Do you want to know how No Man's Sky multiplayer works? This astronomical space adventure game has endless interstellar systems to explore. You will encounter wildlife, space pirates, new plants, and more, and you may want to play with other space explorers and build a team. You can also explore various systems or get into epic space dogfights. However, this can be overwhelming or lonely as there are endless planets for you to see and explore.
Although you can explore solo in No Man's Sky, attacking bases, collecting resources, or warding off Sentinels is much easier with a team. If you want to explore with groups, consider inviting or teaming up with a friend to explore space through multiplayer co-op. Having someone by your side during an intergalactic spaceship battle is always a good idea.
Read on to learn everything you need to know about playing No Man's Sky in co-op! We'll also tell you if the game is crossplay, how to join friends, and more.
Check out some more guides to help you travel the galaxy in No Man's Sky! Here's where to find Tritium, and Paraffinium, and how to increase your ship's storage.
How to play No Man's Sky multiplayer
To play multiplayer co-op in No Man's Sky with a friend, you must join their game directly or let them join yours.
You must ensure that you're online; just head to the "Options" tab in the main menu and click the "Network."
Then, you can adjust your game's settings and invite other players to play.
- Select 'View No Man's Sky Friend List' to view your friends.
- Invite whomever you wish from the list.
If you're playing on a console, your console friends will also be available to invite, and so forth.
If you want to invite someone not already on your friend's list:
- Simply select 'View No Man's Sky Friend Code' to reveal your unique friend code.
- Give this to a friend so they can add you, or alternatively select 'Add No Man's Sky Friend' to input their code and add them.
- Once this has been done, no accepting or declining friends is necessary.
- You will then be able to join each other's games and play co-op together.
To get the best experience, you'll need to join the same mode, otherwise you'll be nothing more than a "guest" and be locked out of some key features while wandering around with a friend. The modes available are:
- Normal
- Survival
- Permadeath
- Creative
Can you play the No Man's Sky story in co-op?
Sadly there is no way to play the campaign of No Man's Sky alongside a friend. Despite the constant updates the dev team has made to make the game the closest it can be to the initial promises made all the way back in 2016, you'll need to play solo to experience the story.
Is there split screen or local co-op in No Man's Sky?
Once again, we're sorry to disappoint and say that no, No Man's Sky features no split screen or couch co-op of any kind, meaning each player has to be in their own console and logged in within the game to meet other friends online.
Is there crossplay in No Man's Sky?
Crossplay is a key component if you want to enjoy No Man's Sky co-op. Yes, the game has crossplay enabled by default, meaning there's no convoluted process to activate it.
Crossplay works with those playing No Man's Sky on the following platforms:
- PlayStation 4
- PlayStation 5
- Xbox One
- Xbox Series S/X
- PC
- MacOS
- Nintendo Switch
What can you do in No Man's Sky multiplayer?
While you can't play the story with a friend, No Man's Sky offers plenty of activities to kill some time while exploring the vastness of space. Some of these are:
- Create race tracks
- Trade items and resources
- Do co-op expeditions
- Share a base
You'll also want to know more about The Nexus and multiplayer missions!
The Space Anomaly and multiplayer missions
The Space Anomaly features the Nexus system, which is a multiplayer hub for players seeking to play co-op. Similarly to a Space Station, you can use vendors and go on missions in this system. The Nexus also allows you to interact with real players who are currently in your instance of the game. There are limitations on how many players can be in your instance at once, but you'll be able to find dozens of players at the same time if you're lucky enough.
- Read more: How to get Pugneum in No Man's Sky
The Space Anomaly does need to be unlocked before the Nexus can be accessed, and this will take approximately 5-6 hours of following the main quest line, Awakenings.
After encountering the Anomaly, you must investigate various signals and go to coordinates around the system before ultimately unlocking the Space Anomaly. Once you have unlocked the multiplayer area, you can access it from any interstellar system you're in. It should be noted that you and your friends can find each other here even if you're not in the same party. However, the chances of this are rare, as all of you would need to be in the same game instance.
In the Space Anomaly, you can then participate in multiplayer co-op missions by visiting the Job Board. You'll then be able to select whether you want to play in a public or private party and choose the type of activity you want for the mission. Once the mission is set up, you and your friends are good to go and continue exploring space and reaping rewards for doing so.
For more on No Man's Sky, check out our general tips and tricks and how to get a pet companion to accompany you when a friend isn't available.