Xbox's Starfield got that sweet new REV-8 rover update, and oh yeah — the Shattered Space DLC's release date, too

Starfield
Starfield's REV-8 space rover in action. (Image credit: Xbox Game Studios)

What you need to know

  • During Gamescom 2024's Opening Night Live show, Starfield developer Bethesda revealed that a new free REV-8 space rover DLC is coming to the game today.
  • This DLC gives players access to the long-awaited space rover vehicle. The rover's all-terrain design, high speed, vertical rocket boosters, and roof-mounted gauss cannon make it a versatile and reliable vehicle whether you're exploring or getting into a fight.
  • The trailer for the rover also revealed the official release date for Starfield's Shattered Space expansion, which is now scheduled to launch next month on September 30.
  • Compared to Starfield's overall emphasis on exploring the far reaches of the universe, Shattered Space will feature a deeper, more thorough adventure on the planet Va'ruun'kai and focus on the mysterious House Va'ruun faction.

Surprise! That cool new space rover we've seen teased in various Starfield developer deep dives is finally here, coming to the Xbox and Windows PC space exploration RPG today in a free DLC update. Its imminent arrival was announced during the Gamescom 2024 Opening Night Live show, with the update getting a special trailer that shows off the rover and its capabilities.

You can watch that trailer here or with the embed below. It reveals that the rover is officially called the REV-8, and shows its rugged all-terrain design, high speed, and ability to rocket boost upwards to add extra height to jumps or reach parts of the environment that would be inaccessible otherwise. It even has some sort of gauss cannon mounted to the top, giving players the ability to effectively combat hostile alien fauna, space bandits, and other threats.

Starfield: Official REV-8 Trailer - YouTube Starfield: Official REV-8 Trailer - YouTube
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Notably, the end of the trailer sneaks in the official release date for Starfield's highly anticipated Shattered Space DLC, which hasn't been revealed until now. The expansion is scheduled to come out in just over a month on September 30, 2024, and like Starfield itself, will be made available on Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC through both Steam and the Microsoft Store. Unlike base Starfield, though, you won't be able to access it through Xbox Game Pass, and will need to buy it separately unless you bought the Premium Edition.

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While Starfield emphasizes exploring multiple worlds over the course of a playthrough, Shattered Space will instead primarily focus on a deeper adventure on the planet Va'ruun'kai. Not many granular specifics are known about the gameplay and narrative at the moment, but we do know that the expansion will focus on the enigmatic interstellar government House Va'ruun and that it will feature new planets, enemies, bosses, weapons, armor, and more.

It's exciting to know that Shattered Space is so close, and given that one of my biggest issues with Starfield is its lack of depth, I'm looking forward to checking out a DLC that dives into a new part of the universe more thoroughly. And hey, if nothing else, Shattered Space will surely give me the opportunity to make good use of the REV-8.

The REV-8 space rover looking very cool on Neon. (Image credit: Xbox Game Studios)

Speaking of the REV-8, it's great to see Starfield finally get a space rover. Players have been asking for one since the game launched in 2023, as the game's open world spaces are quite large and open (and, you know, having a rover is important for the space exploration vibes). If the rover is anything like Starfield's space ships, you also may be able to customize it extensively, though we won't know for sure until the REV-8 actually drops later "tonight." To get yours, Bethesda says you'll simply need to speak with a ship services technician in any of Starfield's major cities.

Starfield's new REV-8 space rover DLC is free and will be available on Xbox and Windows PC shortly, while its Shattered Space expansion is coming next month on September 30, 2024. Its price hasn't been announced yet, though all players who own the Premium Edition of Starfield or purchase the Premium Edition Upgrade will be able to access it.

Starfield Premium Edition | $93.59 at CDKeys (Xbox, PC)

Starfield Premium Edition | $93.59 at CDKeys (Xbox, PC)

The Premium Edition of Starfield costs $100 and includes the base game, along with access to the Shattered Space Story Expansion (when it releases), a Constellation Skin Pack, and access to a Starfield Digital Art Book and its Official Soundtrack.

Also see: Premium Edition (CDKeys, $67.59, Steam) | Premium Edition Upgrade (CDKeys, $24.69, Xbox, PC) | Premium Edition Upgrade (CDKeys, $28.59, Steam)

Brendan Lowry

Brendan Lowry is a Windows Central writer and Oakland University graduate with a burning passion for video games, of which he's been an avid fan since childhood. He's been writing for Team WC since the summer of 2017, and you'll find him doing news, editorials, reviews, and general coverage on everything gaming, Xbox, and Windows PC. His favorite game of all time is probably NieR: Automata, though Elden Ring, Fallout: New Vegas, and Team Fortress 2 are in the running, too. When he's not writing or gaming, there's a good chance he's either watching an interesting new movie or TV show or actually going outside for once. Follow him on X (Twitter).

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  • GraniteStateColin
    Yeehaw! This is fantastic news. I'm excited to try it out.

    HOWEVER, I do think Starfield's biggest problem has not been the lack of a land vehicle (though that's certainly a welcome upgrade), but the repetition of the too-small quantity of hand-crafted, randomly distributed bases. Each one is great, better than most anything in Skyrim or Fallout, but in those other games, EVERY SINGLE location was unique. In Starfield, they repeat. After you've hit the same base more than once, I don't care how interesting it is, additional revisits are largely annoying. That really destroys my interest in exploring, knowing that even though the terrain of the planet may be unique (procedurally generated terrain is fine with me -- like in Minecraft), any actual encounters outside of a specific questline will be identical to ones I've already had. Even down to where every enemy starts and where to find loot... all identical. Grr...

    The ONLY thing that changes between them is what faction of enemy occupies the base, which isn't particularly important. Just the clothes and weapons change. Swapping Pirates for Spacers does not give a significantly different feel during exploration or combat.

    For me, they need a way to randomize those bases or at least add a lot more so that the odds of repeating one within a few days of having just cleared the same thing is greatly reduced. At the very, very least, have enemies and loot appear in different places each time so there's a need to explore a bit to find them and some drama in coming around a corner to find an enemy.
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