Starfield developer assures fans that Bethesda is still listening to feedback for its Shattered Space DLC
Following the release of Starfield's first expansion, Shattered Space, to mixed reviews, design director Emil Pagliarulo has stated that the studio is still listening to community feedback, following a recent interview that sparked fan backlash.
The details:
Shattered Space was released last month as the first major expansion for the sci-fi RPG. Despite fan expectations that it would be comparable in quality to some of Bethesda's best DLC releases, such as Fallout 4's Far Harbor, its Steam rating has dropped to "Mostly Negative," with complaints about the quality of its quests and the amount of content included.
Pagliarulo made statements in an GamesRadar interview earlier this month that upset many Bethesda fans, given the mixed reviews for both Starfield and its DLC. This included the design director stating that he believes Starfield is "in a lot of ways, the best game [Bethesda has] ever made," which some interpreted to be ignorant given the existence of titles such as Skyrim and Fallout 3, and possibly dismissing criticism of the shortcomings.
In response to the interview, a fan took to X with a lengthy set of posts directed at Pagliarulo, claiming that it felt like he and the development team were "patting [themselves] on the head." The developer has responded, stating that while his "optimism is in no way meant to be mud in the eye of any dissatisfied fan," he is genuinely proud of Shattered Space, pointing out that many of its quests and content have been created by veteran Bethesda employees.
Pagliarulo went on to explain that the disconnect between fans and the studio is most likely due to high expectations of players. "Maybe it's a game of expectations. Fans want a lot, and we do all we can to accommodate them,” he wrote. “Here's what I can tell you—nobody, and I mean nobody, at Bethesda is patting themselves on the back while ignoring our players." The director confirmed that Bethesda has also spent a "lot of time this year addressing community concerns and making fixes" and that it will continue to do so.
Despite the general reaction to the expansion, Pagliarulo also added that he believes those who don’t play the DLC are “missing out,” and while he finds some of the negative feedback “sad” to hear, he has also heard many positive responses.
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