Hello Games released FORSAKEN on October 28 as No Man's Sky's fifth major update of 2026. The Halloween-themed update sends players after haunted technology and biological horrors, adds seamless travel to nearby stars, and brings the full game to iPhone and iPad with a free trial. Here is what the studio has confirmed.
The Halloween update is live across No Man's Sky
Hello Games released FORSAKEN on October 28, bringing a Halloween-flavoured update to No Man's Sky. The studio calls it the game's fifth major update of 2026, following REMNANT, XENO ARENA, THE SWARM, and COSMOS. It arrives during the game's tenth-anniversary year, when many returning Travellers have already been checking out the wider changes introduced in September's COSMOS update.
The update is free for existing players, in line with the studio's description of its ongoing updates. Its central idea is to explore more unsettling corners of the universe, searching derelict hulks, abandoned freighters, planetary dig sites, and infested outposts for rare haunted technology and biological horrors. The discoveries can then connect players with a new group of traders who are interested in collecting those unusual finds.
FORSAKEN is a substantial new activity set rather than a short seasonal login reward. Hello Games has also included several quality-of-life and travel changes, and the same-day mobile launch expands the game's reach. Players should still check the version history for their own platform, since release timing and patch availability can differ between PC, console, and mobile storefronts.
Haunted discoveries send players to dangerous places
The update asks players to look for rare haunted technology and biological horrors in some of No Man's Sky's most unsettling locations. Hello Games specifically names derelict hulks, abandoned freighters, planetary dig sites, and infested outposts. Those locations are already associated with risk or mystery, so the new search gives familiar places another reason to draw players back in.
The objects are described as strange, haunted mementos, and their presence has attracted enigmatic traders from across the universe. Those traders want samples for their collections and are willing to trade. The announcement does not publish a full item-by-item loot table in its overview, so players should use the official patch notes or in-game descriptions for exact names, values, and acquisition requirements.
For a first outing, the natural approach is to start with a location you already know how to reach and then explore carefully. Check your equipment, inventory space, and current mission state before heading into a derelict or infested area. Because FORSAKEN is built around discoveries and collecting, a relaxed expedition with room to bring items home is likely to be more useful than a rushed trip with a full inventory.
New traders give the finds a reason to leave your inventory
A collection loop works best when the things you find connect to something beyond a checklist. Hello Games says the new mementos have drawn traders who are set on gathering samples, creating a reason to revisit the darker locations and bring discoveries back. The studio's overview establishes the trading premise, while the full patch notes are the right place to check exact exchange options and rewards.
This structure fits No Man's Sky's long-running approach to exploration: players travel, locate unusual material, and decide whether it is useful for crafting, trading, or personal collection. FORSAKEN adds a seasonal tone to that loop without replacing the open-ended nature of the wider game. Travellers who prefer to build, survey planets, or travel with friends can engage with the new content at their own pace.
If you are coming back after a break, do not assume that an older guide covers every new object or vendor. The game's updates can change item names, recipes, and how activities connect. Start with the current patch notes, then use the in-game catalogue and mission markers to identify where the update fits into your save. That keeps a discovery-focused update from turning into a search through outdated walkthroughs.
Seamless warping makes nearby stars easier to reach
One of FORSAKEN's most striking additions is seamless warping to nearby stars. Hello Games says players can lock on to the brightest stars visible in the space sky and travel directly toward them without first opening the galactic map. That is a small change in the number of steps, but it affects a routine action that many players repeat while exploring.
The feature is not a promise that every destination can be reached directly or that all navigation systems have disappeared. The studio describes travel to nearby stars that the player can see, while the galactic map remains part of No Man's Sky's broader journey planning. It is best understood as a new, more immediate option for nearby exploration rather than a replacement for long-distance navigation.
A visible-star route can make travel feel more connected to the space around your ship. Instead of choosing a destination only through an abstract interface, you can pick out a bright point and move toward it. If the controls or targeting feel unfamiliar, look at the current tutorial prompts and adjust your flight settings. The update's value will depend partly on how naturally the new option fits your preferred way to pilot.
