The recently-released No Man's Sky 4.0 update, titled Waypoint, is an excellent example of an effective DLC release. While the sci-fi survival game launched to criticism, over the last six years developer Hello Games has patched and updated the title to be a truly exceptional galactic adventure. Updates for No Man's Sky continue to release, adjusting old mechanics or adding brand-new content for players to explore. The No Man's Sky 4.0 update just recently launched, serving to further overhaul the experience with various quality-of-life improvements.
No Man's Sky is considered one of the gaming industry's greatest success stories, with Hello Games effectively redeeming the game after a disastrous launch. Since 2016 the title has received more than 20 major updates which have rebuilt the entire experience to create an engaging space exploration simulator. The last No Man's Sky update, titled Endurance, arrived back in July and improved the game's fleets and freighters. Endurance made space exploration even more breathtaking, with new effects enhancing the look of black holes, asteroids, nebulae and other galactic landmarks. This 3.94 update for No Man's Sky also added the new Polestar expedition, which takes players to a freighter full of mysterious technology. While the No Man's Sky Endurance update was certainly sizable, the brand-new Waypoint update adds even more original content to discover.
Released on October 7, the Waypoint update for No Man's Sky overhauls the game's design and balance while implementing various fan-requested quality-of-life improvements. The 4.0 update focuses on accessibility, giving players the ability to customize mechanics and controls or experience the game within a new Relaxed game mode. New and returning players are now guided by a convenient information portal, while veteran explorers can enjoy new long-term goals and rewards through the Milestone system. These improvements are meant to create a more streamlined experience for both long-time No Man's Sky fans and new players just blasting off into the galaxy for the first time. The launch of No Man's Sky on Nintendo Switch, which also occurred on October 7, was likely a key factor in the design of the 4.0 update.
Everything Included In No Man's Sky's Waypoint Update
In order to create a more user-friendly experience, the No Man's Sky Waypoint update includes a huge number of improvements. The Guide, Catalogue and Milestones UI pages have been merged into one unified information portal and given a visual overhaul, with more specific catalogue pages being added for specific categories. The differences between the title's core game modes, including difficulty, have been reworked into a new framework that players can freely adjust to create a tailor-made experience. Expedition and Permadeath games will remain in their own pool for matchmaking and base-sharing purposes, but all other game modes have been unified so that players can explore together. Relaxed Mode is the full No Man's Sky Normal mode experience, but with significantly reduced need to manage survival systems and maintain technology and resources. The autosave system has been reworked, too, with No Man's Sky now autosaving silently and automatically during regular play. No Man’s Sky on PC now supports AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution 2, with various other visual effects being improved across all consoles.
The 4.0 update adds plenty more new features to No Man's Sky, ranging from easier inventory management to visual overhauls for the mode and save select screens. This extensive Waypoint update shows off what DLC can truly accomplish, if a passionate and dedicated developer is the one creating it. No Man's Sky has successfully rebuilt its reputation as a sci-fi epic, and updates like Waypoint are the key to the title's second chance.
Source: No Man's Sky