New Experimental Branch Launched for No Man’s Sky

No Man’s Sky has launched a fresh experimental branch on Steam aimed at resolving several multiplayer and performance issues. While these tweaks might seem minor, they hold the potential to significantly enhance the gaming experience for No Man’s Sky enthusiasts as we move into 2024.

Despite its rocky start back in 2016, Hello Games has consistently pushed updates to better the game and bring new adventures to its universe. The game’s initial mixed reviews have transformed over the years, thanks in part to these persistent efforts, earning it a celebrated spot as a comeback story in gaming history. Just this year, No Man’s Sky has introduced a range of free updates, such as the Worlds Part 1 update, which notably revamped planetary environments with features like volumetric clouds, improved water effects, and the introduction of new planet types teeming with fresh fauna to discover.

As the year winds down, Hello Games isn’t slowing its pace. On November 28, the developer rolled out a new experimental branch for testing on Steam. This branch is focused on ironing out multiplayer connection hiccups on the PS4 and addressing crashes on the PS5 when playing the PS4 version. Other tweaks include resolving a ship inventory merging issue and addressing performance glitches on Mac. Moreover, there’s an optimization of wind calculations, adding another layer of immersion to the game’s environment.

For those eager to try out this experimental branch, here’s a quick guide: head to your Steam Library, right-click on No Man’s Sky and navigate to Properties, then select the Betas tab. Enter the code "3xperimental" to unlock this branch. However, as with any experimental build, backing up your save files is crucial. Hello Games advises creating a local copy of your save data, found in %appdata%\HelloGames\NMS\ on PC or ~/Library/Application Support/HelloGames/NMS/ on Mac. Once in the experimental branch, avoid using these saves in the main version of the game until the testing phase is finalized. Rest assured, these updates will extend to other platforms "as soon as possible."

The dedication of Hello Games to continually refine No Man’s Sky is truly remarkable, and players seem to agree. The game continues to draw in a significant number of players on Steam, maintaining its relevance and shifting its overall reviews to a “Very Positive” standing.

Besides this experimental update, Hello Games has also teased fans with plans for the upcoming holiday season in No Man’s Sky. They’re revisiting five expeditions over two-week intervals, with Omega already in progress, offering players more in-depth exploration opportunities.

Here’s a snapshot of the latest changes in the November 28 experimental patch:

• Fixed a rare merging issue with ship inventories.
• Enhanced wind calculations.
• Addressed multiplayer connectivity issues for PS4 users.
• Resolved crash instances on PS5 running in PS4 mode.
• Repaired a macOS focus issue contributing to poor performance.

No Man’s Sky remains an expansive journey in a seemingly boundless universe, thanks to an impressive array of features and improvements since its 2016 release. Whether you’re teaming up in multiplayer or venturing solo, the game continues to offer a profound cosmic escapade, cemented by its transformative updates and enhancements over the years.