Summary

• No Man's Sky has made significant improvements since its rocky launch in 2016, enticing players to return with new features and updates.
• Update 5.0 introduces exciting gameplay additions like bug-slaying missions, bug armor, and massive mechs, adding more action to the game.
• Visual upgrades in the update enhance the game's graphics, with improved water effects, shadows, and environmental details for a more realistic look.

No Man’s Sky's developers were able to turn this around and have been continually working to repair its reputation through consistent improvements to the gameplay and graphics.

Some of the updates to No Man’s Sky added features that the game had initially promised, slowly making it one of the best open-world space games. One great example of this is the NEXT update, which added multiplayer to the game. Now, No Man’s Sky’s Update 5.0, titled Worlds Part I, has introduced a variety of new gameplay features and improvements that players will likely want to experience. For anyone who has been avoiding No Man’s Sky since its launch, this update is the perfect excuse to hop back on.

No Man’s Sky Adds Giant Bugs Reminiscent Of Helldivers 2

Players Can Go On A New Mission To Hunt Bugs

One of the new gameplay additions in No Man’s Sky Update 5.0 is a combat mission that pits players against swarms of hostile bugs. The mission seems to be aping some gameplay mechanics and even some of the rhetoric of Helldivers 2, declaring players need to “do [their] part and purge the rot from the stars” on No Man Sky's website. It’s unclear if the mission — which has players what’s called the Liquidator Vanguard — will also be utilizing Helldivers’ and its inspiration, Starship Troopers’ satirical tone, or if this is an unironic bug slaughter.

Players who take part in the mission can gain a couple of cool rewards for completing it. First, players will collect pieces of bugs to create organic bug armor to wear over their spacesuits. The armor comes in a variety of colors and styles, based on different types of bugs in the game.

Even more exciting than the bug suits are massive mechs known as Minotaurs that players will be able to create after doing the Liquidator mission. These massive suits of armor are equipped with a flamethrower, so they both protect the player and deal some serious damage. This part of the update will likely appeal mostly to players looking for more action-oriented gameplay from No Man’s Sky, while other changes are a bit more comprehensive.

No Man’s Sky Has Added More Interesting Worlds

Planets Have New Unique Geography Features And Plant Life

No Man’s Sky’s latest update also adds new worlds to the game with a unique type of landscape. These worlds have floating islands on which players can explore and even build their bases. Planets with these islands will likely remind players of Pandora from the Avatar series, as the update says these are tropical planets with lush jungles.

Aside from this new type of planet, existing planet types are also getting some cool new features to make them more immersive. Storms now create more visual effects like fog or sand blowing across the screen. Particles like rain or snow are now affected by wind, making these storms feel much more real. Frozen planets and desert planets have also been overhauled to include more diverse plant life.

Graphical Improvements Make The Game Look Better Than Ever

No Man’s Sky Has Updated Its Engine And Visuals In The Latest Update

Aside from new elements added to the gameplay, No Man’s Sky has also made some serious updates to how the game looks. Water has been given an HD overhaul, making it look much more realistic thanks to ripple effects, waves, and foam. Though the larger waves can sometimes look unconvincing in motion, the water looks much nicer than it did previously when sitting still or gently moving.

No Man’s Sky has also improved its shadows and details on smaller environmental factors like plants to make them look more realistic. This is likely possible due to the game’s engine enhancements that allow for better rendering and loading speeds. No Man’s Sky has also improved its accessibility by moving interaction labels to the side of the objects they are labeling so they will no longer be in the way.

Even smaller parts of the update, like new sky colors on different planets, add a lot to improve how the game looks. With this update being called Worlds Part I, there will likely be a follow-up that continues to add depth to the game’s generated planets. No Man’s Sky is a testament to how far a game can come if its developers truly care about improving it, and this latest update looks like it will continue the game’s trend of continuously improving.

Source: No Man’s Sky Official Website