No Man’s Sky update’s patch notes reveal free weekly events, new missions to come

The biggest update ever for No Man’s Sky is available now, and patch notes for the game’s latest version detail at length just how much content it adds. Alongside the previously announced multiplayer features, third-person mode and expanded base-building options, come myriad other quality of life changes. And these are all just the start of more to come in the following weeks, Hello Games added.

“This update marks the two year anniversary of No Man’s Sky, and a lot has changed,” the developer wrote in the introduction to version 1.5, called Next.

“This is an important next step on our journey.”

The list of changes runs long. Take a look at some of the new things to expect from the Next update, below:

In-Game Community Content

• Soon after the release of No Man’s Sky NEXT, Hello Games has planned its first season of weekly content and community events.

• This will be free for all players, with no microtransactions. Take part in these community missions to unlock new rewards and customisations.

• Players will also be able to interact with Xbox One Mixer streamers by helping or hindering their gameplay.

Galactic Atlas Website

• NEXT marks the launch of a new website dedicated to the community, which we’re calling the Galactic Atlas.

• The site features points of interest in the No Man’s Sky Euclid Galaxy, and will grow in functionality and expand over time, in part through your feedback.

• Key Regional Hubs are marked, with discovery statistics and community events appearing soon.

Community is a major focus of No Man’s Sky next phase, as made clear by the emphasis on new community missions, tools and weekly content. Multiplayer is the headlining addition to the game this time, too, and it’s the biggest sign that Hello Games wants to make No Man’s Sky a less solitary game. The developer notes that players will be able to travel through the game’s story cooperatively or on their own, for instance, alongside other online play and communication features.

Another important part of No Man’s Sky is exploration, and updates to the crafting and resource management systems should better that different experience.

Crafting and Resources

• All core substances and resources have been reworked and rebalanced to increase consistency and realism.

• Planetary resources have been expanded, with unique substances and items to find and refine based on the planet’s biome and weather, as well as stellar classification.

• Deployable tech can be picked up and carried in your inventory.

• Crafting is deeper with the addition of buildable refiners. Convert raw substances into more valuable materials for constructing advanced products and base parts.

• Experiment with refiner recipes to discover all the possibilities!

Procedural Tech

• Discover unique procedurally generated technology to upgrade your Exosuit, Multi-Tool and Starships.

Part of the fun of exploring No Man’s Sky’s quintillion planets is finding new species, both flora and fauna. They’ve been massively updated too, with a lengthy list of changes.

Hello Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment

Exploration, Fauna and Flora

• Find and excavate buried ruins with the Terrain Manipulator to unearth locked ancient treasures.

• Use the Terrain Manipulator to locate buried technology modules and turn the salvaged components into new base parts with the Blueprint Analyser.

• Some creature types will herd together, grazing and fleeing from danger as a group.

• Creatures now respond more enthusiastically to being fed, recognising you as a friend and alerting nearby creatures to the food source.

• Creature movements now appear more natural and intelligent, with improved AI and entirely revamped animations.

• Sentinel behaviours and animations have been improved. Players can stand their ground in combat, or take advantage of the time between reinforcement waves to escape and find a place to avoid Drone scans and searches.

As for all the visual, UI and base-building changes, you should check out the very long, very detailed list of patch notes on the No Man’s Sky website. Be patient with it, as it’s been bogged down with network traffic all day.