No Man’s Sky: Waypoint Update Is the Game’s ‘Biggest Generational Jump So Far’

Hello Games has announced that No Man’s Sky’s 4.0 update, called Waypoint, will be released today, and said it’s likely the “biggest generational jump so far” for the game.

The 21st major update brings both design and balance overhauls alongside hundreds of quality-of-life improvements, as Hello Games has attempted to unify all of its previous content into a more cohesive gameplay experience.

Its inventory system is one example of this, as players, ships, and weapons now have a “greatly increased” level cap. Milestones have also been updated and a new information portal makes it easier for returning players to pick No Man’s Sky back up thanks to summary of their goals and progress.

New gameplay modes have also been added, with Relaxed mode letting players enjoy the game more as an exploration and sandbox game over pure survival. Customisable controls for survival, crafting, and combat have all been added too, however, meaning players can shape the experience to match their own playstyle.

Given that Waypoint also marks the full 4.0 step up for No Man’s Sky, Hello Games said it’s as much about laying a foundation for the future as it is improving what’s already in the game.

“The leap from version 3.0 to 4.0 is perhaps our biggest generational jump so far. It’s an exciting moment, and marks a solid foundation for future updates,” it said.

“Starting as we mean to continue, No Man’s Sky launches on Switch with its first major update, and it’s no coincidence that many of our changes are focused on making No Man’s Sky a more pick-up and play experience for new and returning players on that mobile platform.”

The Nintendo Switch version was also released today, October 7. Hello Games’ founder Sean Murray said back in June that it “feels both completely natural and also totally improbable at the same time”, as No Man’s Sky’s procedural generation meant a Switch port was “a real moonshot for our small team”.

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer. He’ll talk about The Witcher all day.