Starfield: The Settled Systems Animation Returns With an Ominous, Shattered Space-Flavored Message

Since the release of Starfield, we have not seen much of Starfield: The Settled Systems, a series of short animations aiming to explore the lore and unseen perspectives of the universe of Starfield. But, just in time for Starfield’s upcoming Shattered Space DLC (which releases on September 30th, and which you can see here), a new episode — titled “All Must Serve” — has released.

This 2:38-long animation seems to explore House Va’ruun, a mysteriously absent faction from the base game, and perhaps even what caused their strange disappearance. The trailer begins by showing one of the faction’s temples, before going inside to reveal what looks to be a preacher, overlooking a large congregation of followers.

A few moments later, however, a great ball of energy appears behind him. The preacher uses this as an opportunity to continue his sermon, and it seems that the Va’ruunites largely worship this ball of energy. Until it turns dangerous, that is. Expanding outward, the ball of energy seems to wipe away most of the congregation, some of whom now flee. All except for a small boy, who watches his mother disappear into the blue energy, leaving him alone, witnessing her ghostly figure on the other side of it.

The trailer ends by showing a stellar map, highlighting a single point, labelled “Dazra; Va’ruun’kai Kavnyk.” A new system to explore, perhaps? Maybe even the heart of the Va’ruun mystery, which we already know will feature prominently in the more directed, slightly horror-tinged Shattered Space DLC?

Well, for that, we will have to wait and see, but it will be interesting to see where this Settled Systems animation — again, the first in over a year since the game’s release — fits within the larger plot of Starfield and of the DLC.