No one could have predicted where No Man’s Sky would end up and what it would look like. But here we are, welcoming in yet another gorgeous-looking free update to the ambitious space RPG – but this one marks a special occasion. For the first time ever, developer Hello Games is letting PlayStation players explore the galaxy without spending a dollar, as the debut No Man’s Sky free weekend arrives shortly.
Not only is No Man’s Sky one of the best multiplayer games around, but PS4, PS5, and PSVR 2 owners can band together for the new Omega expedition. “Expeditions in No Man’s Sky have become one of the most popular ways to play the game […] this [update] represents a moment for new players to try No Man’s Sky, and existing players to welcome them into the community,” says creative director Sean Murray in a recent PlayStation blog post about the RPG game.
Players, new or returning, can expect the Omega update to bring a “complete overhaul” to expeditions, as well as “new on-planet missions, a new pirate dreadnought to own, and much more.” Expeditions are great fun, and The Loadout team has forged some memorable moments trying to evade Sentinels or dogfighting in space. While it can be daunting to complete them without amazing equipment, don’t worry, because getting into hairy situations is all part of the co-op game experience.
The Omega update is changing how they work within the game overall, though. Instead of acting as a separate mode, expeditions are now fully integrated into the main game.
Murray details that players can bring “bespoke provisions, bring along their favorite starships or custom multi-tools, and return to their main save with loot and exciting rewards.” This adds a layer of customization that wasn’t possible before, and should make these harder missions far more approachable.
The best part is that newcomers will have all their progress saved and retained, if they purchase the full game. With over 25 updates and counting, the galaxy continues to grow in No Man’s Sky. Not only is it one of the best PSVR 2 games out there, but you could be spending more time than you anticipated with it, as Sony begins to roll back its focus on new PS5 games for existing franchises.