A Dynamic Bond with the Universe

The Companions update revolutionizes the way players interact with the vast ecosystem of No Man's Sky. Taming creatures and forming deep bonds with them offers an entirely new layer of gameplay. From tiny, delicate critters to enormous, towering beasts, the game provides a staggering variety of species to encounter and nurture. The ability to adopt and train these creatures as loyal companions is a transformative addition that elevates the game's sense of immersion and emotional investment.

Breathtaking Creature Customization

One of the most awe-inspiring aspects of the Companions update is the extensive creature customization options. Players can now modify their companions' appearances, adapting their size, shape, and features. The creative possibilities are virtually limitless, and the level of detail is astounding. Customizing and personalizing your loyal companions not only fosters a stronger connection but also adds an exciting sense of ownership and pride.

Interactions and Commands

No Man's Sky Companions introduces a comprehensive range of interactions and commands that allow players to engage with their newfound companions. From simple tasks like petting and feeding to more advanced commands such as hunting or guarding, the interactions feel natural and responsive. The implementation of a bond-based system further enhances the connection, as companions grow and evolve based on the time and effort invested in nurturing them. This sense of growth and progression adds an immensely satisfying aspect to the overall gameplay experience.

Exploration and Discovery

The Companions update seamlessly integrates the companion system into the existing exploration mechanics of No Man's Sky. As you venture across uncharted planets, your companions will unearth valuable resources, uncover hidden secrets, and even aid you in battles against hostile entities. The inclusion of companions as active participants in exploration encourages players to explore further and engage with the game's ever-expanding universe, creating a stronger sense of unity between the player and their companions.

Multiplayer and Sharing

Hello Games continues to prioritize the multiplayer aspect of No Man's Sky, and the Companions update takes it to new heights. Players can now encounter and interact with each other's companions, allowing for heartwarming moments of camaraderie and the exchange of valuable resources. The multiplayer aspect is seamlessly integrated into the companion system, emphasizing the cooperative nature of the game and fostering a sense of community among players.

No Man's Sky Companions gallery

The No Man's Sky Companions update is a monumental step forward for the game, offering an enchanting and captivating experience for both new and existing players. Hello Games has once again demonstrated its commitment to evolving its creation and listening to the desires of its community. With the addition of taming, customization, interactive commands, and multiplayer integration, No Man's Sky Companions provides an unparalleled level of depth, immersion, and emotional connection. It's a testament to the power of continuous development and the boundless potential of the No Man's Sky universe.

3.2 Patch notes

Animal companions

• Creatures that have been fed can now be interacted with to access options for milking, riding and adoption.
• Players may adopt up to six creatures at any one time. New companion slots are available to be purchased with nanites.
• Your companions can be renamed and then customised with a new range of accessories and decals.
• Some accessories, such as the torch or mining lasers, will be used by your companion as they explore the planet.
• Each companion has their own personality, which will influence how they behave and think. Some species are more likely to have certain traits than others, but each creature is unique.
• The creature harness has a neural link with the Exosuit, enabling the rudimentary translation of your new companion’s thoughts and wishes.
• Companions will assist their owners during planetary exploration but have needs of their own. They will periodically require food or attention if they are to thrive.
• Companions will need to be cared for over a long period of time in order to win their trust.
• While exploring, companions will assist their owners in a number of ways, including; scouting for resources and buildings; digging up minerals and special items; hunting other creatures; and marking hazards.
• As well as acting on their own initiative, companions may be given specific instructions via gestures from the Quick Menu.
• VR players can point directly to send their companion to a destination.

Companion eggs

• Creatures that have been well-cared for will lay eggs.
• After a short time, creature eggs will hatch into a brand new creature, related to but distinct from the parent creature.
• Baby creatures have different proportions from adult creatures and will grow to maturity over time.
• Players may trade eggs from their prized companions with other players.
• Creature eggs can be taken to the Egg Sequencer aboard the Space Anomaly.
• The Egg Sequencer allows players to remix the genetic material of their growing eggs to produce unique, never-before-seen creatures.
• Overdosing eggs in the Sequencer may cause dramatic creature reconfigurations…

Creature improvements

• New creature and companion-related titles have been added to the Appearance Modifier.
• The construction cost of Creature Pellets has been increased.
• The stack size of Creature Pellets has been increased.
• Creatures no longer require advanced bait to unlock harvesting functions – any creature that has been fed may now be milked.
• Giant creatures can now be ridden.
• Creature locomotion animations have been improved.
• The particle effects emanating from creature dung have been improved.
• Discovered creatures now have a differently shaped icon in the Analysis Visor, to better distinguish them from undiscovered creatures.
• Creature icons in the Analysis visor have been offset to improve their appearance.

UI improvements

• Players using a mouse and keyboard can now use hotkeys to directly select options in dialogue menus and interactions.
• Players using a gamepad can now use the analogue sticks rather than the cursor to move between options in dialogue menus and interactions.

Optimisations

• Warp and loading times on PS4 have been significantly improved.

Bug fixes

• Fixed an issue that caused freighter ‘wings’ to be hidden.
• Fixed an issue that could cause an invalid system/base to appear in the teleport destinations list.
• Fixed an issue that caused the gloves to be out of focus in the Appearance Modifier.
• Fixed an issue that could cause players using Windows 10 to incorrectly report a network disconnect.
• Autowalk is now cancelled automatically when the player manually moves forwards or backward.
• The creature feeding Nexus mission has been rebalanced to account for changes to the taming process.
• Concrete base parts now require Silicate Powder rather than Carbon to build.
• Fixed an issue in the Galaxy Map that caused the Distance To Core text to be vertically clipped, resulting in a comma that looked like a period.
• Fixed an issue that could cause players to upload/download an excessive number of creative discoveries.
• Fixed an issue that caused Cronus’ food to have an extremely bright glow.
• Fixed an issue that caused the Orbital Exocraft Materialiser to have an overly bright glow.
• Fixed an issue that caused base specialist terminals to snap incorrectly in specific large rooms.
• Fixed an issue that could cause an increase in load times while attempting to download base data from other players.
• Fixed an issue that could cause incorrect text to appear when harvesting food substances from some unusual creatures.
• Fixed a VR issue that caused the Exosuit backpack to be invisible in the inventory if the player’s body was turned off.
• Fixed an animation issue with the player weapons in VR.
• Fixed an issue that could cause incorrect UI scaling in VR.
• Fixed a VR issue that could cause UI screens to move while the UI was closing.
• Fixed a rare hang that could occur when taking a screenshot in Photo Mode on PC.
• Fixed a networking crash on Xbox platforms.
• Fixed an issue that could cause very large save files to crash during loading on PS4.
• Fixed a crash that could occur when the leader of a herd died.
• Fixed a number of memory-related crashes on PS5.
• Fixed an audio-related crash on PS5.
• Fixed a rendering crash on PS5.
• Fixed a crash related to the preview of summoned objects (eg starships).