Shattered Space – Bethesda Design Director Addresses Negative Response

Over a year after launch, Bethesda Game Studios’ Starfield received its first paid expansion in Shattered Space. However, it’s received some backlash following mixed reactions from critics (we gave it a 6 out of 10) and a “Mostly Negative” response from Steam players.

A recent interview by Bethesda design director Emil Pagliarulo also riled some people up when he called Starfield the team’s “best game” in many ways (the full context is worth reading here). He has since responded on Twitter to a fan regarding the same.

“As the design director, sometimes I’m asked or instructed to do interviews. I was happy to do that, to represent the designers and the studio. Seeing how hard and passionately they worked on Shattered Space, they deserved nothing less.”

And while “optimism and excitement are pretty standard for interviews,” Pagliarulo said this isn’t any way “meant to be mud in the eye of any dissatisfied fan. That’s not how it works.” Regarding criticism for the expansion, he said, “If folks have played Shattered Space and still don’t like it, that makes me sad, honestly. Just know that we’ve also been hearing from plenty of people who love it.

“Maybe, it’s a game of expectations. Fans want a lot, and we do all we can to accommodate them. Here’s what I can tell you – nobody, and I mean nobody, at Bethesda is patting themselves on the back while ignoring our players.” As for the near future, the developer will continue to release fixes and address concerns while “listening to our fans every step of the way. We make these games for all of you.”

Of course, Pagliarulo notes that some fixes can take time due to the game’s size, where “every fix could potentially break something else.” “To close, let me just say… I love games. I love Bethesda’s games. I’ve been playing them since the Terminator days. All I or anyone here wants to do is make those games…and then make them better. No ego. No arrogance. Just a lot of hard work and appreciation of our fans.”

Starfield: Shattered Space is available for PC and Xbox Series X/S. Bethesda’s Todd Howard has confirmed a second expansion is in the works, rumored to be called “Starborn“ and launching in 2025.

The development team is targeting yearly expansions, though a roadmap for post-Shattered Space improvements and content has yet to be revealed. Stay tuned for updates in the meantime.

Hi Stephen! Well, first of all, I appreciate you taking the time to passionately share your thoughts. I may not agree with everything you wrote, but I understand & appreciate where you’re coming from.

— Emil Pagliarulo (@Dezinuh) October 8, 2024

Twitter/X has never been a place for polite discourse, but I’d like to address what I can. I don’t like leaving fans hanging. In fact, I generally say more than I should. We have a Community team for a reason. But I think a bridge to the devs is important.

— Emil Pagliarulo (@Dezinuh) October 8, 2024

First, the interview. As the design director, sometimes I’m asked or instructed to do interviews. I was happy to do that, to represent the designers and the studio. Seeing how hard and passionately they worked on Shattered Space, they deserved nothing less.

— Emil Pagliarulo (@Dezinuh) October 8, 2024

Optimism and excitement are pretty standard for interviews. And I’m generally pretty optimistic and excitable (about games) by nature. That said, my optimism is in no way meant to be mud in the eye of any dissatisfied fan. That’s not how it works.

— Emil Pagliarulo (@Dezinuh) October 8, 2024

I’m also very proud of Shattered Space. We all are. Most of the quests and levels were done by designers who have worked on previous Bethesda games and DLCs, going all the way back to Morrowind. They’re good at what they do, and it shows.

— Emil Pagliarulo (@Dezinuh) October 8, 2024

If folks haven’t played Shattered Space, and they like Starfield, I think they’re missing out. If folks have played Shattered Space and still don’t like it, that makes me sad, honestly. Just know that we’ve also been hearing from plenty of people who love it.

— Emil Pagliarulo (@Dezinuh) October 8, 2024

Maybe it’s a game of expectations. Fans want a lot, and we do all we can to accommodate them. Here’s what I can tell you – nobody, and I mean nobody, at Bethesda is patting themselves on the back while ignoring our players.

— Emil Pagliarulo (@Dezinuh) October 8, 2024

In addition to Shattered Space, we’ve also spent a lot of time this year addressing community concerns and making fixes. We’ll continue to do so, and will be listening to our fans every step of the way. We make these games for all of you.

— Emil Pagliarulo (@Dezinuh) October 8, 2024

Starfield is a massive game, and it takes time for us to address things. We move as fast as we can, as safely as we can. Game development is always tricky, but with a game as big as Starfield, every fix could potentially break something else.

— Emil Pagliarulo (@Dezinuh) October 8, 2024

To close, let me just say… I love games. I love Bethesda’s games. I’ve been playing them since the Terminator days. All I or anyone here wants to do is make those games… and then make them better. No ego. No arrogance. Just a lot of hard work, and appreciation of our fans.

— Emil Pagliarulo (@Dezinuh) October 8, 2024