No Man's Sky also arrives on iPhone and iPad
FORSAKEN launched alongside No Man's Sky on iPhone and iPad. Hello Games says the mobile version includes the game's 40-plus updates so far, including FORSAKEN on day one, and is available to try for free through the App Store. The studio highlights custom touch controls, battery and thermal considerations, and a single-download file size of about four gigabytes.
The official post says iPhone 11 and newer models and third-generation iPad Air and newer can try the first part of the game for free. That is a specific compatibility note from Hello Games, not a guarantee for every older Apple device. Check the live App Store listing for current requirements, supported hardware, regional availability, and how the trial transitions into the full game.
A mobile version can make a large exploration game easier to sample in short sessions, but the best experience will depend on the device and control style. Touch controls are not identical to a controller, and a long session can place different demands on battery life and heat. Try the free portion first, adjust the controls, and see whether the screen size and performance suit the way you want to play.
More ship and interface options round out the update
Hello Games and Xbox Wire also describe new Corvette cockpits, a minimal HUD mode, a radial weapon selection option, package courier missions, and additional features. These changes touch several types of play: ship customization, interface preferences, combat controls, and mission variety. The point is not only a spooky activity; the update also gives players a few new ways to tailor routine exploration.
A minimal HUD can appeal to players who want a cleaner view of the world, while a radial weapon selector may make switching tools feel more direct. Those are convenience options rather than mandatory changes, so there is no need to adjust a familiar setup if it already works for you. Check the settings menu after updating to see which elements can be customized and how they interact with your current control scheme.
Courier missions add another kind of task to the broader update, but the announcement does not give a complete mission walkthrough or reward list. Players can use the in-game mission board and patch notes to confirm what is available in their version. This is especially useful for a game that receives frequent changes: official descriptions are a more reliable starting point than a years-old tip sheet.
A good reason to return without treating it like a full reset
For returning players, FORSAKEN offers a clear short-term goal: head into a dangerous location, look for haunted discoveries, and see what the traders want. It does not require players to abandon base building or their existing save. The new travel and interface changes can also be tested during ordinary exploration, so the update can fit into a familiar routine rather than demand a complete restart.
New players have a different choice to make. No Man's Sky now has a large library of systems and updates, and the mobile trial offers a smaller way to see whether its exploration loop clicks before committing. PC and console players can use the current store listing and system requirements to check their platform. The update's seasonal theme is a good entry point, but the game remains a wide sandbox with many optional directions.
If your save has been inactive for a while, spend a few minutes checking your inventory, ship equipment, and active missions before heading to a new location. Read the current patch summary, then try one feature at a time: direct star travel, the new haunting search, or a HUD change. Breaking the return into small steps makes it easier to notice what has actually changed and to avoid feeling overwhelmed by a decade of accumulated content.
A busy tenth anniversary keeps the universe moving
FORSAKEN shows how Hello Games is using No Man's Sky's anniversary year to keep adding new reasons to explore. The confirmed features include haunted mementos, biological horrors, new collectors and traders, seamless warping to nearby stars, extra Corvette cockpit choices, a minimal HUD, radial weapon selection, courier missions, and an iPhone and iPad release with a free trial.
That is a broad update, but the through line is easy to understand: it gives Travellers a Halloween-flavoured destination, some fresh things to collect, and small improvements to the way they move and manage their ship. The studio says it is already planning what comes next in 2027, but it has not announced a specific release date or feature list for that future work.
If you already own No Man's Sky, FORSAKEN is an easy reason to take a fresh look at the patch notes and load a familiar save. If you are new, the mobile trial or an official store page can help you judge the scale before installing. The best starting point is the current version's own documentation, because Hello Games continues to reshape the game long after its original launch.
CHECK THE ORIGINALS.
Facts and update details above are based on these official sources. Details can change as the game is updated.
- No Man's Sky: Forsaken ↗Hello Games
- Explore the Spookier Side of Space in No Man's Sky: FORSAKEN! ↗Xbox Wire / Hello Games
- No Man's Sky release log ↗Hello Games
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