Skip to main content

No PlayStation Plus? No problem: ‘No Man’s Sky’ doesn’t need it

The launch of the PlayStation 4 in late 2013 brought with it a noticeable change to Sony’s business model. While the company had previously offered online play on its platforms for free — in contrast to the $50 and $60 subscriptions required to play on Xbox Live — PlayStation 4 users must have a PlayStation Plus membership to play just about any game online. The key phrase is “just about,” as one of the most anticipated games of the year, No Man’s Sky, will not require the service.

Speaking to Game Informer, a Sony representative revealed that a PlayStation Plus membership would not be necessary to play No Man’s Sky online, adding that an internet connection would still be necessary “for your discoveries to register with the universal atlas.”

What’s still not clear, however, is how Hello Games managed to fit the entire game onto just a 6GB disc, especially considering that managing director Sean Murray said that most of that space is reserved for audio. We suspect that the file size could balloon once the game actually launches, and will likely take up much more than 6GB if it’s true that the majority of the game is available offline. Those 16 quintillion planets have to get stored somewhere.

We’ve reached out to Hello Games regarding the limitations of an offline mode and will update this piece when we receive an answer.

This information is all based on the presumption that No Man’s Sky actually makes it to store shelves, however. A disagreement surrounding the studio’s use of a patented “Superformula,” which was allegedly utilized for the game’s randomly-generated universe, has a small chance of delaying the project yet again. But with so little time remaining until its release date, we fully expect to play it on August 9 when it launches on PlayStation 4 and PC.

Editors' Recommendations

Gabe Gurwin
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Gabe Gurwin has been playing games since 1997, beginning with the N64 and the Super Nintendo. He began his journalism career…
PlayStation Backbone controller gets an Android version ahead of PlayStation Showcase
A person sits on a bench with Backbone One - PlayStation Edition for Android.

A new Android version of the Backbone One -- PlayStation Edition is now available. The mobile controller brings the aesthetic of Sony's DualSense to Android phones.

Backbone One -- PlayStation Edition, a mobile gaming controller that copies the aesthetics of the PS5's DualSense, was first revealed and released in July 2022. At the time, though, only an iOS-compatible version of the mobile gaming controller was available. Now, Android users can pick up a version of the PS Backbone One that works with their phones. As its appearance and functionality are almost identical to the iOS version in almost every way, it's no surprise that the Backbone One -- PlayStation Edition for Android also costs $99.

Read more
PlayStation reveals new features and UI for its PS5 Access Controller
Sony's Project Leonardo controller sits on a table.

Sony revealed new details about its PlayStation 5 accessibility controller, which has been renamed from Project Leonardo to the Access Controller. A new blog post details what comes with the controller and offers a glimpse at the UI interface that players will use to customize it on the PS5.

Sony surprise revealed its "Project Leonardo" at CES earlier this year (Digital Trends named it the best gaming tech of the show). The circular pad features a unique design meant to make it easier for people with disabilities to customize controls to their needs. While it still doesn't have a price or release date, Sony has opened a new website for its newly renamed Access Controller and shared new details on it.

Read more
I miss the golden age of oddball, first-party PlayStation exclusives
gamescom 2012 ps vita announcements playstation tearaway media molecule

While PlayStation continues to thrive thanks to big-budget games like God of War Ragnarok, two recent events show how much Sony's video game brand is changing. The first came when the Sony-owned studio Media Molecule would end support for Dreams, a PS4-exclusive experience creation tool allowing players to build and share games with one another, later this year.

Shortly after that news, PixelOpus -- another Sony-owned studio -- announced it would be shutting down on June 2 after publishing just two titles: Entrwined in 2014 and Concrete Genie in 2019. In its tweet, PixelOpus stated "Dear friends, our PixelOpus adventure has come to an end. As we look to new futures, we wanted to say a heartfelt thank you to the millions of passionate players who have supported us, and our mission to make beautiful, imaginative games with heart. We are so grateful!"

Read more