The space game No Man’s Sky is currently all the rage. The hype feels as big as it was at release, thanks to many upcoming contents. But why? We show what the upcoming mammoth update Beyond contains and what makes Beyond and “No Man’s Sky 2.0” so special for many.
Why the current hype? There was a huge hype around No Man’s Sky at its release in August 2016. But the game did not meet the high expectations of players and was for many the disappointment of the year.
But the developers at Hello Games continued to work on the project despite massive criticism and numerous difficulties, expanding it piece by piece. In their major updates, the developers oriented themselves towards their own visions and the wishes of the fans.
Now, No Man’s Sky is receiving the next big update Beyond on August 14 – the largest for the game to date. Recently, the developers of Hello Games introduced Beyond with its own trailer. This update is free for all owners of No Man’s Sky.
Since then, a new hype has erupted around the title. The space sim is getting numerous exciting new features, with something for everyone, many of which have been eagerly awaited for a long time. Additionally, numerous fans joke that there is so much new content that one didn’t even know they wanted it until its recent presentation.
You can watch the trailer here:
Who is the update interesting for? What many are celebrating about the update: It really has something for almost everyone who is interested in the game:
- Newcomers are offered an attractive and extensive overall package that embodies what many expected at the launch of No Man’s Sky
- Returning players will be lured in with completely new experiences like VR and the expanded online multiplayer
- Established veterans can look forward to numerous desired features and innovations that should transport them into the world of No Man’s Sky for many more hours
What’s in No Man’s Sky Beyond
The update is very extensive and is essentially built on three pillars:
- Online features
- Virtual Reality (VR)
- and No Man’s Sky 2.0
The developers refer to NMS 2.0 as the overall package of improvements and new features that will come into the game with Beyond.
Below, we show you some highlights that you can expect in Beyond and that are responsible for the current hype around No Man’s Sky. Many are particularly looking forward to these.
More online and more together
Expanded online features: With Beyond, the multiplayer will be significantly expanded and offer numerous new features that aim to highlight the online component more. Because playing together with friends is much more fun, as the developers say.
- 16 – 32 players, depending on the platform. Filled with friends or random players.
- New social space – The Nexus. This exists outside of time and space, can be summoned in any system you are currently in, and can be entered seamlessly without loading times. It works similarly to the Tower in Destiny. You can move freely there, showcase your ships, suits, and constructions
- In the Nexus, there are new shops, missions, and story elements. It is operated by Polo and Nada
- In the Nexus, you can take on multiplayer missions, grant everyone in the Nexus access to your base, and team up with strike teams to seamlessly venture into the same system for joint adventures
- Featured Bases: This is where the developers will showcase particularly cool constructions from the community. Every player can then visit this base for a limited time and see for themselves
- Community missions: If you participate, you will automatically be warped to a specific planet in a specific system and mixed with other online players. If you master these quests, you earn special in-game currency that you can then spend in a corresponding shop for new rewards. This will not be available directly at the launch of Beyond
- Some planets will also be transformed into social spaces where players can freely have fun together
VR takes No Man’s Sky to a new level
Full VR experience: The VR experience has been praised to the skies by everyone who has already had a chance to experience it. This would take No Man’s Sky to a completely new level, according to numerous pages and magazines. Here is what we currently know about VR in NMS:
- Everything you can do in the normal game can also be done in VR. You can easily play with players without VR (only virtual fist-bumps won’t work)
- You can continue with your normal save in VR
- VR supports all major available headsets and their input methods – including PSVR for PS4
- PS4 players are not forced to use the Move controllers, they can also use the regular DualShock 4 controller
- Teleportation options and direct movements are available
- Controls work somewhat fundamentally differently than in the regular gameplay experience. For example, the analysis visor is activated when you tap the headset twice. Menus are operated through a holo-pad on the glove. You can reach up to close the cockpit canopy of your ship. If you prefer to smash carbon out of an alien plant, you can do that too
What is No Man’s Sky 2.0?
No Man’s Sky 2.0: The list of features in this pillar is enormous and roughly twice as long as the previously largest update Next. NMS 2.0 runs through almost all areas of the game. Thus, there is something for almost every player and playstyle – even if you are not into online play and the VR experience. This has also been very highlighted and praised by many fans.
- The list of changes and new features for Next contained nearly 250 points. Beyond will contain about twice as many.
- Strong focus on optimizations
- Requests and feedback from fans served as the basis for most changes and innovations
- There will be a new galaxy map, among other things
- New alien races
- New languages
- NPCs finally move – in stations and on planets
- You can sit on chairs (which is celebrated a lot)
- Expanded base building for larger complex constructions with industrial elements (solar panels, mining equipment), electricity conduits, teleporters, physics-altering systems, and logic elements that allow the building of own mechanics
- Creatures can be tamed, ridden, or even milked
- Planets will be revamped; they should no longer just be large boring biomes.
- Menus and various other elements of the user interface have been revised
- Cooking and recipes are coming to the game
- The sizes of many objects (like ships or plants) have been revised for VR, but also for the normal game.
Sean Murray, the head of Hello Games, goes into detail about many of the new features in this video:
What is No Man’s Sky anyway? No Man’s Sky is a space exploration and survival game that you can experience alone or online with other players.
In a gigantic, procedurally generated open world consisting of 18 trillion planets, the game puts you in the role of a spaceship pilot and space explorer. You wake up on a random planet, have to repair your ship, and then either travel to the center of the galaxy (the main goal of the game, which is actually completely secondary) or go on an exploration tour in the infinite vastness of space.
There you can fight, discover, build bases, interact with other players, and more.
Survey: Are you also excited for No Man’s Sky Beyond?
On reddit and other forums or discussion platforms, many fans are currently excited for Beyond and are already counting the hours until release. In this context, we want to know if you are also excited about the new update. Will you check out the game for the first time? Will you return? Or are you looking forward to the new features as a veteran with a lot of playtime?
Take part in our survey and let us know there and in the comments. Keep in mind, you have only one vote. Thank you for your time and patience.
If you do not see a survey at this point on mobile devices, please follow this link:
