Sean Murray still plays the 2016 launch version of No Man's Sky

No Man's Sky has changed tremendously over the last 10 years, but creator Sean Murray still enjoys the game's humble 2016 beginnings.

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Sean Murray still plays the original launch version of No Man's Sky. Yeah, that one--the controversial one, the vilified launch version that was released way back when in August 2016. I actually reviewed this game, and at the time, I noted it was a somber experience about getting lost in the cosmos. It's decidedly barebones and lacks tons of quality of life features that modern NMS players take for granted. This was the baseline for No Man's Sky, NMS 1.0, the rough cut.

In a recent interview with GamesRadar+, Murray says that he taps into a kind of esoteric galactic wavelength when playing NMS 1.0, that kind of in-between space that exists in the borders of indies, AA, and AAA.

"I personally really enjoy it when I'm playing. It has a really weird, esoteric feel, and I think it feels quite different to lots of other games.

"It does feel quite barebones in places, but I kind of enjoy that. There's a charm to it.

"It feels weird, and it feels almost like more of an indie game, more niche, which is kind of my taste to some extent. I'm kind of into that."

The launch version of No Man's Sky is lost on consoles, unless you have a PS4 disc of the game, but players can still experience it by rolling back patches on the PC version (though it's not easy).

No Man's Sky has become one of the best-selling indies on the market and still has a healthy playerbase 10 years later.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Question #1

What are the main differences in features and quality-of-life between NMS 1.0 (2016) and the current version?

The 2016 launch version, NMS 1.0, is described as a barebones, somber experience that lacks “tons of quality of life features” found in the modern game, giving it a more niche, indie feel. Over the last 10 years No Man’s Sky has been expanded through many updates and now includes numerous additional features and quality-of-life improvements that modern players take for granted. (Related article: No Man's Sky gets a massive update - the game that keeps on giving's still going strong in 2025.)

Answered

Question #2

What complications or risks should players expect when attempting to play the 2016 launch version on PC?

The primary complication is that getting the 2016 launch build on PC requires rolling back patches, which the article says is possible but "not easy." Players should also expect the game to be decidedly barebones and to lack many modern quality-of-life features, making the experience more somber and minimal than current versions.

Answered

Question #3

Can saves from the original 2016 version be used with recent No Man’s Sky updates or vice versa?

The article does not state whether saves from the original 2016 version are compatible with recent updates or vice versa. It does note that players can still experience the 2016 launch version by rolling back patches on the PC version, though it is not easy, and that the launch version is effectively lost on consoles unless you have a PS4 disc of the game.

Answered

Question #4

Where did Sean Murray describe his reasons for still playing the 2016 launch version?

He described his reasons in a recent interview with GamesRadar+. In that interview he said he enjoys the launch version’s weird, esoteric, barebones charm and that it feels more like an indie, niche experience.

Answered

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