Hello Games says No Man's Sky is unexpectedly coming to mobile, partly thanks to Light No Fire.
Hello Games ports No Man's Sky to iPhone and iPad on October 28 with all updates, broad input support, and Light No Fire performance work.
No Man's Sky Comes to iOS on October 28 After a Decade of Updates and a Shared Engine With Light No Fire
Background: From a Divisive Launch to a Pocket-Sized Universe
No Man's Sky, the universe-sized space sim from Hello Games, launched about a decade ago and became known for a divisive start followed by a years-long comeback. The studio is now bringing it to iPhone and iPad devices. The iOS version is set for the 28th of October, and Hello Games says it will include all of the game's numerous updates.
Development Process: A Three-Year Side Project Built on Performance Work
Sean Murray, co-founder of Hello Games, said in a deep dive video that the studio had been working on a small side project for nearly three years. He also said the team once believed a mobile port would never be possible.
The port became possible partly because iPhones have become increasingly powerful in the decade since No Man's Sky first landed. It also became possible because of work on Hello Games' upcoming Light No Fire. Murray told Polygon that the team had to think hard about where to get performance and how to fit better into a memory profile. Some of those changes came from Light No Fire, and he described the projects as using one shared engine.
Murray said the studio made tons of tweaks and improvements that should benefit players on all platforms, including PC, PlayStation, Switch and Xbox. The iOS version will support touch, controllers, mouse and keyboard. His goal, he said, is console-quality visuals and gameplay that players can enjoy anywhere.
Latest Progress: Compatibility, Pre-Orders and Light No Fire's Status
Pre-orders for No Man's Sky on iOS opened today. Hello Games promised the game will run on devices going as far back as the iPhone 11. The iOS release will carry all of the game's numerous updates into the mobile version.
Light No Fire has been away from the spotlight since its reveal in 2023. Murray described it as a co-op adventure game set on a procedurally generated fantasy planet. While No Man's Sky aims for stars, Light No Fire focuses on one open-world planet rather than millions, with no boundaries.
Last month, Murray suggested Light No Fire is quite far along. He also told Eurogamer that the studio had learned an important lesson about not talking about things too soon.
Current Stage: A Pre-Release Window With Shared Engine Benefits
No Man's Sky is now in its pre-release window for iOS, with October 28 as the date and the iPhone 11 as the stated compatibility point. The port shows how Hello Games' work on Light No Fire has helped performance, memory, and input support, while the resulting tweaks are intended to improve the game across PC, PlayStation, Switch and Xbox as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which platform is No Man's Sky coming to?
The article says No Man's Sky is coming to iOS, specifically iPhone and iPad devices.
When is the iOS release date?
The iOS version is set for October 28.
What Apple devices are supported?
Hello Games says the game will run on devices as far back as the iPhone 11.
What controls will the iOS version support?
The iOS version will support touch, controllers, mouse, and keyboard.
Will the mobile version include the game’s updates?
Yes. Hello Games says the iOS version will include all of No Man's Sky’s numerous updates.
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