No Man’s Sky Xeno Arena Update Available Now

Hello Games has released a new update for No Man’s Sky, titled the “Xeno Arena” update. It is is available on PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, and PC.

The update primarily adds the ability to make digital creatures fight in turn-based combat. There are dozens of collectible aliens, battle abilities, and challenges for players to sink their teeth into. Check out the trailer for the “Xeno Arena” No Man’s Sky update below:

The patch notes for the update are as follows:

Creature Battles

Adopt the wild fauna roaming planetary landscapes, and assemble them into battle teams to fight in simulated combat. Each creature has a unique set of battle moves, ranging from straightforward attacks to powerful status effects, and will perform differently based on their personality, battle traits, and physical characteristics.

Hundreds of Battle Abilities

The species and native climate of a creature will shape its catalogue of battle abilities. Deal devastating attacks, heal away injuries, cripple your opponents or morph them into vulnerable forms, augment your combat effectiveness and more!

Morphogenetics

Earn experience through battle to unlock genetic mutations for your creatures. Veteran battlers have the opportunity to enhance their likelihood of moving first and dodging incoming attacks, to increase their durability in battle, and to upgrade the overall effectiveness of all their combat abilities.

Challenge Other Players

Visit the station between realities – the Space Anomaly – to meet other Travellers and face off in a creature battle. Knock out their entire team to win!

Holo-Arena Tables

Beloved creature companions can engage in safe holographic combat against other creatures at Holo-Arena tables, now found at planetary buildings, space stations, some planetary settlements, and aboard the Space Anomaly.

A New Traveller Arrives

Iteration: Oceanus, the collector, has made the Space Anomaly their new home. They eagerly await the company of fellow creature collectors, hoping to share their enthusiasm for games and strategy.

Refine Your Tactics

Amass a broad array of creatures to form battle teams for any tactical situation. Inspect the strengths and weaknesses of the opposing team, and deploy your creatures wisely. Fire-based companions may excel against frozen creatures, but find themselves vulnerable to radioactive attacks. There are 8 affinities to learn; experiment to discover your favourite synergies!

Breed Prize Battlers

Create a legacy of champions. Enhance and modify the offspring of your creatures using the Egg Sequencer aboard the Space Anomaly. Their personalities will influence their behaviour in battle, while physical characteristics such as size may influence their durability and how easy they are to target.

Arena League Medals

A new faction has been added to the Catalogue & Guide: The Arena League. Achieve excellence in battle and breeding to rise through the ranks.

Expanded Companion Register

The maximum number of tamed creatures has been increased from 18 to 30. Collect a wider range of fauna as you explore the universe, for both companionship and battle!

Battle Alien Lifeforms

Gek, Vy’keen and Korvax Arena League players can be found at planetary buildings all across the galaxies – and more challenging system champions will play at space stations. Alien players will form their battle teams from locally-sourced fauna. Discover local creatures to help inform your strategy!

Creature Survey Mode

Hunt for new companions with the specialised creature survey mode in the Analysis Visor. In addition to species information, this mode displays the potential battle traits of wild animals.

Daily Challenges

Each day, Oceanus challenges Travellers to a unique daily battle, the same battle for Travellers the world over. Oceanus is a formidable opponent, so be prepared to discuss strategies and lineups with other players.

Guidance Missions

As you work your way through the Arena League ranks, pin medals to access step-by-step guidance from the Mission Log.

Play and Ascend

Claim victory in Creature Battles, and be invited to play against a range of challenging opponents. Earn nanites to accelerate your journey, and gene-altering retroviral pellets to more efficiently upgrade the battle traits of creature companions.

Titles For Battle Achievements

Exceptional players in the Arena League can display their status with an all-new set of titles.

Unique Companion Prizes

Impress Iteration: Oceanus with accomplishments in the Arena League to qualify for their collection of strange creatures. Included in their eccentric menagerie are the Corrupted Quadruped, Geno-Prawn, Wandering Shrimp Tank, Boundary Horror, and Aeron Crab.