KEY POINTS

  • The NSO Integration Update for "Planetside 2" is now live
  • The NSO faction has received over 21 new weapons and a new heavy fighter craft
  • Changes were made to the social aspect and grouping rules of NSO Freelancers

Daybreak Games has just released the latest update for its MMOFPS “Planetside 2,” featuring a total overhaul and arsenal expansion for the game’s unofficial fourth faction of freelance killer robots.

The update brought tons of new features for the Nanite Systems Operatives faction, or simply the NSO, including a myriad of new weapons, vehicles and some crucial changes to how the faction actually works.

While the NSO will still serve as a means to balance the team populations in active regions, players will now have more options to make their NSO character feel unique and bring the faction’s own brand of firepower to the frontlines.

NSO Freelancers will now have access to over 21 faction-specific weapons, ranging from assault rifles to sniper rifles and heavy weapons. These new weapons will replace the original NSX guns as the default equipment for new NSO Freelancers, but the classic guns will still be available as unlockables.

A tank column operated by multiple players assaulting a base in Planetside 2
A tank column operated by multiple players assaulting a base in Planetside 2 Daybreak Game Company

The new NSO weapons remain true to the faction’s status as a contractor group: each player class will have access to the three different weapon archetypes based on the three major factions of the game. Players will still get to choose the weapon type they prefer, whether it be the slow-but-powerful guns of the New Conglomerate or the rapid-fire bullet hoses of the Terran Republic.

Some changes were made to NSO-specific vehicles, and a new one was added to the game. Freelancers will be able to spawn NSO vehicles regardless of their faction affiliation. These vehicles include the new Dervish Heavy Fighter, Chimera MBT and the Javelin hoverbike.

The update also brought changes to the metagame side of the NSO. From now on, F2P players will be able to join fights as an NSO Freelancer, but they will be unable to join Outfits.

Only premium players will be able to join Outfits, but they will need to sign a contract with one of the main factions first. This change was made in order to prevent platoons of Freelancers from creating shifty alliances between the game’s main factions, keeping the overall game balance relatively stable.

Existing NSO Outfits will be dissolved at a later date, but the developers will be providing these players with a means to join the other teams as their Home Faction. In the meantime, NSO Outfits will no longer be able to recruit new members or use War Assets, and they must obey Freelance rules.

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