'No Man's Sky' Update Adds New Planets, Volcanoes And Creatures

Developer Hello Games has announced the newest free update for space exploration game “No Man’s Sky”

Update 3.0 or “Origins” will introduce new procedurally-generated worlds with “more dramatic, awe-inspiring scenery,” according to a blog post.

This will mean a wider color palette and the possibility of thick marshes and swamps, active volcanoes, tornadoes, meteor showers, ground-based firestorms, “vegetative growths” and sporadic bolts of lightning, Engadget noted.

The weather system in “No Man’s Sky” has also been improved to show a greater range between the clearest skies and horrifically overcast days. That improved weather should provide a better backdrop as you head toward new vault-like structures, abandoned settlements, or NPC trades that have landed on the surface.

“Origins” will also be adding “never-before-seen” vegetation as well as alien creatures that can be both observed and turned into strange snacks. Sandworms, winged creatures such as beetles and butterflies that hover close to the ground are also being promised by the developer.

Expect new behavior from aliens that group together into larger herds than they have previously. A few planets will add “synthetic creatures” different from the drones that occasionally attack you but actually look similar to the robots in “Horizon Zero Dawn.”

The menus in “No Man’s Sky” have also been updated to include Analysis Visor, Discovery Page, and teleporter interface while photo mode has some new filters. For those using a powerful gaming PC, they might notice more detail and draw distance to each planet through the Ultra setting.

Prior to “Origins,” the last update to “No Man’s Sky” was “Desolation,” which added spooky derelict freighters. Cross-play was also introduced this year, allowing players to play with friends regardless of their platform of choice or whether they’re employing a virtual reality headset.

When “No Man’s Sky” was launched back in 2016, the game largely underwhelmed partly because Hello Games and their marketing materials set such high expectations for it. Remarkably, the developer stuck it out with the title and has won back the audience’s support over the past four years.

This comeback story has resulted in Hello Games now working on a smaller title called “The Last Campfire” as well as another unannounced game.