Table of Contents
| Release Date | August 13, 2016 |
| Developer | Hello Games |
| Platform | PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, MORE |
| IGN Rating | 7.8/10 |
| Steam Rating | 7/10 |
No Man’s Sky is a space exploration game developed by Hello Games and released in August 2016. It is a game that promised to offer an endless universe with 18 quintillion planets to explore, each with its own unique set of flora and fauna. The game’s initial launch was met with controversy, but it has since undergone significant updates and improvements that have transformed it into a truly engaging and immersive experience.
The game’s primary gameplay loop involves exploration and resource gathering. Players are tasked with traveling to different planets, discovering new species of flora and fauna, and gathering resources to upgrade their ship and equipment. The universe in No Man’s Sky is procedurally generated, meaning that each planet is unique and has its own set of characteristics, including terrain, climate, and resources.
If you’ve been following No Man’s Sky since it was released five years ago, you’ll likely remember that it received a slew of bad press following its launch. Although the game has always been visually stunning and grandiose in every sense of the word, it was also riddled with bugs.
Fast forward to 2021 and No Man’s Sky has fixed many of the issues that gamers brought to the attention of the developers (who also produced the game), Hello Games. Let’s explore what has changed in the five years since No Man’s Sky was launched and how these changes have revolutionized the future of game development.
Game Launch: August 2016
No Man’s Sky was a huge hit commercially, if not critically. The game was the best-selling release on the PlayStation Store in August 2016, and Steamspy has estimated there were approximately 743,000 owners of the game on Steam just a few weeks post-launch.
The game was marketed brilliantly, but the initial reception from the vocal online fans was ruinous. For starters, the founder of Hello Games, Sean Murray, talked about features that ultimately didn’t make it into the game. This led gamers to feel angry and feel mistreated.
Furthermore, No Man’s Sky wasn’t sent out to media outlets to write pre-launch reviews that would have shed light on these issues with the game features. This led to copies of the pre-patched game existing to anyone before official channels got their hands on them to review. These leaks and issues were the beginning of a learning experience that led Hello Games to completely overhaul the game over the next 5 years.
Despite the game’s many selling points, the launch of No Man’s Sky was marred by significant issues and controversies. One of the most significant criticisms of the game was its performance. Many players reported issues with the game’s framerate, pop-in, and loading times, which significantly impacted the game’s overall enjoyment. We’ll explore some of the key issues and negative reviews that surrounded the launch of No Man’s Sky in August 2016.
Performance Issues
One of the most significant criticisms of No Man’s Sky was its performance. Many players reported issues with the game’s framerate, pop-in, and loading times, which significantly impacted the game’s overall enjoyment. The game’s graphics were also criticized for being subpar, with many players noting that the game lacked the visual polish of other contemporary games.
The game’s poor performance was particularly noticeable when players encountered larger creatures or more complex environments, with the game struggling to render these elements in real-time. This led to a choppy and frustrating gameplay experience, which many players found to be unplayable.
Lack of Depth and Variety
Despite the game’s promise of an almost infinite universe, many players reported that the planets and creatures they discovered were often repetitive and lacked unique characteristics. The game’s crafting system was also criticized for being shallow, with limited options for players to create new items or upgrades.
Players reported that the game lacked the variety and depth of other contemporary exploration games, such as Minecraft or Elite: Dangerous. Many players felt that the game’s universe lacked the sense of wonder and discovery that was promised in the game’s marketing materials.
Bugs and Errors
Another significant criticism of No Man’s Sky was the game’s bugs and errors. Players reported numerous issues with the game, including crashes, freezes, and game-breaking bugs that prevented them from progressing in the game. The game’s developers, Hello Games, were criticized for their lack of communication regarding these issues, which left many players feeling frustrated and unsupported.
Players reported that the game’s bugs and errors were particularly frustrating given the game’s procedurally generated nature. The game’s universe was supposed to offer an infinite number of possibilities, but many players felt that the game’s bugs and errors limited their ability to explore and discover new planets and creatures.
