Hello Games has released the Cosmos 7.0 update for No Man's Sky, transforming outer space gameplay with player-owned space stations, alliances and new base-building options as the game reaches its tenth anniversary
Player-owned space stations, customisable orbital bases and competitive alliances are now a reality in No Man's Sky, as Hello Games delivers the Cosmos 7.0 update to mark the game's tenth anniversary. This is not a minor patch or a routine content drop-Cosmos fundamentally reworks how players interact with space itself, introducing new mechanics that shift the focus from solitary exploration to large-scale collaboration and rivalry.
Major Features in Cosmos
The Cosmos update enables players to purchase, construct and decorate their own space stations, both inside and out. These stations can serve as social hubs, trading posts or the headquarters of player alliances. For the first time, alliances can be formed to create interconnected empires of stations, with groups competing for territory, wealth and leaderboard prominence. Modular bases can now be built anywhere in open space, or anchored to massive asteroids that can be harvested for resources.
New gameplay systems include deep-space salvaging, where derelict "space hulks" can be broken down for valuable scrap using physics-based gravity guns and tractor beams. Over-harvesting these hulks risks catastrophic meltdowns, adding a layer of risk to the process. Enhanced star map scans now reveal points of interest, including alien trading outposts that offer regional intelligence, maps and missions. Some of these outposts are infested with biohazards and must be cleared before use.
Technical and Social Expansion
Cosmos is not just about new structures-it expands the technical simulation of solar systems, allowing players to approach the central star of any system more closely than before. The update also introduces orbital base building, letting players establish free-floating installations in open space, a feature that was previously limited to planetary surfaces or fixed locations.
Social play is now more deeply embedded, with alliances able to coordinate construction, resource gathering and defence across multiple stations. Leaderboards track alliance achievements, incentivising both cooperation and competition. The update's scale and ambition are consistent with Hello Games' pattern of major post-launch expansions, as seen in other anniversary releases such as those reported earlier for other studios.
Anniversary Expedition and Legacy Content
Alongside Cosmos, Hello Games has launched 'Our Journey Continues', a museum-style expedition that celebrates the forty major updates released since 2016. This limited-time event allows players to unlock legacy mechanics, view developer commentary and access historical spacelogs that document the game's evolution from its rocky launch to its current state. The expedition is structured to highlight the most significant milestones, offering a curated retrospective for both new and returning players.
Despite the scale of the Cosmos update, Hello Games has not provided new details on its next project, Light No Fire, a fantasy sandbox survival RPG. The studio has acknowledged that more information was originally planned for this period, but has chosen to keep the focus on No Man's Sky's anniversary and ongoing support.
What Remains Unclear
While Cosmos is now live, Hello Games has not specified whether all features are available across every platform simultaneously, or if certain elements will roll out in stages. There is also no confirmation of performance targets or technical improvements specific to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S or PC, beyond the new gameplay systems. Patch notes indicate a focus on content and social features rather than core engine changes, but independent testing will be needed to assess stability and performance under the new systems.
Pricing remains unchanged for existing owners, with Cosmos delivered as a free update. No Man's Sky continues to be available on PlayStation, Xbox and PC, with cross-platform play supported. The update's file size and download requirements have not been detailed, but previous major patches have ranged from 5GB to 12GB depending on platform and content volume.
Live-service games like No Man's Sky rely on regular updates to maintain player engagement and address technical issues. Major expansions such as Cosmos often introduce new systems that interact with existing mechanics, which can lead to unforeseen bugs or balance problems. Players should expect further hotfixes and incremental patches as Hello Games monitors the rollout and responds to feedback. The shift towards player-driven alliances and customisable space stations marks a significant evolution in the game's design, but the long-term impact will depend on how these systems are supported and refined in future updates.
