No Man’s Sky Launches Innovative Experimental Branch

No Man’s Sky is introducing a fresh experimental branch for Steam enthusiasts, aimed at addressing some of the nagging multiplayer and performance concerns. While the tweaks being trialed might seem minor, they hold the potential to seriously enhance the No Man’s Sky experience for players heading into 2024.

Even though No Man’s Sky was initially launched back in 2016, Hello Games has never shied away from consistently rolling out updates that both refine and expand the game. The launch may have left many players divided, but the unyielding dedication to improvement has transformed No Man’s Sky into a shining example of redemption in the gaming world. This year alone has witnessed a variety of free updates, including the transformative Worlds Part 1. This update significantly upgraded environmental visuals with new volumetric clouds, refined water effects, and even introduced unique planets teeming with fresh fauna to discover.

As 2024 wraps up, Hello Games has commenced trials for potential new updates. On November 28, the developer unveiled a new experimental branch, inviting Steam users to test it out. Specific fixes focus on multiplayer connectivity issues on the PS4 and troubleshooting crashes encountered when running the PS4 version on a PS5. Additionally, efforts are being made to rectify a ship inventory merging problem and sub-par performance on Mac systems. The experimental branch’s optimization of wind calculations also promises to enrich the immersive quality of the game’s environments.

Diving into the Experimental Branch of No Man’s Sky

To explore the new experimental updates, here is what you need to do:

1. Access the game through the Steam Library and right-click on it.
2. In the dropdown, select ‘Properties.’
3. Navigate to the ‘Betas’ tab.
4. Input "3xperimental" as your access code and click ‘Check Code.’
5. Choose the experimental branch from the options presented.

Hello Games has sensibly advised players participating in the experimental build to back up their save files to safeguard against any unforeseen issues that may arise during testing. For peace of mind, Hello Games suggests creating a local copy of the st_[userid] folder. On a PC, you’ll find it under %appdata%\HelloGames\NMS\ and on a Mac, it’s located at ~/Library/Application Support/HelloGames/NMS/. Moreover, players are cautioned against using these experimental saves in the main game if they decide to opt out of the beta testing. These experimental corrections are planned to extend to other platforms as swiftly as feasible.

It’s truly commendable how Hello Games’ dedication to No Man’s Sky continuously resonates with its community, as evidenced by a steady stream of players on Steam. The game’s overall reviews on the platform have recently been upgraded to "Very Positive," highlighting just how far it has come since its initial release.

Adding to the excitement of this new experimental phase, Hello Games has also shared their holiday plans for No Man’s Sky going into 2024. Expect to see five expeditions making a return in festive two-week bursts, with Omega already in motion.

What’s New in the November 28 Experimental Branch for No Man’s Sky:

• Resolved a rare ship inventory merging issue.
• Fine-tuned wind calculations for a more authentic feel.
• Addressed multiplayer connection issues on PS4.
• Fixed a crash for players running the PS4 version on PS5.
• Corrected an error causing Mac performance to falter due to application focus loss.

As players dive into this vast sci-fi odyssey, they’re met with a universe sprawling with adventurous possibilities, from assembling freighter fleets to searching for rare materials across boundless galaxies. This ambitious, procedurally generated universe never ceases to surprise, making No Man’s Sky a journey worth embarking on.