Category: Hello Games

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‘No Man’s Sky’ Prisms Update Brings DLSS, Visual Overhaul & Ridable Flying Pets

No Man’s Sky (2016) just received its ‘Prisms’ update on all supported platforms, which includes Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) on compatible NVIDIA GPUs, a bevy of visual changes, and more.

Now available on console, PC, PC VR and PSVR headsets, Prisms is a fairly substantial update to the space-faring game that brings a number of changes that focus on immersion and visual quality. Yes, you can also ride your flying companion creatures now too.

Developer Hello Games says that with the Prisms 3.5 update, No Man’s Sky “has never looked better, with reflections, new texture effects, more biome detail, improved lighting, new skies, new warp effects, creature fur, and a host more besides.”

The studio also put out a video showing off all of Prisms’ features:

Here’s a look at some of the VR specific stuff, either included in this update or coming soon:

  • Screen space reflections (SSR) have been enabled for PC (coming soon to PCVR), next-generation consoles, and Xbox One X
  • Volumetric lighting has been enabled in VR
  • Light refraction rendering has been enabled for all platforms except VR on base PS4
  • Fur rendering technology has been added for all platforms except Xbox One S and PSVR

As far as owners of NVIDIA RTX 20/30 graphics cards go, you’ll also now be able to use DLSS when playing No Man’s Sky, which goes for VR mode as well. DLSS mixes anti-aliasing and super sampling techniques to improve image detail at higher resolutions, without compromising framerate.

No Man’s Sky joins only a few other VR titles by enabling DLSS, which includes the Stalker-inspired survival game Into the Radius (2020) and mechanic simulator Wrench (2018).

Check out this quick comparison from NVIDIA to see how it changes perceived detail and framerate in No Man’s Sky specifically:

The post ‘No Man’s Sky’ Prisms Update Brings DLSS, Visual Overhaul & Ridable Flying Pets appeared first on Road to VR.

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Watch: No Man’s Sky PSVR Update For PS5 Looks Incredible

Today Hello Games released No Man’s Sky Patch  3.15 and after spending a good bit of time with it we can confirm that there are some significant improvements for the PSVR version of the game when running on PS5. As far as we know, these updates are just for when the game runs on a PS5, not a PS4 Pro.

No Man’s Sky PSVR on PS5

In the patch notes they simply state “resolution and performance for PSVR have been significantly improved when running on a PS5” and “loading times on PS5 have been improved” but I’m here to tell you it looks and feels even more dramatic than they’re leading on.

You might recall that back when No Man’s Sky first got VR support the PC VR and PSVR versions could not have been further apart in terms of visual fidelity. The differences were so stark we released two separate reviews (PC VR review and PSVR review) to reflect the disparity and showcased the visual downgrade in a comparison video.

Long story short it was super blurry on PSVR with PS4 and was a pain to play. For some good comparison shots of the game running yesterday on PS5, before the update, versus today, after Patch 3.15, we can turn to Twitter user Jimster71:

I’ll definitely say that, even though you can clearly tell the difference in these shots, they don’t do the enhancement justice. As someone that wears glasses, it feels a bit like having blurry vision from smudged lenses or your contacts not sitting on your eyes properly, and then getting your glasses cleaned or your prescription updated. Or, in other words, previously it just always felt like your VR headset wasn’t positioned right and you were having trouble finding the sweet spot. Now it’s crisp and clear.

Make no mistake: this is still the same game, but it just looks so much better overall and plays so much more smoothly.

Texture pop-in is improved as well, as-is overall performance and stability, but it’s still a far ways off from the PC VR version (when running well) in terms of sheer visual fidelity. You can especially notice the texture pop-in issues when you crest over a mountain and start to descend with vegetation and objects gradually appearing in the distance.

I only played for about 45-minutes, just long enough to take off from my starting planet on a new save file, but I can already feel the allure of infinite galaxies pulling for me to dive back in.

