No Man's Sky Becomes Pokémon in Latest Free Game-Changing Update on PS5, PS4 1

Where the heck could No Man's Sky possibly go after almost 10 years of massive post-launch updates? Turns out the answer is Pokémon.

Available starting today with the latest game update, No Man's Sky introduces the ability to raise alien creatures and battle them in the new Xeno Arena:

All that weird and wonderful fauna you've discovered during your intergalactic travels can now be collected and trained up to face off against creatures from other players, as well as NPCs.

Following this update, there will be Xeno Arenas in every space station and in the Nexus, and if you have the resources you can build one yourself and invite others to join you for battles.

Every creature has been assigned various abilities and attacks based on their elemental affinities. These elements are based on their habitat and characteristics. "A blob creature evolved on a toxic planet has different abilities to a flying dino born on a frozen moon," reads the press release's example.

You can not only raise your alien companions, but also breed them and even genetically modify them to create variants and different colours. You'll have to feed, bond, and battle with them in order to raise their abilities.

It's yet another significant update to what is already a sprawling sci-fi exploration game.

"We are huge fans of Pokémon, Palworld and pet battling in World of Warcraft. Now when discovering a rare robotic creature in a far flung purple system planet, you can check their abilities, and for instance discover a powerful neutron blast attack. Suddenly it brings a new dimension to exploration. Rare creatures and beautiful pets become something exciting to show off in the Arena." — Sean Murray

The free update is available now, and you can check out the full patch notes through the link. Are you interested in the Xeno Arena update? Tell us in the comments section below.