Hello Games has announced and released yet another update for No Man’s Sky, the appropriately timed 5.2 update “The Cursed” just in time for Halloween.

The sixteenth major update for the game, The Cursed, will have players battling against collapsing and alternate realities from an eerie twilight zone. There’s an all-new saucer-esque Boundary Herald Starship, new exclusive limited-time rewards, and more.

Here’s a rundown on the update, plus a new trailer:

Today, we are announcing expedition sixteen: The Cursed – where players will fight to keep a grip on reality while haunted by visions and voices from another dimension.

The Cursed takes place in a sort of twilight realm, straddling the boundary between one reality and the next.

Travellers will not have access to hyperdrive technology, meaning no warping between star systems. Instead, interstellar travel can only take place via the ancient portal network.

Haunting voices, leaking through from another dimension, will provide guidance, information, strange blueprints… and mystery. It is up to you to decide who these voices belong to, where they are coming from, and if they are to be trusted.

In regular No Man’s Sky play, Travellers must steel themselves against a variety of environmental hazards such as extreme temperatures, radioactivity, and toxic atmospheres. The Cursed, however, pits you against a single, more insidious threat: the weakening of the boundaries of reality. Your exosuit comes fitted with a specialised Anomaly Suppressor; maintain it to stay firmly in this reality.

Spectral anomalies – ghostly creatures drifting across the boundaries – will gather to watch Travellers moving through their domain. Most of the time, they are simply there to observe, but be warned: as your suit’s Anomaly Suppressor weakens, time will begin to behave in non-linear ways, and these anomalies may turn hostile.

Travellers will need to prepare a number of otherworldly concoctions to navigate through The Cursed. Sustain boundary strength with the Elixir of Glass, reveal the location of portals with the Elixir of Quicksilver, and prise open the gateways with the Elixir of Blood. For those that reach the end of the journey, its final trial will require a drink from the Elixir of Water – and the consequences thereafter.

The Cursed expedition begins today, and will run for approximately two weeks. Travel beyond the boundaries, and fortify your mind against spectral anomalies – or succumb to the call of the world of glass.

The Cursed Expedition Rewards

• Boundary Anomaly, Portal Breach and Glyph Posters – Remember your journey across the boundaries with these decorative posters: warnings to all those who would venture into the tunnels of the portal network.
• Anomaly Seal Base Part – During The Cursed, the spectral energy radiating from this ancient artifact protects nearby entities against catastrophic reality breaches. In a more stable universe, the Anomaly Seal serves as a decorative souvenir from beyond the boundaries.
• Ink-Stained Jetpack Trail – An exclusive jetpack customisation. A localised anomaly within the jetpack’s core allows the spectral afterglow of the boundary horrors to leak across into this reality.
• Boundary Horror Mandibles – An exclusive Exosuit Appearance Override. Transform your facade into that of a Boundary Horror, a fragment of what dwells beyond the tunnels of the portal network…
• Bioluminescent Companion – The egg of a gelatinous and luminescent lifeform. This unusual companion creature is lit by a haunting pale glow.
• Boundary Herald Starship – Retrieve this exclusive starship from the reality collapse, and slice through the skies in UFO-like style.
• Community Research – The Quicksilver Synthesis Companion’s latest research endeavour is a set of Blue, Purple and Teal fireworks, which burst into a cluster of wildly spiralling ribbons upon launch. Every mission completed at the Nexus contributes towards the research progress for these exotic items.
• Community Spotlight – u/Johnnyoneshot made this cool experimental Multi-Tool! u/InigoMToya has been sharing a series of these lovely illustrated personal logs. This fishing-inspired comic from u/Imphead9 made us chuckle! Finally, some beautiful in-game photography from Lewozz, Mughragh, pulsarbmx and Dinginator08.
• Development Update – The Cursed expedition is our sixth named update for 2024, following Omega, Orbital, Adrift, Worlds Part I, and Aquarius. It has been a busy year so far! It’s incredible to think that only a few weeks ago, fishing didn’t exist in No Man’s Sky. We are continuing to build our universe, and have so much more in store.

No Man’s Sky has been available for Windows PC (via Steam), Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5.