No Man’s Sky may not have been the space-knees of the space-bee when it first launched in 2016, but a few years later and Hello Games’ passion project definitely was better. Not perfect mind you, but definitely a step in the right direction for those fans who had fallen in love with the idea of exploring a wide cosmos and building a new life out in the stars.
Fixing plenty of gripes and adding a stack of new content, No Man’s Sky now exists in a far healthier state, although I’d pay so much money if something could be done about the game’s awful user interface which makes absolutely no sense at all. Anyway! A few months after its meaty relaunch, No Man’s Sky is still trotting out new content, and today sees a substantial slice of free content arrive in that corner of the cosmos.
Called “The Abyss”, the new DLC focuses on going under the sea, which according to a magical Jamaican lobster I once saw on TV, is brilliant. Apparently it’s better down where it’s wetter and that’s about as much as I can say without having my pants sued off by a corporate juggernaut mouse. New story, new building modules and treasure awaits anyone who ventures into the Abyss of No Man’s Sky. Here’s a trailer and a breakdown of what’s inside the DLC:
Aquatic Missions and Narrative
A new story, The Dreams of the Deep, brings a new context to the depths and a dark narrative to No Man’s Sky. Players are invited to discover the fate of a troubled crew stranded from a freighter crash by the rising tides or explore underwater ruins to uncover the tale of a lost soul trapped deep beneath the waves.
Submarine Vehicle
Master the depths of planets using a new Exocraft, the Nautilon. This submersible vehicle gives new meaning to underwater navigation, combat and mining – and can be summoned to any ocean on the planet, as well as docked at underwater buildings. Players can upgrade the submersible with installable Submarine Technology and customise the Nautilon to stand out from their fellow explorers.
Submersible Building Modules
More than a dozen new base parts have been added to unlock more creative possibilities underwater. Players can construct the new Marine Shelter for brief respite from the oceanic pressure, and use its protection to reach new depths. New glass corridors, viewing bays and multi-storey submersible view domes provide travellers the perfect view of the surrounding ocean. Players can now bring their aquatic life into a habitat with a decorative indoor aquarium.
Flora and Fauna
The variety and visual quality of underwater biomes has been greatly improved. Players can now experience rare exotic aquatic biomes as they explore new depths. Underwater creatures have become more frequent, and more interesting. Aquatic life inhabits the full depth of the ocean, and unique terrifying creatures can be encountered on the ocean floor.
Sunken Wrecks and Ancient Treasures
Investigate sunken ruins and find ancient treasures or dive to submerged buildings to find remnants of their lost occupants. Discover and scavenge lost cargo from gigantic freighter wrecks. Use the terrain manipulator to excavate treasures buried in the nearby ocean floor. Find and repair rare crashed star ships to restore them from the seabed to the skies.
I hope James Cameron doesn’t get upset. The Abyss will unlock later today, and follows in the footsteps of the NEXT update that made the game prettier, deeper and added multiplayer.
Last Updated: October 30, 2018
Pariah
October 30, 2018 at 09:11
Wow that’s cool! Along with motorbikes, seems like they just keep adding more and more. Where are those people who say that NMS doesn’t deserve the credit now?
GooseZA
October 30, 2018 at 09:17
Definitely want to pick it up when it’s on special.
Pariah
October 30, 2018 at 09:29
It’s worth full price now honestly, but yeah even on special go for it. It’s great fun, and even better with friends
GooseZA
October 30, 2018 at 10:00
I’m sure. It’s just my wallet is a little empty after RDR2 😛
Gr8_Balls_o_Fire
October 31, 2018 at 11:19
The games industry has been killed by RDR. What’s gonna top that game? What’s gonna hold up to the detail, size, story and gameplay? I certainly have been put off other games now. Even Cyberpunk
G8crasha
October 30, 2018 at 09:16
I haven’t spent sufficient time with this game. I don’t mind grindy games, but No Man’s Sky is super-grindy. I guess this is as best a reason as any to return to the game.
Kromas
October 30, 2018 at 09:28
So No Man’s Sky:Subnautica Edition?
Rather just get Subnautica.
Pariah
October 30, 2018 at 09:31
Except Subnautica is always the same map. With the same baddies in the same places. This is a new subnautica on every ocean planet. And the whole planet is fair game.
Lol. NMS with just 1 update adds Subnautica+ on top of everything else, and someone’s complaining. Typical.
Kromas
October 30, 2018 at 09:33
I still believe Subnautica would be the better game. Also who is complaining? NMS can do as much as they like as it doesn’t matter to most people who have moved on.
Pariah
October 30, 2018 at 10:48
Eh, I guess if people want to miss out that’s fine. 🙂
And I’ve played both, Subnautica is good for a once-off playthrough, at around 20-25 hours. NMS had me hooked for over 200 hours before I started something else, and I still actually have that installed and plan to go back. So to each his own, I guess.
Kromas
October 30, 2018 at 10:55
I won’t buy NMS just on principle. Same reason I don’t own BF2 even after the lootboxes were removed and also Shadow of War.
I vote with my wallet.
Also NMS has not shown me anything I can’t get from other games. In fact Dual Universe is coming and it has more features at launch. 😛
Pariah
October 30, 2018 at 11:07
I didn’t say you should buy NMS. I just said it was your loss. Which it is. Stubbornness does that.
Kromas
October 30, 2018 at 11:26
I wouldn’t say stubborn it is more like voting with my wallet. If you support bad devs you support all the things that people hate in games.
Pariah
October 30, 2018 at 13:08
Sure, don’t support bad devs. Bad devs either take the money and run, or keep asking for more while delivering nothing. Hello Games have consistently improved the game and added content at no extra cost. And I mean, Con Citizen speaks for itself. And for the above example, Subnautica’s first content update, which only adds 1 biome, is paid-for DLC.
I’m just saying. Hello Games have done only great things since the bad launch. They’ve not only fixed the problems, they’ve made the game better than ever was promised. And for free. They didn’t abandon the game and run, like bad devs do. So sure, at launch your opinion was 100% correct. But what they’ve done since just nullifies that stance. They’ve proven themselves, through their updates. So keep your closed mind, it’s fine. The rest of us will enjoy life.
Kromas
October 30, 2018 at 13:13
Hello Games lied to us. Subnautics “DLC” is a stand alone game. My mind is not closed it seems yours is as you try to warp the facts to suit the narrative here.
It will take a long while for people trust to be rebuilt by no man’s sky just as it will take a very very long time for EA and RSI to do the same. I am happy Hello games did not abandon NMS but it still does not make the lies right.