Hello Games has received a lot of praise for their stewardship of No Man’s Sky; the game has received a ton of updates over the years, adding everything from sandworms to settlements across the galaxy. The game’s newest update is the big 5.0, and it’s the first part of an update to the game’s world generation.
One of the biggest draws of No Man’s Sky is setting out and finding wonderful and weird planets, and the new update does a lot to make that experience deeper and more interesting. Some worlds have been warped by gravitational distortions, creating floating islands that make for prime base building real estate. Ocean worlds will be much prettier now, with dynamic wave generation and sparkling surface reflections.
None of these additions dramatically change the way one might play No Man’s Sky, but the new scenery should make exploring more pleasant. I can see myself getting lost and looking at some of the new clouds, or how the new wind simulation kicks up a dust storm on a desert world. There are also new flora and fauna types, including a weird hybrid of animals comprised out of a complex network of plant parts.
The update also includes the ability to customize solar ships and a new bug stomping Expedition. Players who take part in the Expedition can earn insectoid armor and new combat upgrades for the Minotaur mech. After playing a ton of Helldivers 2, I feel confident in my ability to join the Vanguard Liquidators and go to war against these nasty new insects. I’m doing my part!
As the “Part 1” implies, we’ll likely see more Worlds update coming in the future for No Man’s Sky. Hello Games have put a tremendous effort into updating and patching No Man’s Sky, and I’m eager to see how this new, under the hood technology changes my planet hopping adventures.