How To Play No Man’s Sky Multiplayer With Friends

No Man’s Sky has really come a long way since it first dropped. Initially, it had some mixed reviews and lacked content, but the developers worked hard to fix everything and make it more like what they originally promised. They didn’t stop there, though — they kept rolling out updates. One of the coolest changes is the addition of multiplayer. Now, you can explore the endless expanse of space with your friends. In this article, I’ll break down how the No Man’s Sky multiplayer works.

Looking For A Team To Play No Man’s Sky?

Find like-minded gamers with GameTree!

GameTree LFG App

Is No Man’s Sky Multiplayer?

Yes, No Man’s Sky has multiplayer, although it was not initially available when the game was released, which caused a mixed reaction among players. Multiplayer appeared with the 1.5 NEXT update and has been developing with subsequent updates.

How Does It Work?

No Man’s Sky is a sandbox game, and multiplayer allows players to explore the vast expanses of the universe together.  No Man’s Sky multiplayer supports up to 32 players on PC and up to 16 players on consoles in one star system. Players can unite in groups of up to 4 people to complete joint missions, explore other planets and star systems, exchange items, and complete raids and random missions.

In multiplayer, players can jointly build and equip their bases on planets, which can be both private and accessible to other players. Also, from time to time, global events will be available to players.

Note:

Though No Man’s Sky’s main focus is exploring space both alone and with friends, the game also features PvP.

Between Which Platforms Is It Available?

No Man’s Sky co-op is available on all current and previous-generation platforms, namely:

• PС; 
• PlayStation 4;
• PlayStation 5;
• Xbox One; 
• Xbox Series X/S.

Unfortunately, Nintendo Switch does not support No Man’s Sky multiplayer. 

In addition, both crossplay and cross-save work between all platforms. This means that players can play with each other on different platforms. You can also start playing on one device and then continue the same gaming session from another device without any problems.

How To Play Multiplayer In No Man’s Sky

There are several ways to play multiplayer in No Man’s Sky. You can create your own multiplayer session and invite friends or join their game session. You can also go to the hub location, Space Station Nexus, where you can either invite other players to a group or join them.

How To Start Own Co-Op Session

1. Create a new game or load your previous game save.
2. Open the Pause Menu and go to the Multiplayer tab.
3. Select the Create Session option. If you only want to play with friends by invitation, then select Private Session. If you want any player to be able to join you, select Open Session.
4. Go to the Friends tab, where you will see a list of all your friends, and send them an invitation.
5. Your friends will receive a notification and will be able to accept your invitation.
6. Once they join your session, you will be in the same game session, on the same planet, or in the same star sector.

How Friends Can Join Your Co-Op Session in No Man’s Sky

Your friends can join your session in No Man’s Sky multiplayer in several ways. They can join the host directly or accept an invite from the host.

To join a session manually, follow these steps:

1. Open the Multiplayer Menu and look for an available game session in the Friends list.
2. If your friend has a public session, you can easily join it. If they have a private session, they need to send you an invite.
3. After the host sends an invitation, you will receive a notification. After accepting it, you can join the host.

No Man’s Sky Local Co-op and Split Screen

At the moment, No Man’s Sky multiplayer is only available online. The game does not have local co-op or split-screen mode. However, this does not mean that the developers will not implement these features in the future!

Multiplayer Features

Multiplayer in No Man’s Sky is focused on freedom of action and interaction between players. Here is what you can do with friends in multiplayer mode:

• Explore planets, star systems, and space in general.
• Exchange resources, materials, and items.
• Jointly build bases and visit other players’ bases.
• Complete missions and raids together.
• Participate in global events and random missions.
• Participate in PvP battles.

Gameplay Tips For Multiplayer

• I recommend that all players start the multiplayer game from the very beginning, even if they have played many hours solo. This way, your group progression and gaming experience will be more equal for everyone.
• Take advantage of playing No Man’s Sky in co-op – divide up your responsibilities! While one player is building a base, another can help in finding the necessary resources.
• The same goes for resources – create a common storage area where all players can easily access shared resources to avoid unnecessary grinding.
• When playing together, it makes sense to split up and explore different systems, especially for rare resources, and then regroup to collect them.
• The Freighter is a good help for co-op players as it is a mobile base with plenty of storage space, and your friends can dock their ships on it. So, build a base near the Freighter, which will give you access to shared crafting stations, a teleportation network, and base resources.

If No Man’s Sky Multiplayer Is Not Working

Players encounter a few common issues when trying to play No Man’s Sky co-op. I’ve listed them below and described what to do in such cases.

Unable to connect to a session or invite a friend

Check your internet connection and router settings. Make sure that port forwarding is configured and the game is updated to the current version. Also, check whether the game servers are working and not experiencing any problems at the moment.

High ping or lags when playing online

Check that your internet speed is sufficient, at least 5 Mbit/s. The reason may be the server load or your geographical distance from the server. Restart the game and start the session again; perhaps the game will find a server closer to you.

Problems with joining a friend to a game session

Make sure you are on each other’s friend list. Remember that if you have a private gaming session, your friend can only join you if you send them an invite.

Looking For A No Man’s Sky Team? Try GameTree

Find other game fans to explore the vastness of space together in No Man’s Sky! Download the GameTree app and specify your gaming preferences, and our smart algorithm will connect you with other players. You can use filters to find people who are near you, speak your language, and like the same games as you. Meet other players, gather a team, and enjoy multiplayer in No Man’s Sky!

Final Thoughts

With the introduction of multiplayer, No Man’s Sky has blossomed, as grinding and exploring the vastness of space is not only more fun together but also more profitable! In this article, I told you how multiplayer works in No Man’s Sky and how to join a co-op game session. The main thing is that you have a good internet connection and you are on each other’s friends list! Also, do not forget that you can create public and private co-op sessions in No Man’s Sky.