No Man's Sky: Alive and well, and with this new update: 'Beyond'...
It's unlikely you've never heard about one of the most interesting, alluring, promising - and divisive - games to have emerged in recent times; a procedurally-generated science-fiction fantasy survival experience called No Man's Sky.
Just in case you haven't, it was made by a small indie team of developers (Hello Games) who had to pack up and leave in secret after one of the biggest backlashes ever against a 'game'.
That could have been the end of it. 'Exit scam', you might almost say. But no... these developers proved they'd simply got too excited about things, and have clearly remained full of wonder and commitment towards that strange beast they'd unleashed with a big - but hollow - splash. Sony probably didn't mind too much; they'd won the money. However, they could now afford to provide more updates, and keep interest alive, and sales going.
The trouble with the game was that yes, it was massive and sure, it was never-ending. But it was also repetitive, boring, and its vast reaches and features were also pretty shallow experiences. In truth, it was fine for many an arty gamer, but not fine for players who had been tantalised with concepts of multiplayer possibilities and just playing more of something.
So there have been a decent few updates, each one re-igniting interest and promise, and seeing owners fire up their 1970's-inspired Battlestar Galactic space-crafts again, and confront the perils of endless space, dark-ambient sound, suddenly depleting resources and unfolding art and mathematically-generated weirdness.
And now there's another excuse to do it all again.
No Man’s Sky is to receive a new 'recharge' and expansion, and devoted fans will be happy to hear the name of this new update, coming soon: No Man’s Sky Beyond.
When things are called ‘Beyond’ it normally means something big, or something final. So does this mean that the development - and legacy - of the game is finally coming to an end?
Well, considering the universe featured in the game is a never-ending one, manifested visually thanks to pure mathematics mixed with careful, intelligent design, then it looks like players will be lost in it for eternity. Not many games can boast that!
When No Man’s Sky first appeared it made a lot of money, riding on the back of hype and expectation that everyone doubted could possibly be met. However, it since redeemed itself (pretty well) via a series of free updates.
So what about No Man’s Sky Beyond then?
All we know, is this: it will consist of three updates in one. And it will again be free to existing owners of the game. That’s right, no subscription and no micro-transactions.
The first part will be... No Man’s Sky Online, and this is all that’s been announced so far.
Yes... maybe that promised feature will finally arrive in an involving, exciting way. But will it be compatible? No Man's Sky was supposed to be a lonely tale of single-player exploration. Will this now bring fellow space explorers together with choices to help one another, options to fight, or just explore together and leave flags or stations planted on strange new worlds? Will they be friendly or foes?
More information relating to the other two parts will be announced soon, so stay tuned. They may relate to various updates to the existing single-player narrative, but we’ll have to see.
Obviously, if such multiplayer elements are introduced effectively and provide more reason for people to try out the game, then maybe there will be more.
For me, and for many, it never had to be 'just a game' or some pre-designed puzzle. It could be this beautiful 'sandbox' experience of simulation; of dwelling inside an artificial universe, subject to random or interacting artwork. This is perhaps still the underlying attraction, and why it will endure, no matter what.
Perhaps all that remains would be to see a VR version of the game one day. That might depend on whether people tire of both the experience of No Man’s Sky, the single-player story and this multiplayer experience. It doesn't seem likely. The game has already built a special place in many devoted player's hearts, and it has won a devoted following.
For others, if it still takes hours just to see a fellow explorer somewhere in the game, even along various waypoints, then it will be time for them to move on to other ‘procedurally-generated’ - and more carefully mapped out - pastures new…..
But still loads of us will be lost (occasionally) in its endless reaches...
A real question on everyone's minds is whether this game will bring any positive end to the divisiveness that once dogged it; the potentially endless legacy of its endless promise, and important, timeless lesson in game history, and marketing.
