Hello Games released the Cosmos update for No Man’s Sky on September 10, 2026, marking the game’s 10th anniversary since its original launch on August 9, 2016. According to Hello Games, this update represents the largest overhaul to the game’s space environment in the title’s decade-long history. Here is a breakdown of every major addition and how to get started with each one.
What Is the Cosmos Update?
The Cosmos update, which Hello Games had previously teased under that name before release, focuses on making the space environment of No Man’s Sky feel significantly more active and populated. Rather than adding to planetary surfaces or story systems, this update centers almost entirely on what happens between planets – the stations, the ruins drifting through space, the player-run factions, and the ability to build structures in orbit.
Over the past 10 years, Hello Games has added co-op play, ship building, visual overhauls, new biomes, settlement features, player factions, and more. The Cosmos update continues that pattern of large-scale content drops, but this time with a specific focus on space itself.
How to Become a Space Station Director
One of the headline features of Cosmos is the ability to take on the role of director of a Space Station. Here is how it works:
- Travel to a Space Station in the game as you normally would.
- Locate the option to take on directorship of that station.
- Once appointed as director, you can style, expand, and decorate the station as you see fit.
This gives creative players a new long-term project to work toward, essentially turning Space Stations into another layer of the game’s base building system – but on a larger and more public scale since other players can pass through them.
How to Form or Join an Alliance
Cosmos introduces an Alliance system, which functions similarly to a guild structure and supports cooperative exploration and base building between players. Here is how to get started:
- Found an Alliance by creating a custom name and banner for your group.
- Recruit other players to expand the alliance outward.
- Work together on exploration goals and base building projects to increase your alliance’s rankings.
- Check your standing on the leaderboard located at the Space Station core.
The leaderboard tracks rankings across several categories, including the most members, the most active alliances, and the most expansive alliances currently active in the game. If you want to climb those rankings, focusing on active recruitment and regular exploration will likely be your best path forward.
How to Use the New Interactive Solar System Map
Cosmos adds a new interactive solar system map that shows players additional points of interest that were not visible before. Scanning this map will reveal new locations which then unlock additional missions and exploration targets. Make a habit of pulling up the map whenever you arrive in a new system – there are now more reasons than ever to investigate what looks like empty space.
How to Salvage Space Hulks
Space hulks are colossal shipwrecks that appear as new points of interest in space. Salvaging them is one of the most involved new activities in the Cosmos update. Here is the process step by step:
- Locate a space hulk by scanning the new interactive solar system map.
- Approach the wreck and identify high-value pieces before you start pulling anything free.
- Use No Man’s Sky’s gravity gun and your ship’s tractor beam to haul parts away from the wreck.
- Watch the salvage limit closely – if you take too much from a space hulk, it enters a meltdown phase.
- Manage what you take carefully to avoid triggering that meltdown before you are ready to leave.
Parts recovered from space hulks can be taken to the new Space Outposts, which offer new missions and blueprints. However, be aware that some facilities you encounter out there may have been overrun, meaning you will need to clear them out and reclaim them before accessing what is inside.
Space Outposts: New Missions and Blueprints
Space Outposts are new structures added in the Cosmos update. They serve as hubs where you can drop off salvaged parts from space hulks, pick up new missions, and acquire new blueprints. Not every outpost will be in clean condition when you find it – some will need to be cleared of hostile occupants first. Treat them as both a reward and a combat challenge depending on what state they are in when you arrive.
How to Build in Space
The Cosmos update extends No Man’s Sky’s existing base building system into space for the first time. Players can now construct bases in orbit rather than being limited to planetary surfaces. The update does not detail every specific part or blueprint available for space construction, so expect to discover new options as you progress through the Cosmos content and visit Space Outposts for additional blueprints.
If you are already a dedicated base builder, this is the natural next step – taking the construction tools you already know and applying them to an entirely new environment with different design possibilities.
Where to Start With the Cosmos Update
If you are returning to No Man’s Sky for the Cosmos update or jumping in for the first time, the recommended starting point is your nearest Space Station. From there you can explore the director system, check the Alliance leaderboard at the station core, and pull up the new interactive solar system map to start locating space hulks and outposts. The update is live now as of September 10, 2026, and is available as part of the ongoing free update structure Hello Games has maintained throughout the game’s life.