No Man’s Sky is one of the greatest comeback stories in video game history and Hello Games continues to make it bigger and better every few months with free updates and content releases. It’s remarkable and commendable what they’ve done here.

Let us know if you decide to give the game a try on PS5 with PSVR and let us know what you think. Keep in mind, to play in PSVR on PS5 you need to make sure and install the PS4 version, not the PS5 version of the game. Both are available as a bundled purchase on PSN right now for $59.99, but it’s often on sale if you’d rather wait.

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‘No Man’s Sky’ PS5 Patch to Bring PSVR Mode “significantly improved” Resolution & Performance

Despite launching in mid-November, developers are still catching up when it comes to optimizing their games for the new PlayStation 5 console. Now, Hello Games says No Man’s Sky (2016) will soon see some improvements to the game’s resolution and performance when playing in VR mode on PS5.

In a Steam update covering the experimental branch on PC, Hello Games says that “[r]esolution and performance for PSVR have been significantly improved when running on a PS5.”

The experimental branch is only available to PC players on Steam, although it’s likely we’ll see these improvements sometime soon on PS5.

Among the changes also comes a fix for rendering-related crash on PS5, as well as improved loadings times and optimized install size—all good news for PSVR users looking to get the most out of the new PS5.

Outside of a torrent of expansions since initially offering VR support, the game’s most recent improvement is its ability to allow online cross-play between the PC and console version of the game, making it more necessary to push features concurrently across all versions.

The post ‘No Man’s Sky’ PS5 Patch to Bring PSVR Mode “significantly improved” Resolution & Performance appeared first on Road to VR.

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No Man’s Sky Gets ‘Stability Improvements’ On PC And Better Resolution And Framerate For PSVR On PS5

The most recent update for No Man’s Sky will include “stability improvements” for PC and better resolution and framerate for PSVR on PS5.

According to the post on the game’s official Steam Discussion forums from Hello Games, this update is currently dubbed ‘Experimental Branch 19/01’ — of course designating the current date. This update comes hot on the heels of the next-generation update for the new consoles, which even included improvements for PC as well. Since this is an “experimental” update, on PC you need to opt in. Luckily, it’s already available right now.

Here are the full patch notes:

No Man’s Sky Experimental Branch 19/01

  • Stability improvements on PC.
  • Resolution and performance for PSVR have been significantly improved when running on a PS5.
  • Fixed a rendering-related crash on PS5.
  • Xbox Series S in high quality mode now has the improved Ultra settings introduced in the Next Generation Update.
  • Loading times on PS5 have been improved.
  • PS5 install size has been optimized.

To do that, go into your Steam library, right click on No Man’s Sky, select Properties, click on the Betas tab, and type in: “3xperimental” and click on “Check Code”. If you did this correctly, it should say you’ve unlocked the experimental branch. Click on the drop down menu and select that build. From there, a patch should start downloading automatically. This new update is reportedly over 3GBs in size.

And just as a word of warning: this is experimental for a reason. There may be new bugs and you may find issues the developers are still fixing. If you opt-out after playing Experimental, you should resume from a prior save to avoid long-term issues with your game.

Admittedly, I’m not sure how this interfaces with the PS4 and PS5 versions of the game. Presumably, once the next update launches on those consoles it will included these changes. I’m also unsure when this update will come to other PC launches like the Xbox Game Pass app, GOG, and so on.

If you get a chance to try this out in VR, let us know how it works down in the comments below!

For more on No Man’s Sky VR, read and watch our reviews of the PC VR version and PSVR version.

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The VR Job Hub: Dimension, Hello Games & Skydance Interactive

VR Job Hub

Every weekend VRFocus gathers together vacancies from across the virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR) industry, in locations around the globe to help make finding that ideal job easier. Below is a selection of roles that are currently accepting applications across a number of disciplines, all within departments and companies that focus on immersive entertainment.

