No Man’s Sky has rolled out a fresh experimental branch on Steam, aimed at addressing some of the pesky multiplayer and performance bugs affecting the game. Although these updates might seem minor, they hold potential for enhancing the overall gaming experience as we move into 2024.
Hello Games has been consistently active since No Man’s Sky debuted in 2016, working tirelessly to refine the game and continuously introduce fresh content. Back when it first launched, reactions were mixed, but the dedication shown over the years has turned the perception around, marking it as one of the most remarkable comeback stories in gaming history. This year, 2024, has already witnessed several free updates, like Worlds Part 1, which revamped the look of the planets by introducing volumetric clouds, improved water effects, and new, exotic planet types brimming with unique fauna awaiting discovery.
With the year nearing its end, Hello Games is once again diving into tweaks and potential new features. On November 28, they launched a new experimental branch on Steam targeting improvements. This includes resolving multiplayer connection issues on the PS4 and crashes when running the PS4 version on PS5. There were also fixes for merging ship inventories and addressing performance issues on Macs. Furthermore, they’ve optimized wind calculations to make the game’s environments more immersive.
How to Participate in No Man’s Sky’s New Experimental Branch
If you’re eager to try out these new changes, here’s how to get started:
- Right-click on No Man’s Sky in your Steam Library, then select Properties.
- Click on the Betas tab.
- Enter the access code "3xperimental" and check the code.
- From there, select the experimental branch.
While discussing the new updates, Hello Games strongly advised players using the experimental branch to back up their save files, should unforeseen issues arise. To do this, they recommend duplicating the "st_[userid]" folder located at %appdata%\HelloGames\NMS\ on PC or ~/Library/Application Support/HelloGames/NMS/ on Mac. Moreover, they emphasized not transferring an experimental save to the primary game version if players choose to exit the testing phase. These updates are expected to roll out to other platforms swiftly.
Hello Games’ commitment to improving No Man’s Sky is evident, and the game’s traction on platforms like Steam—where reviews recently shifted to "Very Positive"—reflects its regained popularity and depth.
Aside from these developments, Hello Games has teased exciting events for the 2024 holiday season, announcing that five expeditions will be re-run in two-week segments, with the Omega expedition already in progress.
Patch Notes for the November 28 Experimental Branch
- Fixed a rare bug that could cause ship inventories to merge.
- Optimized wind calculations for better environmental immersion.
- Addressed multiplayer connection issues on PS4.
- Fixed a crash occurring when playing the PS4 version on PS5.
- Solved a problem causing focus loss and performance issues on Mac.
With such continued dedication and a growing player base, No Man’s Sky remains an ambitious and evolving space odyssey, offering a universe filled with endless adventures and mysteries to unravel.
