Best New Features In No Man’s Sky The Cursed Update

Key Takeaways

• Never charged updates: No Man’s Sky Cursed update introduces Twilight Universe for players to explore.
• Enhanced graphics: Reworked particle and shadow effects in Cursed update with improved performance.
• New gameplay mechanics: Anomaly suppressor system introduced in the Twilight Universe, with spooky messages and enemies.

Hello Games, the developers of No Man’s Sky, have a policy of never charging for updates or DLC. The latest free content push for this space exploration and survival game is the Cursed update. A horror-themed extravaganza that introduces a whole new universe to explore.

Players who missed the actual Cursed expedition and exploration gameplay, that this update included, can replay the expeditions in two ways. Firstly, each year around Christmas, Hello Games makes all of the expeditions from that year available to replay. Secondly, a third-party tool can be used to enable the expedition to replay at any time.

8 Better Graphics

Enhanced Particle And Shadow Effects

The Cursed update for No Man’s Sky continues in the same vein as the previous few updates, in updating certain aspects of the game’s graphics. In this iteration, the particle and shadow effects were reworked. This included optimization of these effects which should lead to better performance on older hardware.

However, it is newer hardware capable of running the game at high resolution on ultra settings where these graphical improvements become the most obvious. It is also worth noting that in many ways, it is these improvements that paved the way for the esthetics of the Twilight Universe.

7 Twilight Universe

Explore A New Realm

The Cursed update brings the Twilight Universe to No Man’s Sky. A completely new environment for players to explore and adventure in. This is a haunting, almost liminal place, existing on the fragmented boundaries of reality. The atmosphere can be both dark and foreboding as well as wondrous at the same time.

Illuminated by the spooky new lighting system covered in the previous section, the new landscapes are something completely new to the game. Players are encouraged to explore this new realm, to uncover its secrets.

6 A New Unique Ship

Boundary Herald Starship

One of the highlights of the Cursed update for No Man’s Sky, is the new unique starship that players can obtain named the Boundary Herald. This is a cool flying saucer, sleek and shiny. It is the perfect vehicle for exploring the new Twilight Universe.

This is a pretty unique ship as new additions go for No Man’s Sky. It breaks away from the general aesthetic of angular, often unsymmetrical ship designs. Stats-wise, it offers no bonuses over other ships, it simply looks a lot different.

5 Anomaly Suppressor System

A New Gameplay Mechanic

Long-term players of No Man’s Sky will be used to juggling their hazard protection stats, and recharging their personal shields and hazard suits. The Cursed update changes things up for players who are in the Twilight Universe.

Instead, in the Twilight Universe the player has to keep their anomaly suppressor function, to keep themselves alive. This new version of hazard protection needs to be kept recharged to keep the new, ghostly enemies away from the player. It requires some careful balancing of resource usage to keep up.

4 Messages From The Twilight Universe

Dimensional Voices and Visions

Space can often be lonely in No Man’s Sky, but not in the Cursed update. Players will constantly receive incoming, often spooky messages from voices while they are exploring the Twilight Universe.

These voices deliver cryptic messages and visions, some of which contain important clues or instructions on what the player should do next. Overall, this is a great new gameplay feature that really adds to the spookiness of the Cursed gameplay. Don’t ignore these voices and messages some of them are pivotal in uncovering the secrets of the Twilight Universe.

3 Ancient Portal Travel

No Warping Between Systems

During normal gameplay of No Man’s Sky, the player travels from star system to star system by using their hyperdrives. And whilst there are different grades of hyperdrive required to enable access to some star systems, this has always been the only restriction. The Cursed update changes this.

The new system for long-distance travel within the Twilight Universe is by using ancient portals to move between star systems. The normal hyperdrive just doesn’t work in this new realm. Players need to discover portals and connections to move around.

2 Spooky Encounters

Ghostly New Enemies

The Cursed update to No Man’s Sky introduces a whole host of new enemies for the player to combat. In the form of spectral horrors that are getting through the boundary between reality and the Twilight Universe. As already mentioned, the player has access to a new mechanic, the anomaly suppressor to help avoid these enemies.

Graphically, these are all something very new to No Man’s Sky. They are ghostly enemies, that pop in and out of being seemingly randomly. Overall, they are a fun new addition, even though they are not particularly hard to overcome.

1 New Character Customization Options

Cthulhu-inspired Exosuit Customization

Each update to No Man’s Sky has added a new set of armor or character customizations to the game, and the Cursed update is no exception in this regard. This time around, fitting with the theme of the update, the player has access to a Lovercfartian-inspired exosuit that can be colorized and customized at the standard terminal.

Of course, the suit doesn’t grant any additional bonuses, it is purely cosmetic. The design won’t be for everyone, but for those that enjoy horror-themed games, this exosuit will likely be one they wear for quite some time.