No Man's Sky

Platform(s): Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
Genre: Action/Adventure
Developer: Hello Games
Release Date: Aug. 9, 2016 (US), Aug. 10, 2016 (EU)

About Rainier

PC gamer, WorthPlaying EIC, globe-trotting couch potato, patriot, '80s headbanger, movie watcher, music lover, foodie and man in black -- squirrel!

Advertising

As an Amazon Associate, we earn commission from qualifying purchases.





'No Man's Sky' Prisms Update Adds Visual Overhaul, Flying Pets, DLSS Support

by Rainier on June 2, 2021 @ 12:18 p.m. PDT

No Man's Sky is a sci-fi exploration game mixing space combat, exploration, and resource gathering set in a procedurally generated open world.

Inspired by classic science-fiction and its overwhelming sense of adventure and imagination, Hello Games presents a game of unprecedented scale and ambition. In No Man’s Sky you explore an infinite universe where you will discover unique never-before-seen planets and lifeforms.

A mystery lies at the center of the galaxy, an irresistible pulse that draws you on an epic voyage to discover the true nature of the cosmos. Your journey will be charged with danger, encountering hostile creatures and fierce pirates; in order to survive, you will need to prepare, upgrading your ship, suit and weapons.

Whether you choose to fight, trade or explore, every decision you make has consequences, shaping your journey as you travel ever deeper into No Man's Sky.

This year we have been delighted to watch Travellers the world over adopt weird and wonderful creatures in the COMPANIONS update, then jump into an all-new game mode with the first two EXPEDITIONS and unlock exclusive new content, including the SSV Normandy SR1 from Mass Effect. Further expeditions are planned very soon, and we look forward to sharing them with you.

Today we are pleased to release our third free update of this, our 5th anniversary year.

PRISMS brings with it a visual overhaul of No Man’s Sky. Virtually no part of the game has been left untouched – our small team have enhanced the technology and the art all across the game to make the entire universe more vivid and beautiful than ever. Planets, skies, stars, creatures, the weather, space stations and more – new technology and new content mean they look the best they’ve ever been. We can’t wait for players to discover the changes.

While exploring planets you’ll notice new weather effects, such as rain which refracts the light and surfaces that become slick and wet. Or if you venture underground you’ll find caves with new lighting effects, more detailed environments and greater variety of generation.

Fur has been added to creatures you encounter, bringing extra detail and variety to exploration and companion taming. Flying creatures, such as giant beetles, flying worms and colossal butterflies, as well as some of the more bizarre, exotic and description-defying alien creatures, can now all be adopted as your companions.

Above you, the night sky now shines with the light from thousands of distant stars. New audio and visual effects transform your interstellar experience as you warp between destinations. In the Space Station, your freighter, and other interiors you’ll notice volumetric lights, detailed surfaces from Parallax Occlusion Mapping and gorgeous reflective metallic surfaces.

And of course, with all these visual enhancements, it makes sense to upgrade Photo Mode too with improved depth of field and bloom controls. We love seeing the incredible creativity of our community, and are very excited to see what beautiful images you surprise us with next.

PC players with compatible Nvidia graphics cards can take advantage of DLSS, potentially seeing their framerate double.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a No Man’s Sky update without a long list of extras – see the full list here. Worthy of note this time is the ability to tame and ride flying creatures. This is something which has been requested ever since Travellers mounted their first creature in the BEYOND update and we can’t wait for you to take to the skies with your trusty airborne steeds.

 

Key Features:

  • Explore a universe of possibilities – With over 18,446,744,073,709,551,616 (18 quintillion) possible planets, No Man’s Sky's procedurally generated galaxy gives players an unparalleled opportunity to explore worlds that no one has ever visited before. Exploration is entirely seamless, with no loading screens, whether you're flying from space to a planet's surface or even warping between solar systems.
  • Forge your own path to the centre of the galaxy – Whether you consider yourself a trader, an explorer or a fighter, there’s no limit to how you play No Man’s Sky. You may slip between play-styles freely, from pirate to miner, bounty hunter to surveyor, but know that any action can have lasting consequences.
  • Share your discoveries – Everyone starts No Man’s Sky on the outer rim of the same unexplored galaxy. As you progress, you will come across countless undiscovered solar systems, planets, lifeforms and much more. You can choose to share your discoveries with other players, naming them and adding them to the Galactic Map, forever associated with your PSN ID. You may also share the amazing sights you encounter using PlayStation 4’s share functions.
  • Space combat on a grand scale – Make enemies and forge alliances by joining battles between the factions that occupy the galaxy. Take part in daring raids on trade convoys and audacious attacks on capital ships, claim bounties, and upgrade your weaponry. But be warned: helping one faction may make its enemies yours, too.
  • Trade your way through the galaxy –Violence is not the only route to success. Discovering rare resources and trading them where they are most valuable will help you amass a fortune you can exchange for upgrades and ships that can carry ever more cargo. The rewards will be great, but you'll run the risk of attracting the attention of ruthless space pirates.
  • Prepare yourself for exploration –By upgrading your engines, you can travel further and faster, pushing at the frontiers of the known galaxy. Upgrading your suit will help protect you from radiation and extreme environments that would kill the unprepared. What will you find in these newly accessible zones?
  • Discover a social galaxy – The galaxy is a living, breathing place, with trade convoys traveling between stars, pirates, police and military ships ever ready for action, and planets teeming with life. The same galaxy is also shared by every player of No Man's Sky. Perhaps you will see the results of their actions, as well as your own?

No Man’s Sky is available for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S digitally and at retail.


More articles about No Man's Sky
blog comments powered by Disqus