
No Man's Sky is getting a Switch 2 update in time for launch
No Man's Sky is about to take flight on yet another new platform: developer Hello Games announced today that the sci-fi exploration game will be getting a free update that will enhance it for the Nintendo Switch 2, which launches on June 5th.
The game came to the original Switch in 2022, and Hello Games says getting it crammed onto Nintendo's previous console was 'a bit of a technical miracle,' while calling the Switch 2 version 'a huge leap forward.' On the Switch 2, the game will improve both the amount and quality of stuff on screen at any given moment. 'We're rendering significantly more than before, at a higher resolution and improved framerate,' the developer says.
It will also feature full multiplayer support, which was missing from the first Switch version of the game. Additionally, the Switch 2 version of No Man's Sky will include features like touchscreen support, gyro controls, and cross-save.
The new platform is part of a larger update that spans all versions of the game. Called Beacon, it introduces something of a settlement management element to the game. Here's how Hello Games explains it:
Beacon completely overhauls settlements, bringing towns and their management to No Man's Sky. There are huge new robotic settlements to discover, with impossibly new sci-fi buildings. Players can become town mayor and take ownership of multiple settlements. You can construct buildings and upgrade each one, with new building types like jukebox bars where you can choose the music, merchants where you can build custom starships or even ponds you can chill and fish at.
Each inhabitant can be conversed with, with their own abilities and attributes to manage. As town mayor you'll be enlisted to welcome new settlers, resolve disputes, and make choices to create prosperity. A well managed settlement can make their owners rich in resources, but they need to be protected. Travellers can hire a squadron of wingmen, who will now defend towns when they come under attack from roving pirates.

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Tom's Guide
17 minutes ago
- Tom's Guide
I tested the world's first mobile game controller with AR glasses support — and it completely transformed my 16-hour flight
Regardless of how hard I try, I'm never truly prepared for an ultra-long-haul flight even after doing them for years but this time, I had a feeling things would be different. Flying back and forth from North America to Asia without a layover is no easy feat, especially since you're going to spend at least 14 hours on a plane. Of course, I always come prepared with a tech bag full of gadgets and my last trip to Taiwan was no different. From one of the best Android tablets to my work laptop and even a mini PC, I pack as many electronics as possible to bring with me on the plane. This does make things awkward at airport security but I'd rather have too many devices than wish I had brought something I hadn't. While my trusty Nintendo Switch has gotten me through a bunch of extended flights, I decided to leave it at home this trip as there are plenty of games in my backlog that I've been itching to play on the Nintendo Switch 2. Instead, I decided to give mobile gaming a go with a few of the best Android games but with a twist. One of the best phone controllers can certainly give you a more console-like experience from your smartphone but you lose out on the big screen experience you get when playing on your TV at home. Fortunately though, I've been testing a new mobile game controller that gives you that same experience in a form factor that's small enough for your seat-back tray table. After a 16-hour flight there and then a 14-hour flight back home, I don't think I've ever had this much fun on an airplane and I owe it all to Viture and 8BitDo's new mobile game controller. This bundle gives you everything you need to start playing your favorite mobile games in the most immersive way possible. You get a pair of Viture Pro XR glasses, a carrying case and of course, the new Viture x 8Bitdo Mobile Gaming Controller. At first glance, Viture and 8BitDo's new collaboration looks quite a lot like the 8BitDo Ultimate Mobile Gaming Controller that was released last year. Well, that's because it's essentially the same controller with a new translucent design and one major upgrade under the hood. Unlike with other, smaller mobile game controllers, this one features longer handles and full-sized, Hall Effect-equipped thumbsticks to prevent stick drift while offering a more comfortable feel overall. The Viture x 8BitDo Ultimate Mobile Gaming Controller also has clicky bumpers and a D-pad that provide a nice tactile bump when pressed which is something I always look for in a pro controller. Around back, there are two remappable back buttons just like on the new Backbone Pro I recently tried out. After wearing out my right thumb from years of mashing buttons, these have become a must for me and they can really make or break a new controller in my eyes. Another thing that I really like about the Viture x 8BitDo Ultimate Mobile Gaming Controller is that there's a bit of texture on the back of its handles which makes it easier to grip for long periods of time. Connectivity wise, you can slip any of the best phones with a centered USB-C port right into the middle of this controller to get everything set up. Not only is this fast and convenient but you don't have to worry about making sure the controller is charged, like