False Advertising
Perhaps the most significant controversy surrounding the launch of No Man’s Sky was the issue of false advertising. The game’s marketing materials promised players a vast and immersive universe to explore, with unique planets, creatures, and landscapes. However, many players and critics felt that the game’s actual content did not live up to these promises.
In particular, players noted that many of the features and mechanics that were promised in the game’s marketing materials were either missing or significantly downgraded in the final game. This led to accusations of false advertising and deceptive marketing, with many players demanding refunds and calling for legal action against the game’s developers and publishers.
The launch of No Man’s Sky in August 2016 was marred by significant issues and negative reviews, including performance issues, a lack of depth and variety, bugs and errors, and accusations of false advertising. While the game’s developers have since released significant updates and improvements to the game, the launch of No Man’s Sky remains a cautionary tale for game developers and publishers, reminding them of the importance of delivering on promises and meeting player expectations.
Pathfinder Update (March 2017)
The Pathfinder Update was released in March 2017, introducing new vehicles, improved graphics, and new planet types. The update also added several new missions and a new photo mode, allowing players to capture and share their adventures in the game’s universe.
Atlas Rises Update (August 2017)
The Atlas Rises Update was the most significant update to No Man’s Sky to date, released in August 2017. The update added a new story campaign, improved trading and crafting systems, and added new planetary biomes and creature types. It also introduced multiplayer functionality, allowing players to explore the universe with friends.
Next Update (July 2018)
The Next Update was released in July 2018, introducing significant improvements to the game’s multiplayer functionality. The update also introduced several quality of life improvements, including an overhauled user interface and improved planetary generation.
Beyond Update (August 2019)
The Beyond Update was another significant update to No Man’s Sky, released in August 2019. The update introduced several new features, including a new social hub, expanded multiplayer options, and improved planetary exploration. It also added VR support, allowing players to explore the game’s universe in virtual reality.
Synthesis Update (November 2019)
The Synthesis Update was released in November 2019, introducing several new features, including ship customization and improvements to the game’s user interface. The update also addressed several bugs and issues, improving the overall stability of the game.
Living Ship Update (February 2020)
The Living Ship Update was released in February 2020, introducing a new class of alien ships to the game. The update also added several quality of life improvements, including an improved inventory system and the ability to summon ships to the player’s location.
Desolation Update (July 2020)
The Desolation Update was released in July 2020, introducing abandoned and haunted freighters to the game. The update also added new weapons and upgrades, as well as improvements to the game’s multiplayer functionality.
Origins Update (September 2020)
The Origins Update was a major update to No Man’s Sky, released in September 2020. The update added several new features, including new planetary biomes, improved weather and environmental effects, and new creature types. It also introduced several quality of life improvements, such as improvements to the game’s inventory system and user interface.
5 Years Later: August 2021
It’s hard to believe that five years has passed since the astral-hopping adventures began with the No Man’s Sky launch in 2016. Hello Games is celebrating the occasion with a trailer chronicling the 16 free updates released for No Man’s Sky that helped the studio live up to its ambitious goals. You can check out the trailer for No Man’s Sky Frontiers which is available now:
Tim Woodley, Head of Publishing at Hello Games spoke about what it has meant to the team working on No Man’s Sky when he said, “Over the last five years we’ve moved from ‘Overwhelmingly Negative’ to ‘Mostly Positive’, it’s an incredible achievement for the team. Moving to ‘Mixed’, which may seem funny to celebrate, took two years of hard work.” Woodley continued by saying that “Moving from Mixed to Mostly Positive has taken the last three years (knowing that any small mistake along the way may result in backlash and negative reviews).”
Not only did Hello Games continue to tinker away at their procedural galaxy, but it kept adding in features to make all parts of the experience more robust and interesting. Whole storylines were added, actual inworld multiplayer was created to assuage player complaints and mechs can now be piloted. You can befriend alien creatures and have them accompany you across the galaxy.
