Newsletter
The wait is finally over, and the Beyond update for No Man’s Sky is now available on all platforms. That includes Windows PC, Playstation 4, and Xbox One. Beyond has been called “No Man’s Sky 2.0” by the developers themselves, and that’s for several very big reasons. The developers have been teasing the Beyond update since early Summer but have been shy about details and what it would bring to the table.
Turns out this free update is the biggest update in the game’s history. Among several improvements and changes, Beyond brings about the first official VR version of the game that can be played side-by-side with other players in the brand-new multiplayer functionality. That means no matter which version of the game you prefer to play, you can enjoy the endlessly procedurally-generated universe of No Man’s Sky with friends.
To celebrate the launch of Beyond, many stores where the game is virtually sold are holding sales on the game. Notably, Steam features a 50% off sale which brings the title to $29.99. Green Man Gaming even has it for 54% off by using coupon code AUGUST12, making one of the best games of the generation only $27.
Buying the game now gives players access to all 7 updates that have been delivered since the original launch of the game. That includes Foundation, Pathfinder, Atlas Rises, NEXT, The Abyss, Visions, and of course, the 2.0 Beyond update.
Folks who already own No Man’s Sky on any platform will only need to update their game to be able to take advantage of all the free content, and owners of a VR HMD on either PC or PS4 will be given a brand new option to launch the game in VR, too.
Aside from a brand new way to play, what else can players expect? Developers Hello Games have been parading this as No Man’s Sky 2.0 because of a significant graphical overhaul that makes the game’s worlds more complex and beautiful than ever before. When No Man’s Sky was first unveiled in 2014, the developers had a vision that has taken years to finally come to fruition. That time is now, according to Hello Games, and new and returning players alike can expect a plethora of graphical goodness no matter how they experience the game.
Part of this improvement is the switch from OpenGL to Vulkan, a development language that many games are switching to because of substantial performance improvements.
In addition to new multiplayer and VR functionality, Hello Games has brought many quality of life improvements to the table. This includes a “near-unlimited” amount of mined materials that can be carried, and mining that gets interrupted much less frequently. The mining beam has also been reworked, which will be a relief to players that had to fuss with it in the past.
Players can also tame and ride animals, which is an exciting addition that provides new mobility options in a game that’s designed around the idea of exploration and discovery.
Some players have been having issues with the game crashing and other bugs, which developers have acknowledged and will be addressing shortly.