As a long-time Bethesda fan and avid role-player, I can’t help but feel a sense of nostalgic excitement upon learning about the inspiration behind Dazra in Starfield’s Shattered Space expansion. Having spent countless hours traversing the desolate landscapes of Morrowind, it’s fascinating to see how Bethesda has incorporated some of its iconic design elements into this new DLC. It’s like revisiting an old friend but with a fresh twist!
Emil Pagliarulo, the Design Director at Bethesda, has unveiled the source of inspiration for the recognizable city of Dazra in the initial narrative expansion of Starfield, titled Shattered Space.
It appears that the developers deliberately echoed elements from Bethesda’s renowned role-playing game, The Elder Scrolls, within this DLC.
The space known as Shattered Space presents House Va’ruun, which is the third galactic administration within the Settled Systems, located on the planet Va’ruun’kai that orbits the Kavnyk system.
As I delve into this new virtual world, I can’t help but notice the striking similarities between its bustling capital and the mesmerizing landscapes of Morrowind from The Elder Scrolls III. It feels like I’ve stepped right back into that game!
“Morrowind and its themes and overall vibe were a big inspiration,” he said.
In the third installment of the “Elder Scrolls” saga, the action unfolds in the unique and murky landscape of Morrowind. Unlike the usual fantasy backdrops of the series, this province is particularly distinguished by its swampy terrain.
In the expansive universe of Starfield, Dazra and its orbiting world Va’ruun’kai stand out as some of the most enigmatic locations encountered thus far.
Pagliarulo commented that it stands out both story-wise and visually, particularly when you contrast it with other cities within the game.
In my perspective, Dazra narrates the tale of a human group dwelling on society’s outskirts, pushing beyond the known boundaries of civilization.
Similar to Morrowind, it stretches the boundaries of its unique NASAPunk visual style, often testing the boundaries of what is culturally acceptable in numerous ways.
“We really love the aesthetic of the homeworld and the city of Dazra in particular,” he added.
Other Inspirations Behind Starfield: Shattered Space‘s Dazra
In addition to drawing inspiration from Morrowind for Shattered Space, it’s also worth noting that this game has been significantly impacted by a well-known space exploration series, specifically Star Trek.
The fierce and ruthless nature of the Va’ruun’kai draws comparisons to the Klingons from Star Trek, while Rura Penthe is a significant influence on their depiction.
However, Pagliarulo and the rest of the development team didn’t rely solely on these influences.
He disclosed that we took it a step further by questioning, “What unique ways can we make this place reflect the characteristic charm of Va’ruun?
Prior to the launch of Shattered Space on September 30, the homeworld of Va’ruun was a hotly debated subject within the halls of Bethesda, where I, as a gamer, eagerly anticipated the game’s release.
In their discussions, Pagliarulo frequently pondered about the development of Va’ruun’kai at its initial phases. However, instead of documenting their ideas, they kept them in mind with the intention of one day materializing them.
‘We really hoped that someday, somehow, we’d be able to bring House Va’ruun to life as a playable faction and give players Va’ruun’kai.’
No matter how players describe Va’ruun’kai, it will always seem strange to them. But the bigger question has always been: how strange?
‘But how weird? And weird in what way? What could we pull off?’ Pagliarulo wondered.
Shattered Space might be the initial DLC for Starfield, yet it’s receiving praise as one of Bethesda’s finest productions to date. Despite issues like cumbersome gameplay and prolonged loading times, its extra features are worth delving into.
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2024-10-03 00:14