before a long flight. Underneath its main USB-C connector, the Viture x 8BitDo Ultimate Mobile Gaming Controller has another USB-C port on the inside of its right handle. While you can often find an extra USB-C port on a lot of mobile gaming controllers, they're usually just for passthrough charging so you can keep playing without having to take your phone out. That isn't the case here though as this USB-C port is special. Sure, it can be used to charge your phone at up to 45W but you can also use it to connect a pair of the best smart glasses, specifically the Viture One XR or the Viture Pro XR glasses. With a pair of Viture's XR glasses and your phone docked inside, the Viture x 8BitDo Ultimate Mobile Gaming Controller takes gaming on the go to the next level. And better yet, nobody can peek at what you're currently playing. This wasn't my first time trying out a pair of specs like these as I recently got to spend some time with the Xreal One AR glasses and my favorite pocketable mini PC. While I really enjoyed that experience, I was a bit bummed out when I realized I couldn't use them simultaneously with my Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3 as part of my ultimate remote play setup. So when Viture reached out to me about testing out its new Ultimate Mobile Gaming Pack, I couldn't pass up the opportunity. Besides the Viture x 8BitDo Ultimate Mobile Gaming Controller, you also get a pair of Viture Pro XR glasses with the bundle. They're just as comfortable to wear for extended periods as the Xreal One glasses but in my opinion, they have more of a sporty look to them thanks to the orange accents on one side. One thing that I immediately liked after unboxing the Viture Pro XR glasses was the included case. It is slightly larger than the one that comes with the Xreal Ones but there's a separate compartment for storing the USB-C cable you use to connect them to your phone, tablet, laptop and other devices. Another key difference between the two is that Viture uses a magnetic connector on its glasses as opposed to a standard USB-C port. I do prefer non-proprietary cables but in this case, the magnetic connector makes it a cinch to quickly start using the Viture Pro XR glasses, and I love how the cable just snaps into place. And with my bags packed for Taiwan, that's exactly what I did the moment I made it through airport security. With 30 minutes or so to kill before my flight, I decided to break out the Viture x 8BitDo Ultimate Mobile Gaming Pack and give everything a try before takeoff. I briefly tested them out at home but in preparation for my trip, I loaded up my phone with as many console-quality Android games as I could from Dead Cells and Stardew Valley to the game I was most excited about (and dreading) playing with AR glasses: Alien Isolation. It took me a minute or so to get my phone set up inside the controller and to connect the Viture Pro XR glasses and then, I jumped right back where I left off in my last Dead Cells run. Since I didn't want to miss when boarding started for my flight, I short pressed the smaller button on the front of the glasses to toggle their electrochromic film off. If you're unfamiliar with XR or AR glasses, changing this setting causes their display to go from blacked out like when you're wearing one of the best VR headsets to transparent. That way, you can see what's on their screen and the world around you at the same time. Since I've worn AR glasses before when out in public, I wasn't embarrassed at all. However, I did get a few looks here and there but that was likely because I had my camera set up on the other side of the table snapping pics. Even though I only got to play for 15 or so minutes before I had to find my seat, I had an absolute blast. And unlike with your standard mobile game controller, I didn't have to crane my neck forward to see what I was playing. Once on the plane, I waited till we reached cruising altitude before taking the Viture Pro glasses and 8BitDo controller back out. Compared to a laptop or even one of the best handheld gaming consoles, this setup felt a whole lot more compact and easy to stow away if my in-flight meal arrived or turbulence struck. I started my 16-hour flight's worth of mobile gaming slowly with some smaller, less intensive titles before ramping things up. Since I can't play my go-to game, the skateboarding sim Session, on mobile, I did the next best thing and loaded up The Ramp first. After a few rounds getting big airs and doing grabs on the game's virtual halfpipe, I raced around a few courses in the Art of Rally. Getting the controls set up and mapped to the Viture x 8BitDo Ultimate Mobile Gaming Controller took some time though as the mobile version isn't as controller friendly as the PC or console one. Speaking of remapping controls, before I left I also downloaded 8BitDo's Ultimate Software V2 app along with Viture's GamePal launcher. In 8BitDo's app, I was able to remap the controller's two back buttons as well as set up separate profiles for individual games. This really came in handy and I'm glad I downloaded it beforehand. Meanwhile, Viture's GamePal gives you a more console-like experience as all of your installed games show up neatly in one place. I've been using the Nothing Phone 2 as my daily driver for almost two years now but during this trip, I left it behind. The reason being is that as a mid-range phone, it lacks the most important feature to make a setup like this one work: DisplayPort Alt Mode over USB-C. Without it, you won't