No Man’s Sky just hit a massive milestone. The sci-fi exploration game originally launched on August 9, 2016. Now, the game is officially celebrating its 10th anniversary. To mark the occasion, developer Hello Games teased its next major update. The upcoming release is officially titled ‘Cosmos’. Currently, players do not know the exact release date or the specific contents of the update. However, the teaser alone has sparked massive excitement across the community.
— Sean Murray (@NoMansSky) August 10, 2026
A Decade of Redemption
Upon its initial debut back in August 2016, No Man’s Sky faced an infamously rough reception. In fact, tens of thousands of day-one buyers quickly requested refunds during the game’s first few weeks on store shelves. Furthermore, critics gave the original iteration a Top Critic Average of 71 on OpenCritic, alongside a dismal 37% critic recommendation score.
Despite this rocky start, the game experienced an incredible turnaround. Over the past decade, Hello Games successfully delivered 40 free major updates. These consistent updates ultimately transformed the title into what many believe is one of the best sci-fi gaming experiences available today. Long-time fans have enjoyed massive additions over the years. These features include exosuit gameplay, underwater mechanics, capital ships, and a fully functional VR mode. Additionally, eagle-eyed players even secured Mass Effect’s Normandy SR1 as an obtainable frigate back in May 2021.
The No Man’s Sky ‘Cosmos’ Reveal
Recently, Hello Games Managing Director Sean Murray posted a short, two-minute video to Twitter. This video beautifully celebrates the 10th anniversary by giving all 40 past updates a moment to shine. Then, the anniversary video ends with a massive surprise.
Ten Years! Ten. TEN!
So many emotions you guys – but mostly – thank you 🙏 pic.twitter.com/LDK587Uk0k
— Sean Murray (@NoMansSky) August 10, 2026
At the 1-minute and 45-second mark, the screen displays a brand-new piece of key art. Subsequently, the title of the next major update slowly spells out letter by letter. Eventually, the teaser reveals the word ‘Cosmos’. Right now, official details remain completely under wraps. However, the game’s previous major update, Swarm, launched back in May. Therefore, if Cosmos follows a similar release pattern, fans might see it launch in the next few months.
Looking to the Future
Alongside the Twitter video, Sean Murray also published an open letter addressed to fans. Players can read this letter on the No Man’s Sky Steam Community page. In his message, Murray reflected on the hectic 10-year journey of his career and the game. He credited the game’s ongoing success to the incredible passion of both the developers and the dedicated player base.
Furthermore, Murray clearly stated that the small development team still feels they have “a lot left to explore in what No Man’s Sky can be”. Consequently, he teased “big things for the future” of the title. Finally, Murray addressed the studio’s next highly anticipated project, Light No Fire. He assured fans that the team is currently “busy cooking” up this brand-new adventure.
