It's been almost five years since the initial release of No Man's Sky, the sci-fi exploration title from indie studio Hello Games. Following a rocky launch, the game has been steadily improved and updated over the years. The latest update, 3.3, introduces a brand new way to play No Man's Sky.
Expeditions is a game mode which will allow players to embark on a shared voyage across the universe. In the new mode players all start on the same planet, and begin their journey as a team. The lack of meaningful multiplayer was one of the biggest criticisms of No Man's Sky at launch, and expeditions may be the best solution so far. For those looking to dive into this exciting new way to play No Man's Sky, here's our complete breakdown of the mechanics.
Setting Out Together
The entire theme of the Expeditions update is exploring with friends, just as No Man's Sky's Companions update focused on taming creatures, and its Origins update focused on planetary diversity. An expedition game begins with all players spawning on the same planet. However, unlike in the regular game mode, players in expeditions won't need to slowly build up their resources.
Each player embarking on an expedition will start with a random collection of technology, customization options, ships, and weaponry. This means that all the players can get a head start on the game, allowing everyone to quickly begin exploring the stars. The random assortment of No Man's Sky's ships will be particularly useful in helping the players get off the ground.
Milestones and Phases
Each expedition in No Man's Sky's latest update is broken down into phases. These phases represent the overall progress of the expedition, and players will need to complete each one to progress to the next. These phases are designed to guide players through the universe of No Man's Sky, providing them with fresh challenges as they go. When a player completes a phase, they will unlock a unique and powerful reward, exclusive to those undertaking the expedition.
In order to finish a phase, players in the expedition will need to complete eight Milestones. These start simply enough, with First Steps, a phase one milestone, merely requiring players to reach their starship. However, they grow progressively more difficult as the expedition advances. Just like when completing phases, players will also gain rewards for each milestone they complete. These include powerful No Man's Sky loot, as well as a unique milestone patch to celebrate the achievement.
One milestone that reappears in each phase is Rendezvous X. This milestone requires players to reach a pre-determined point in the universe, where they can regroup with other players and share what they've discovered so far. It's these Rendezvous points which make up the journey part of the No Man's Sky's Expedition game mode, keeping all the players moving in the same general direction.
Expedition Themes and Conclusion
Rather than being a single journey for players to follow, new expeditions will begin regularly. Each new expedition will have a different duration and length, as well as explore a different theme. In addition, they will all offer exclusive rewards and bespoke challenges.
Every time a new expedition begins, it will require players to make a fresh start with a randomized character and set of technologies. At the end of the expedition, the associated milestones and their rewards can no longer be earned. However, players won't have to leave behind their characters. Once an expedition ends, all save games connected to it will be converted into Normal No Man's Sky saves. This will allow players to continue the story of their voyage, and discover new secrets in the universe.
No Man's Sky is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.