Last week, No Man’s Sky hit a massive milestone with 110,000 concurrent players on Steam — its highest peak since launch in 2016. What makes this impressive is that this surge happened before Hello Games even rolled out the new Voyagers update.

The success highlights just how consistently the game has grown over nine years. The upcoming release of multiplayer corvette ships has captured player attention across social platforms, driving a huge influx of returning veterans and new explorers alike.

This is more than a one-off boost — player numbers are expected to climb even higher once the full rollout completes later this week, fueled by massive word-of-mouth and trending gameplay clips.

Voyagers Update Adds Multiplayer Corvettes

At the heart of the No Man’s Sky Voyagers update is one of its most ambitious features yet — customizable corvette-class ships. For the first time, players can design, crew, and explore massive starships together in multiplayer.

These aren’t just static vessels. Corvettes act as fully walkable traveling bases where friends can move around freely, decorate interiors, and coordinate flight paths mid-warp. The ability to build ships collaboratively aligns perfectly with modern co-op and UGC-driven gaming trends.

Supporting features include:

  • Spacewalking and skydiving mechanics

  • Improved ship-building tools

  • Interior customization options

  • Persistent multiplayer crews

By combining freedom of design with cross-system exploration, Hello Games has effectively delivered the long-requested “Millennium Falcon experience” — a fantasy space fans have wanted for years.

The Secret Behind Free Updates

One of the most surprising things about No Man’s Sky is how Hello Games continues to ship massive expansions for free. But as studio leads like Sean Murray have hinted, these updates are not truly “free” — they’re strategic investments.

We just reached the highest player count since the release of the game
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Each major release drives:

  • Sales spikes on Steam and Game Pass

  • Renewed merchandise interest

  • A surge of community-created content

  • Higher player retention and growth

Even Mojang’s product manager Mark Watson noted how similar models work: “Free updates pay staff mortgages,” with revenue generated indirectly from exposure and sales.

It’s a long-term trust-building strategy that keeps players engaged while boosting overall studio profitability — a stark contrast to the traditional paid DLC model used by larger publishers like Paradox or Ubisoft.

Light No Fire and the Road Ahead

The Voyagers update also doubles as a tech testbed for Hello Games’ upcoming title, Light No Fire. Features like seamless multiplayer, ocean traversal, and large-scale ship-building are being prototyped in No Man’s Sky and refined before their debut in the new project.

By backporting next-gen systems into the current game, Hello Games not only keeps No Man’s Sky thriving but also generates hype for what’s next. When Light No Fire launches, years of goodwill and player trust will likely drive massive day-one interest.

Nine years in, No Man’s Sky has transformed from a rocky launch to one of gaming’s biggest redemption stories. And if the Voyagers update is any indication, the galaxy isn’t slowing down anytime soon.