The universe that Starfield takes place in presents opportunities for players to immerse themselves in space travel and exploration, but DLC has the chance to rectify some of the game's more tedious aspects. There are engaging features such as random encounters with other spaceships, quests both for the main storyline or optional side missions that provide lore in addition to rewards, and plenty of NPC relationships to form. All of these blend together to create an exciting and immersive game, set against the massive backdrop of space with planets to explore and ships to customize.
As comprehensive and large as Starfield is, there are many things for players to spend hours working on and exploring. Procedurally generated planets can be amusing to explore and add a lot to the game to keep things fresh and interesting. Unfortunately, the massive size of the game and some of these procedurally generated planets, in particular, can be a problem in some instances as well. Or, if not a problem, they at least create some monotonous moments of boredom that could be corrected in a future DLC.
Walking Across Barren Planets Is Boring
The first time a player lands on a new planet it can be exciting. There is so much to see and do, and the fresh experience is a rewarding one that gives a sensation of being a true adventurer. After a while, that enthusiasm becomes less noticeable and eventually traveling to barren worlds to collect resources and gather survey data can become a bit more boring. Once on the surface of a planet in Starfield, players have only their legs to carry them across the broad expanses to collect what they need. Whether walking or running, it is a feature that at first can provide an opportunity to marvel at the beauty around but often becomes tiresome and monotonous without having some type of vehicle to speed up the pace even a fraction.
Starfield DLC Needs To Add Customizable Rovers
Bethesda has confirmed that there will be DLC for Starfield, with the first expansion, Shattered Space, already under development. While the studio has not given many details regarding what type of content and features will be included in this DLC, it has been labeled as "the first story expansion." This likely means that the DLC will be primarily story content rather than being focused on adding quality-of-life improvements such as any type of vehicle, but it also doesn't rule this out.
At the time period that Starfield takes place, it would make sense to have some form of land vehicle for routine planetary exploration. The idea would fit well with the nature of the game, as well, to give players the opportunity to either build or buy rovers that can be included on ships to bring to the far-flung barren planets in the galaxy. Even if the vehicles didn't travel especially quick, having any type of drivable machine could help at least give the appearance of moving quicker, and would simply be a cool feature to have in a game such as this.
Bethesda's Fallout 4 DLCs Added Buildable Items For Settlements
Adding buildable items with large-reaching effects, such as a rover, in a DLC for Starfield would not be beyond the realm of possibility, as Bethesda has previously shown in its Fallout 4 DLCs. Fallout 4 had expansions that included content for crafting and building settlements and even fun robots. Letting players unlock the knowledge and ability to build even the most rudimentary of rovers, dune buggies, or even a space-age bicycle to cross large areas on planets would be a positive step towards adding even more crafting features to the game and providing more opportunities for unique customization.
Starfield Ship Customization Could Naturally Lead To Rover Crafting
Starfield gives players the chance to build their own customized spacecraft with various ship parts, letting each person craft essentially whatever they can imagine for their ship. Additionally, there are workbenches and crafting stations that can be placed inside ships and players can craft weapon mods, spacesuit upgrades, and more through researching how to make things. A logical way to approach adding land vehicles into Starfield would be to make it something that is a mix of these, with the ability to research and craft rovers that can then be customized. New parts and materials could be provided throughout the world, or even in new story missions.
Bethesda's Todd Howard Has Said Starfield's Land Vehicles Were An Abandoned Idea
Before Starfield was released, Bethesda Executive Producer Todd Howard was asked in an interview (via Game Rant) if there would be land vehicles such as rovers in Starfield. Though he confirmed that developers at Bethesda had discussed including rovers or other types of vehicles during the development of the game, they ended up deciding not to include them. In the interview, Howard said that it would change the gameplay in ways that they did not want and that a large factor in the decision was that they would then need to think about "how fast [the players] are seeing things." This could mean that they wanted players to enjoy a more relaxed feel, or possibly the procedurally generated planets would cause technical limitations for the speed of rendering that a surface vehicle would require.
Perhaps technical limitations were a bigger factor than is commonly realized when contemplating the idea of a fast-paced vehicle going across large, procedurally generated worlds. On the other hand, perhaps it was a style decision by the developers to encourage players to slow down and enjoy the vastness of space and the worlds they are exploring. Whatever the reasoning, it would still be nice if an upcoming DLC for Starfield could give players the ability to research and craft their own land vehicles, whatever that may look like. Even if they don't move exceptionally fast, this could be a fun new feature to further give players customizable builds to encourage even more creative expression and immersion and reduce some possible moments of boredom.
Source: Game Rant