A Switch 2 Edition for No Man’s Sky will be available alongside the launch of Nintendo’s new console, developer Hello Games has announced.
This version will come as a free upgrade for current No Man’s Sky owners, and offer a range of improvements such as full multiplayer, high-res texture support, and improvements to resolution and frame-rate.
No Man’s Sky on Switch 2 also offers cross-save and cross-play, so you can pick up exactly where you left off on Switch 1 — or elsewhere.
Hello Games has said the Switch 2 version of its successful sci-fi adventure survival game is the product of 12 month’s work getting to grips with Nintendo’s new hardware, after receiving development kits a year ago.
This new version arrives alongside (and, unsurprisingly, also contains) the latest big update for No Man’s Sky, entitled Beacons. This overhauls settlements and adds town management to the game, with some surprising new features.
Alongside new homesteads to discover, you’ll be able to become mayor of multiple locations. This will let you design hangout locations such as bars or fishing ponds, defend your towns from attack, and even get involved in the lives of your settlers, welcoming them in and helping them resolve disputes.
Beacons launches as a free update on all No Man’s Sky platforms today, ahead of the game’s Switch 2 version launching tomorrow, June 5.
Nintendo has a swathe of Switch 2 Editions also set to arrive tomorrow, although some of these will need paying for, while others (Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom) also come included with a Nintendo Switch Online subscription.
Today, Nintendo has released an array of updates to existing Switch 1 games in readiness for them to be played on Switch 2. For some, such as Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, this means improved visuals on when running on Nintendo’s new console. For others, such as Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury, this includes support for GameShare sessions.
Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at [email protected] or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