Location Company Role Link
London, UK Dimension Senior Tech Artist Click Here to Apply
London, UK Dimension Junior Tech Artist Click Here to Apply
Newcastle, UK Dimension QA Lead Click Here to Apply
London or Newcastle, UK Dimension Games / XR Producer Click Here to Apply
Newcastle, UK Dimension Gameplay Programmer Click Here to Apply
London, UK Dimension Realtime 3D Artist Click Here to Apply
London, UK Dimension 3D Animator Click Here to Apply
Guildford, UK Hello Games Experienced Programmer Click Here to Apply
Guildford, UK Hello Games Graduate/Junior Programmer Click Here to Apply
Guildford, UK Hello Games Graphics/Engine Programmer Click Here to Apply
Guildford, UK Hello Games Chinese Speaking QA Tester Click Here to Apply
Guildford, UK Hello Games Experienced Artist Click Here to Apply
Guildford, UK Hello Games Junior Artist Click Here to Apply
Guildford, UK Hello Games VFX Artist Click Here to Apply
Guildford, UK Hello Games UI Artist Click Here to Apply
Guildford, UK Hello Games Team Administrator Click Here to Apply
Marina del Ray, Los Angeles Skydance Interactive Lead Animator Click Here to Apply
Marina del Ray, Los Angeles Skydance Interactive Narrative Director Click Here to Apply
Marina del Ray, Los Angeles Skydance Interactive Senior Concept Artist Click Here to Apply
Marina del Ray, Los Angeles Skydance Interactive Senior Software Engineer Click Here to Apply
Marina del Ray, Los Angeles Skydance Interactive VFX Artist Click Here to Apply

Don’t forget, if there wasn’t anything that took your fancy this week there’s always last week’s listings on The VR Job Hub to check as well.

If you are an employer looking for someone to fill an immersive technology related role – regardless of the industry – don’t forget you can send us the lowdown on the position and we’ll be sure to feature it in that following week’s feature. Details should be sent to Peter Graham (pgraham@vrfocus.com).

We’ll see you next week on VRFocus at the usual time of 3PM (UK) for another selection of jobs from around the world.

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No Man’s Sky: Desolation Update Adds Deep Space Chills

No Man's Sky: Desolation

Considering the expansive universe Hello Games has created in No Man’s Sky the vast emptiness of space hasn’t been that scary. Until now of course. Looking like it has been inspired by Dead Space the new No Man’s Sky: Desolation update offers the chance to explore seemingly abandoned spacecraft which always goes well, doesn’t it?

No Man's Sky: Desolation

The free update for all supported platforms including PlayStation VR, Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and Valve Index adds mysteriously derelict freighters into the videogame. Able to be explored on your own or with friends the craft offer hazardous, procedurally generated interiors to explore.

The main reason you’d step onto a ghost ship is to see what you can loot, and these capital ships are rich in salvage, Hello Games noting this includes ‘otherwise unobtainable upgrades’. To make each ship that little more unique there are logs left behind by the crew providing a story, through a mix of procedurally generated and hand-written text.

But it wouldn’t be any fun without something going wrong and escape being far harder than entering. Defense systems will activate and alien lifeforms which aren’t exactly friendly all hamper progress towards the airlock.

No Man's Sky: Desolation

The No Man’s Sky: Desolation update also adds a host of improvements and balance changes to the gameplay and weapon handling. These include:

  • Improved bloom effects.
  • Improved lens flare.
  • New volumetric light sources.
  • Auto-Expanding Freighter Modules.
  • Paint your capital ship in new colours.
  • Freighter storage boxes can now be accessed directly from inventory screen tabs.
  • Teleport Modules may now be built aboard freighters.
  • Multi-Tool weapons rebalanced, focused on faster-paced, more dynamic combat.
  • New Nexus Missions

Last month saw Hello Games release a milestone update, adding cross-platform compatibility no matter if you’re in VR or not. For further No Man’s Sky announcements, keep reading VRFocus.