No Man’s Sky is shaking things up once more with a fresh experimental branch on Steam, aiming to address several pesky multiplayer and performance hiccups. Although the updates might seem minor, they are set to make the 2024 gameplay experience smoother for the space exploration fans out there.
Since its original launch back in 2016, No Man’s Sky has journeyed through a transformative path. Initially met with mixed feelings, the persistent dedication of Hello Games has turned it into a prime example of a comeback story in the gaming world. Over 2024 alone, the game has received a slew of free updates like Worlds Part 1, which revamped planetary environments with visually stunning volumetric clouds and enhanced water effects. Plus, explorers can now stumble upon entirely new fauna as they trek through newly introduced planet types.
As 2024 gradually winds to a close, the team at Hello Games is diving into some additional tweaks. On November 28, they introduced the latest experimental branch, offering fixes specifically targeting issues like multiplayer disconnections on the PS4 and crashes occurring on the PS5 while playing the PS4 version. Other notable improvements include resolving issues with ship inventory merging and performance boosts for Mac users. There’s also an enhancement to the wind simulation, promising even more immersive worlds.
For those eager to try out these experimental updates, it’s pretty straightforward: just head over to your Steam Library, right-click No Man’s Sky, go to Properties, and under the Betas tab, enter the code “3xperimental.” Just make sure you’re saving your progress. Hello Games advises Steam users to back up their save files to avoid potential issues and not to use save files from the test branch on the main game if you decide to switch back. The aim is to extend these enhancements to other platforms swiftly.
Hello Games continues to impress with their ongoing commitment to No Man’s Sky, as the steady player base on Steam proves its continuing appeal. The game’s overall review status has even climbed to a “Very Positive” rating, a testament to its significant evolution since launch.
Additionally, fans have more exciting content to look forward to over the upcoming holidays. Hello Games is planning to rerun five expeditions, each lasting two weeks, starting with the Omega expedition currently in progress.
Here’s a quick rundown from the November 28 patch notes for the experimental branch: issues like ship inventory merging have been fixed, wind calculations are now optimized, multiplayer connections on PS4 show improved stability, a PS5 crash has been addressed, and Mac performance disruptions have been resolved.
Enter the universe of No Man’s Sky, where a seemingly boundless procedural galaxy awaits your exploration. Whether you’re building vast fleets, establishing sprawling bases, or trading with alien life forms, the game offers an endless sci-fi adventure. Since its release on August 9, 2016, the game supports various platforms and features like online multiplayer, co-op, cross-platform play, and compatibility with multiple VR headsets. It has indeed become a masterclass in transforming player perception and delivering a universe truly worth exploring.
