The 7th anniversary of No Man’s Sky was marked by the introduction of a major Echoes update, bringing a significant revamp to space combat and the inclusion of foveated rendering for PSVR 2 users.

Echoes represents the 26th named update for No Man’s Sky, which initially launched in 2016 and received, at best, mixed reviews. The game incorporated support for SteamVR and PlayStation VR in 2019 and took its place as a launch title for PlayStation VR2 earlier this year.

No Man's Sky Update
No Man’s Sky Update

Certain reviews have depicted it as presenting an effectively boundless, limitless universe for exploration, accompanied by a scale that’s exceptionally challenging to replicate in virtual reality. This is made possible through its procedurally generated planets, vast stretches of space, and inclusion of multiplayer functionality.

Early this year, the Interceptor update brought enhancements to the wrist interface controls within the VR experience, along with a commitment to deliver “significant improvement to image quality” specifically for PSVR 2. However, the recently introduced Echoes update takes this progress a step further by introducing foveated rendering support for PSVR 2, in addition to implementing “significant rendering optimizations” applicable across all virtual reality headsets.

Foveated rendering is a method that focuses on rendering solely the part of the screen currently under your gaze at full resolution. This approach enhances performance as the remaining portions of the image are displayed at a lower resolution. This surplus of GPU resources can then be harnessed to enhance overall performance, heighten the resolution of the central focal point, or improve graphic settings. The technique leverages the biological fact that our visual acuity is most acute in the central region of the retina known as the fovea.

Hello Games, the developer, asserts that due to foveated rendering and recent optimizations, there has been a comprehensive enhancement in rendering quality, stability, and overall performance on PSVR 2.

In terms of gameplay, the Echoes update centers around space combat. Players are now able to allocate power to engines, shields, or weapons. Additionally, the introduction of colossal Pirate Dreadnoughts aims to introduce “huge space battles” into the game. Players are tasked with safeguarding fleets against pirates, executing shield-sabotaging maneuvers by navigating through enemy trenches, and ultimately obliterating their adversaries.

The Echoes update also unveils a previously concealed race of robots. Engaging in robotic missions grants mechanical components that can be used for enhancing your personal robotic avatar. Among the significant alterations is the inclusion of the ability for Travelers to explore, trade, and dismantle weapons in order to become ‘multi-tool scrap merchants.’

The Echoes update for No Man’s Sky is currently accessible on all compatible platforms, encompassing SteamVR and PlayStation VR2.

https://virtualrealitytimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/No-Mans-Sky-Update-600x334.pnghttps://virtualrealitytimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/No-Mans-Sky-Update-150x90.pngRob GrantGamingTechnologyThe 7th anniversary of No Man's Sky was marked by the introduction of a major Echoes update, bringing a significant revamp to space combat and the inclusion of foveated rendering for PSVR 2 users. Echoes represents the 26th named update for No Man's Sky, which initially launched in 2016 and...VR, Oculus Rift, and Metaverse News - Cryptocurrency, Adult, Sex, Porn, XXX