Renowned YouTuber MrMattyPlays recently conducted an hour-long video interview with Todd Howard, the head of Bethesda, where they discussed various topics, including the highly anticipated game, Starfield. During the interview, Howard provided an exciting update on the game's player base.

Since the last update in December 2023, where Starfield had accumulated 13 million players, the game's popularity has continued to surge, with the player count now reaching an impressive 14 million. Furthermore, Howard revealed that the average playtime per player stands at over 40 hours, showcasing a remarkable level of engagement within the game.

The conversation then shifted towards the much-anticipated first Starfield DLC, titled "Shattered Space," set to be released later this year. Howard referred to it as an "annual story expansion" that promises an immersive experience on par with the size of Fallout 4's acclaimed DLC, Far Harbor. This expansive DLC, primarily centered around a single planet, aims to deliver the seamless exploration that Bethesda games are known for.

Howard expressed his enthusiasm for the expansion, stating, "It allows us to build a landscape like we would traditionally do and have the city and the quests. That story takes place there, and the landscape, content-wise, we're looking at kind of like what we did with Far Harbor on Fallout 4. This is a scope that works for our development in doing this kind of annual story expansion type."

Addressing the community's feedback regarding exploration in Starfield, MrMattyPlays asked if this expansion was a response to the criticism. However, Howard revealed that even before player feedback, the team at Bethesda acknowledged that creating engaging exploration on vast, barren planets was a challenge. They felt the need to provide a more bespoke landscape experience, prompting the conceptualization of "Shattered Space."

Howard explained, "We wanted to build something like that and felt that this was the right way to go about it with something that had its own theme and tone that we could put you on a planet. One of the benefits of Starfield and its scope is it allows something like that within it while feeling natural, so it was our own reaction that we had as well."

Intriguingly, Howard also hinted at the possibility of future annual story expansions for Starfield. Though they are currently planning for the release of "Shattered Space," Howard expressed the desire to continue this trend for the game in the long run. He stated, "How long that continues, hopefully a very long time, but that's what we're planning for the one after this. So, there will be another one."

Starfield enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting the release of "Shattered Space," which promises to bring a new level of exploration and storytelling to the game. As the player base continues to grow, it is clear that Bethesda's latest offering is capturing the attention and enthusiasm of gamers worldwide.

Are you excited to step into the immersive world of Starfield once more with "Shattered Space"? Let us know in the comments below.