Players can become settlement Overseers in the No Man's Sky Frontiers update. The Frontiers update brought a large number of new features to the space sandbox, including a settlement feature that allows the main character to be in charge of a township's day-to-day operations. The Overseer is in charge of making sure a settlement is prosperous, in addition to keeping the settlers happy and healthy.
The No Man's Sky Frontier update and settlement feature can be accessed on an old save or a new one. No new start is required to access this feature, so long-time No Man's Sky travelers won't have to give up all of their gear and story progress. Additionally, a language barrier is still in place when talking to the NPCs. While NPCs will provide context clues for what they're after, players must continue searching for new words across the stars in order to fully understand the needs of the settlers.
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After installing the Frontiers update and launching No Man's Sky, players can fly into space to receive an emergency broadcast. The broadcast comes from a settler in a nearby system seeking help against the upcoming Sentinel attack. They will need to fly to the beacon marked on the Galaxy Map, speak with the settler, and defend against the several Sentinels seeking to attack the township.
Become an Overseer in No Man's Sky Frontiers
Once the fight is over, players can visit the Settlement Hub Interface to submit or decline an application to become the Overseer of the town. If declined, the Settlement Hub Interface can be revisited to submit an application, but this is the only free settlement available. New settlements can be found from Planetary Maps for five Navigation Data pieces. Choosing to take over a new settlement will cost resources that are associated with the species dominant in that system. The application for the first settlement will be accepted immediately.
The next step is to craft the Overseer's Office, which will cost 210 Silicate Powder, five metal plating, and three microprocessors. The Overseer's Office is where the township's prosperity and happiness can be monitored, and where settlement activities take place. Some of these activities may only require a simple decision while others could cost units and put the settlement in debt or put settlers' lives at risk. Some of the activities include:
- Handling disputes amongst the settlers
- Improving economic prosperity
- Creating places for leisure
- Authorizing Expeditions for No Man's Sky NPCs
- Approving new vendors
- Building settlement defenses
Players should note that the No Man's Sky Frontiers Update allows only one Overseer per save-file.
No Man's Sky is available on the PlayStation 4 and 5, the Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Steam, Android, and Microsoft Windows.