Player-designed bases can be built along with the addition of new weather and terrain plus many of the visuals were overhauled to allow the game to shine on the newest hardware. Hello Games even made No Man’s Sky completely playable in VR. These updates are a testament to the hard work and determination of the Hello Games teams and serves as a beacon of light to the rest of the gaming industry.
The latest update released in 2021, called Frontiers, is no exception. We will explore some of the bugs that the Frontiers update has fixed, and how it has contributed to the overall improvement of the game.
Ships- One of the most significant bugs that the Frontiers update has fixed is the one where players would become stuck in their ships. This bug was a significant issue for players as they would not be able to exit their ship or continue with their gameplay, and would sometimes result in a game crash. The developers at Hello Games have fixed this issue in the Frontiers update, ensuring that players can enjoy the game without worrying about becoming stuck in their ships.
Games’s Audio – Another bug that the Frontiers update has fixed is related to the game’s audio. Players would experience audio issues, such as the sound cutting out during gameplay or audio being out of sync with the gameplay. This bug could be very frustrating for players as audio is a crucial part of the game. The developers have fixed this issue in the Frontiers update, ensuring that players can enjoy the game with uninterrupted audio.
Game’s Graphics- The Frontiers update has also fixed a bug where players would experience issues with the game’s graphics. The bug would cause graphics to be distorted or not display correctly, which would make it difficult for players to see and interact with the game’s environment. The developers have fixed this issue in the Frontiers update, ensuring that players can enjoy the game with smooth and crisp graphics.
Game’s Performance- the Frontiers update has also addressed several other issues that players have been facing. For example, the update has improved the game’s performance, making it run more smoothly and efficiently on different platforms. This has been achieved by optimizing the game’s code and graphics, resulting in a more responsive and enjoyable gameplay experience.
Game’s User Interface- The update has also addressed issues related to the game’s user interface (UI). Players have been complaining about the UI being too cluttered and confusing, making it difficult to navigate through the game’s menus and options. The Frontiers update has addressed this issue by streamlining the UI and making it more intuitive and user-friendly.
Multiplayer Support- Another bug that the Frontiers update has fixed is related to multiplayer gameplay. Players would sometimes experience issues with multiplayer connectivity, such as not being able to join a multiplayer session or getting disconnected from a session. The developers have fixed this issue in the Frontiers update, ensuring that players can enjoy seamless multiplayer gameplay.
Base Building: The Frontiers update has also added new features to the game, such as the ability to establish and manage settlements on planets. This new feature has been warmly welcomed by players, who have been requesting this feature for a long time. Players can now build and manage their own settlements, interact with the local community, and grow their settlements into thriving communities.
In conclusion, the journey of No Man’s Sky from its initial release in 2016 to its latest update in 2021 has been a rollercoaster ride for both the players and the developers at Hello Games. The game was initially met with criticism for its technical issues and overpromising, but the team persevered and continued to release updates that improved the gameplay experience and added new features.
Over the years, Hello Games has fixed many of the technical issues that plagued the game at launch, and they have also added new content and features that have greatly enhanced the gameplay experience. The addition of multiplayer, base-building, and expanded storylines have all contributed to making No Man’s Sky a more immersive and engaging game.
Furthermore, the developers’ commitment to supporting the game over the years with a series of free updates is commendable, and it is a testament to their dedication to their vision and their players.
While there are still some bugs and issues to be fixed, the team at Hello Games has shown their willingness to listen to feedback and make changes accordingly. The latest update, Frontiers, is another step forward for the game, and it offers a new level of depth and complexity to the already vast universe of No Man’s Sky.
Overall, No Man’s Sky is a shining example of what can happen when a dedicated team of developers listens to their players and works tirelessly to improve and evolve their game over time. It is an exciting time for No Man’s Sky players, and it will be interesting to see what the future holds for this groundbreaking game.
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