see a thing when you plug in a pair of AR glasses, which sadly I learned after I took a chance on this lesser-known Android brand. Fortunately, my colleague John Velasco sent over a Samsung Galaxy S24 FE ahead of my trip and it did the trick and then some. One of the coolest features on the best Samsung phones by far is DeX. Once plugged into a portable monitor or in this case, a pair of AR glasses, you get access to an extended Desktop eXperience that makes using your phone a whole lot more like a computer. On the S24 FE with this particular setup, I really liked how I could use the phone's screen as a trackpad while seeing everything else in the Viture Pro XR glasses. This really came in handy when I started a new farm in Stardew Valley a few hours into my flight. I could harvest my crops and interact with the residents of Pelican Town using the controller while sending my character to and fro with the touchpad. As the overhead lights dimmed in the cabin during the part of the flight where you're supposed to be sleeping, I figured it would be the perfect time to give Alien Isolation a try. For this one, I switched the Viture Pro XR's electrochromic film on and found myself in complete darkness aboard Sevastopol Station. Even though Alien Isolation is over a decade old and I was playing on mobile, everything looked fantastic. I found myself getting lost in the details of the space station and playing a first-person game like this with AR glasses was a very unique experience. Before I knew it, my lengthy 16-hour flight was coming to an end and I had to pack up the Viture x 8BitDo Ultimate Mobile Gaming Pack. I don't know if I'd feel comfortable using this setup while traveling together with my family but while on my own on a work trip, it was the perfect way to get through a long flight while catching up on some of the better mobile games that have come to Android over the years. Compared to one of the best gaming laptops or a Steam Deck, slipping the Viture Pro XR glasses and this one-of-a-kind mobile game controller into a bag was a whole lot easier (and lighter). I hate to say it but part of me almost considered switching to one of the best iPhones for a second there so that I could play actual console games like Resident Evil 4 or even Death Stranding with this setup. Google certainly has some catching up to do when it comes to getting full-sized games on Android. After running around Taipei for a week at Computex 2025, I came down with a bad cold the minute I got home. However, instead of being upset I got sick, it gave me a chance to try out this setup at home and let me tell you, there's no better way to rest up than by playing your favorite games remotely on a 135-inch screen inches from your face while cosied up on the couch.


Tom's Guide
2 hours ago
- Tom's Guide
I've played 8 Nintendo Switch 2 launch games — here's the 3 I'd buy first (Mario Kart World isn't one of them)
The Nintendo Switch 2 is out in the wild, and the first question most early adopters will be asking themselves is 'Which launch games should I buy first?' The obvious answer is Mario Kart World, but I'm going to be controversial here and say that Mario's latest karting adventure isn't the most essential title on the Switch 2 at launch. Don't get me wrong, it's plenty of fun, but I'm not convinced some of its changes are for the better, and I currently prefer the familiar comforts of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. During my first 24 hours with Nintendo Switch 2, I have played more than half a dozen titles that have convinced me this hybrid system already has a pretty healthy library right out of the gate. From Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition to the surprisingly enjoyable console showcase Nintendo Switch Welcome Tour, there are plenty of great games on Switch 2. After testing eight different games on my first day with the Nintendo Switch 2, here are the three that I recommend you pick up first if you've just secured the hybrid console for yourself. And if you're struggling to score one, check out our Nintendo Switch 2 restocks live blog for the latest stock update. Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition was already a phenomenal game on platforms like PS5 and PC, so it's hardly a surprise that it's fantastic on Nintendo Switch 2. The open-world RPG from The Witcher 3 developer CD Projekt Red sees you play a mercenary named V in the dark sci-fi megalopolis Night City and is packed with intense missions to complete and memorable characters to meet. It's pretty widely considered one of the best RPGs of recent times for a reason. What makes it such a standout in the Switch 2's launch library is that it's a pretty demanding title. It infamously ran atrociously on PS4 and Xbox One at launch in 2020. The fact that it's running, and running seriously well on the Nintendo Switch 2 — even better than on the Steam Deck — is the first sign that Nintendo's new hardware has some serious horsepower under the hood. Yes, it's not as visually lush as on a top-end gaming PC, or a PS5 Pro, and you won't get a 60 fps framerate, but the graphical compromises on Switch 2 are surprisingly slight, and having such a vast experience on a handheld is still awesome even in an era of gaming where powerful portables are becoming pretty standard. Cyberpunk 2077 on Switch 2 is the definitive way to enjoy CDPR's critically acclaimed first-person open-world RPG on the go. You play a mercenary named V, completing missions in the dark city of