No Man’s Sky has been updated this week with its fourth major content update. Dubbed No Man’s Sky NEXT, it finally, officially adds multiplayer support, as well as the ability to play in third-person. The update is free to existing PC and PlayStation 4 owners, and No Man’s Sky is also now available on Xbox One.
With the release of No Man’s Sky NEXT, indie developer Hello Games is pledging to become more involved with the community. This will be reflected in the new website, the Galactic Atlas. More importantly, they are pledging to provide “weekly content and community events.”
Sean Murray, No Man’s Sky lead designer and co-founder at Hello Games, admitted to making mistakes when it came to communication surrounding the game’s initial launch back in 2016.
“Whilst I couldn’t be prouder of the team, I personally made mistakes,” writes Murray. “I could talk all day about things I personally would change. Certainly one regret is that the intensity and drama of launch left no room for communication with the community.”
The hype surrounding the game reached a fever pitch, even as many consumers and critics were confused about No Man’s Sky’s gameplay and features, especially multiplayer. Murray himself was harassed and sent death threats. The small indie team went radio silent following the game’s launch, leading to more confusion and drama.
Yet over the years the game has been clawing its way back. Hello Games has released three large content updates: Foundation, Pathfinder, and Atlas Rises, each adding significant features such as vehicles, base-building, and huge chunks of story content.
No Man’s Sky NEXT is the latest free content update, with real multiplayer being a hugely requested feature. Is it too little too late, or admirable that the developers continue to produce free, quality updates? No matter where you land, Hello Games has committed to supporting No Man’s Sky.
The first season of weekly content is coming soon. No Man’s Sky NEXT is available now on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. It’s rated T for Teen.
