No Man’s Sky comes to iPhone and iPad in late October
The full space game launches on 28 October with touch controls, but without multiplayer at first.
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Hello Games is releasing No Man’s Sky for iPhone and iPad on 28 October. The mobile version includes the major expansions of the past ten years, but has some technical limitations compared with the PC and console versions.
The announcement was made on Monday during Apple’s Indie Games Week. No Man’s Sky can now be pre-ordered from the App Store. At launch, players can first try part of the game for free and then unlock the full version.
According to Hello Games, this is not a cut-down mobile variant. The developer says the iOS version contains the complete game world, with more than forty major content updates. The latest expansion, Cosmos, is part of the package.
The game uses a procedurally generated universe. Planets, creatures and environments are built during play, rather than being fully stored on the device in advance. As a result, the download remains smaller than four gigabytes, according to the developer, while players still gain access to a very large game world.
The mobile version runs on the iPhone 11 and later, and on the third-generation iPad Air and later. The new touch controls have been redesigned for walking, flying, vehicles and inventory management. The iPad also supports a mouse and keyboard. Players can additionally use compatible controllers.
There are limitations, however. Multiplayer is not supported at launch. Certain features, including planetary settlements, are available only on iPhones from the iPhone 15 Pro onwards, according to Hello Games. The studio says further support will depend on players’ interest and feedback.
The move to mobile devices is technically interesting because No Man’s Sky was originally developed for PCs and game consoles. The game normally requires considerable processing power to load worlds, vehicles and large objects. Hello Games therefore says it has paid extra attention to battery consumption and heat generation.
The release fits with Apple’s attempt to make major independent games more visible in the App Store. For Hello Games, it is also a new test: not only whether the game can run technically on older iPhones, but also whether a complex space game remains enjoyable to play with touch controls.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The announcement and technical specifications come from primary sources. The possible consequences for the market and the playing experience are presented as expectations or uncertainties.
- confirmed No Man’s Sky will be released for iPhone and iPad on 28 October 2026. — Apple and Hello Games give the same release date. source
- confirmed The game contains more than forty major updates. — This is stated in Hello Games’ announcement. source
- confirmed Multiplayer is not supported at launch. — Hello Games explicitly identifies this as a limitation of the iOS version. source
Editor's note
The release date, system requirements and technical limitations have been confirmed by Apple, Hello Games and the App Store. The final performance and playing experience have not yet been independently tested.Sources
- No Man’s Sky: iOS — Hello Games
- App Store Indie Games Week kicks off today — Apple
- No Man’s Sky — App Store
More on this in Dutch media
- de Volkskrant — „no man’s sky”
- NOS — „no man’s sky”
- Het Parool — „no man’s sky”