the future, Night City, though your main aim is surviving the chaos that surrounds you. This Ultimate Edition also includes the essential Phantom Liberty DLC expansion, which opens up a new area of the map, the ruthless Dogtown. Am I cheating here by listing both The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom as a single list entry? You bet I am, but it's my list, I make the rules. Okay, if pushed for a single choice, I'd opt for Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, but the games are so closely linked that I think you can make the case for them being included in a single entry. Plus, Nintendo has been grouping them together in marketing materials, so don't @ me! Regardless of your first pick, these are two of the best games of all time, Breath of the Wild was my first ever Zelda game back in 2017 on the original Nintendo Switch and it's focus on largely unguided exploration, coupled with ingenious puzzles and surprisingly tricky combat resulted in an experience that very few titles since have managed to match in the past almost decades. Meanwhile, Tears of the Kingdom builds upon Breath of the Wild in seriously interesting ways by expanding your arsenal of abilities, and includes some of the most satisfying head-scratchers I've ever encountered in a video game. Just being able to manipulate objects and stick them together to create all sorts of inventions is pure Nintendo brilliance. The problem with these games was always the hardware they were confined to. The original Switch just wasn't powerful enough for such vast games, with so many physics-driven systems at its core. Blurry textures and framerate drops were an all too common problem. But thanks to their Nintendo Switch 2 Edition upgrades, both games now play with a near-perfect framerate and look better than ever. Frankly, Tears of the Kingdom is so good on Switch 2, I'm tempted to return to my 4.5 out of 5 review from 2023 and now bump it up to a perfect score. The original Switch's definitive launch game has returned for the Switch 2, and now it's been enhanced for Nintendo's new hardware. It's the masterpiece you (probably) know, but looking and running better than ever. If you've never played Breath of the Wild, there really isn't a better time to jump into Hyrule than via this Switch 2 Edition. Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is the incredible direct follow-up to Breath of the Wild, and sees Link once again exploring a vast open Hyrule, as he hunts for answers regarding the mysterious gloom infecting the lands. whereabouts. This Nintendo Switch 2 Edition boosts both image clarity and framerate, making it the definitive way to enjoy one of the best games of recent years. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour took a lot of punches when it was revealed during the Nintendo Direct event. This collection of tech demos and micro-games is designed to showcase the unique features of the Switch 2, like the Mouse Mode and Joy-Con 2 controllers' HD rumble 2. The internet (and to be honest, myself as well at the time) declared that it should have been a free pack-in title ala Astro's Playroom on PS5 or Wii Sports on the Nintendo Wii. I do still think Nintendo probably should have given this game away for free with each Switch 2 console. However, after playing it myself, I'm pleasantly surprised. Is it worth the $10 cost? I think so (just). The whole experience is set within a giant Nintendo Switch 2, which has been retrofitted to be a museum-like hub. You pick a basic avatar and then run around collecting stamps and medals by completing mini-games and acing quizzes that test you on a series of fact files you just read. Granted, the latter activity does feel quite a lot like completing a training module at work! One micro-game, which casts you as a mini UFO trying to avoid falling objects using the Joy-Con 2 Mouse Mode, had me hooked for a good 15 minutes, as I was eager to beat the preset high score. Yes, it's a simple experience, but the clean art style is appealing, and it's very novel in concept. I've also already found Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour to be a great game to pick up if you want to showcase the console to your non-gamer friends and family, as it can be picked up and enjoyed with basically zero familiarity with gaming and controller experience. The $10 price point also makes it appealing if you're looking for an extra launch game that won't cost you a full $60-70. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour serves as a fantastic way to get familiar with the brand-new console. Set within a giant Switch 2, you walk around a Museum-like setting and complete micro-games and tech demos that showcase the console's new features, and also learn more about the technology that powers the Switch 2.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Trending in Texoma — Nintendo Switch 2 has hit the shelves
WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) — Whether it's happening on the other side of the country, somewhere else in Texas, or right in our communities, Digital Producer Mariana Vela takes a look at the stories currently generating the most interest on social media. Nintendo's Switch 2, the company's first new console in eight years, hit shelves on Thursday, June 5, and folks have been lining up for days! It includes 21 games and new mouse-like controllers, and of course, you can play all your Switch games on this new one! Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.