Shattered Space Delayed Start
🟠 Updated over a year ago⚠️ Install Order · 2 steps
Install in this order, then this mod last — most mods fail to load without their framework and dependencies in place.
Preview

🔍 Analysis
- 👍 0.4% endorsement rate
- 🏆 #10 of 49 Quests mods in this game by downloads
📋 About This Mod
Back again with another "Bethesda, I love you but we just don't agree on quest starts" mod.
In the Shattered Space DLC, the call-to-action quest "What Remains" will start as soon as the player travels to a space location where they won't be scanned for contraband after they have completed "One Small Step". This means the player can begin the questline at roughly any time if they want... But it'll probably kick your ass unless you're at a mid-game level. Starfield itself includes a recommendation that the player be level 35 right in the quest listing.
Now, if you are level 35 or wish to enter Valhalla early, you can just go on in and be fine. But if you're the cautious sort, you will now have that quest in your quest log until you work up to that level.
It'll just be there.
Taunting you.
OR you can install this mod, and the quest will not trigger until you are at that recommended level of 35 (or whatever you set the global to).
Details
No loose files, small master
-
[]Created two new globals:
[
]sw_ssd_UseMinimumLevelCheckForShatteredSpace - Flag indicating if a level check should be used when attempting to start the "What Remains" Quest. Default: 1 (true)
- []sw_ssd_MinimumLevelRequiredForShatteredSpace - Level player must reach before "What Remains" Quest will start if above flag is true. Default: 35
[]Updated Change Location Event Quest Node "SFBGS001_MQ1_QuestNode" to include a check that sw_ssd_ShatteredSpaceMinimumLevelCheckForm is true at the bottom of its options.
End result is that the player must be above the specified level when changing location in order for the quest to start, or the flag can be set to false and the quest will start as in vanilla.
Configuration
The above mentioned globals can be edited via typical means:
[]As of version 1. 1. 0, Gameplay options are available to adjust the minimum level and to toggle the check flag. This is the easiest approach, and is the only one that doesn't require additional dependencies or tools. Check out the media tab for screenshots of the options.
[]You can use Baka Console EditorIDs by shad0wshayd3 to use the set console command with the EditorId (the names I have above). ie, set sw_ssd_MinimumLevelRequiredForShatteredSpace to 25This is the approach I most recommend if the provided gameplay options don't fit your needs.
[]You can use Real Time Form Patc
Adds a level gate to the start of Shattered Space DLC, preventing the distress signal from triggering until the player reaches the recommended level. For players who want to experience the DLC at an appropriate difficulty without being underleveled.
✨ Key Features
📊 Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Community-approved with 402 endorsements and over 101k downloads—clearly a popular fix.
- Solves a real annoyance: getting the DLC quest before you're ready and getting stomped.
- Lightweight and focused—does exactly one thing without bloating your load order.
⚠️ Cons
- Only works for the Shattered Space DLC—if you wanted similar gating for other quests, this isn't it.
- No documentation on how the level check is implemented—might conflict with other quest mods that alter the same mission.
- Last updated in October 2024—if the game has had patches since then, it might be outdated.
For Starfield players who want to tackle Shattered Space at the intended level without accidentally stumbling into it early. Skip if you're fine with the vanilla trigger or if you use other mods that already adjust DLC quest timing.
💡 Beginner Tips
- If you're using a mod manager like Vortex or MO2, just download and install—no extra steps needed.
- If you're already past the level threshold, this mod won't affect your current playthrough—start a new game or load a save before the trigger.
- Check if you have other quest overhaul mods that might touch the same mission—load order could matter.
📊 Mod Details
- Game
- Starfield Mods
- Author
- strangeWindmill
- Version
- 1.1.0
- Downloads
- 101,042
- Endorsements
- 402
- Category
- Quests
- Created
- 10/1/2024
- Updated
- 10/12/2024
🔧 How to Install Starfield Mods
Download from Nexus.
📖 Full step-by-step install guide for Starfield →
Visit the official mod page for specific installation instructions for this mod.
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