If you’ve just picked up a copy of No Man’s Sky for your PS4 or PS5, one of the first questions you’re probably asking is do you need PlayStation Plus for No Man’s Sky to get the most out of the game. I’ve been playing NMS on PlayStation since its rocky 2016 launch, and I’ve tested every mode both with and without an active PS Plus subscription, so I can break down exactly what you get access to in both scenarios. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer here, but by the end of this post you’ll know exactly if paying for the subscription is worth it for how you like to play space exploration games.
Do You Need PlayStation Plus for No Man’s Sky Single-Player Play?
The short answer here is no, you don’t need a PS Plus subscription to enjoy all core single-player features of No Man’s Sky. You can play the entire main Artemis storyline, build custom bases across dozens of planets, collect and upgrade hundreds of ships, unlock all Exocraft and multi-tool variants, and explore 18 quintillion procedurally generated planets completely offline, no subscription required. I spent my first 60 hours of NMS playing offline on a PS4 without PS Plus, and I unlocked every core gameplay feature, built a 12-base network across 3 star systems, and completed all side missions without ever connecting to PSN.
A lot of players worry they’ll miss out on major content drops without a subscription, but you don’t need PS Plus to download game updates or new content drops. All of Hello Games’ free major updates, including the recent Worlds Part 1 and 2 overhauls, are available to all PlayStation NMS owners regardless of subscription status, as long as you have a basic internet connection to download the update files. The only small single-player feature you’ll miss without PS Plus is seeing community-built structures in shared star systems, but these are entirely optional and don’t impact core gameplay at all.
Features That Require an Active PlayStation Plus Subscription
While single-player is fully accessible without a subscription, there are a handful of online, community-focused features that require PS Plus to use. A lot of players assume that all online features require the subscription, but the only times you need PlayStation Plus for No Man's Sky access is for the shared server features we listed below:
- Co-op and PvP multiplayer: You can’t join friends’ sessions, invite other players to your base, or take part in open world random player encounters without PS Plus. This includes crossplay sessions with players on Xbox, PC, and Switch too, even if your friend is playing on a platform that doesn’t require a paid online subscription.
- Expedition events: These limited-time seasonal events let you earn exclusive cosmetic rewards, ship skins, base decorations, and quality of life upgrades that aren’t available in regular play. All Expeditions run on shared community servers, so you need PS Plus to participate even if you plan to play the Expedition mode completely solo.
- Community base and building sharing: Want to upload your custom megabase for other players to visit, or explore viral community builds like full-scale replica Star Destroyers or planet-wide farm networks? You’ll need PS Plus to access the shared building gallery and upload your own creations for other players to find.
- The Nexus shared hub: The Nexus is the in-game multiplayer space station where you can pick up shared community missions, trade rare resources with other players, and join random co-op groups for high-reward missions like frigate raids or sentinel planet rescue ops. It’s completely locked off for players without an active PS Plus subscription.
I missed out on the first 3 Expedition events when I didn’t have PS Plus, and I still regret it because some of the exotic ship skins from those runs have never been re-released. If you’re someone who cares about limited-time exclusive content, that’s a big reason to consider picking up a subscription, even if it’s just for the month that an Expedition is running. Also, you only need the base PS Plus Essential tier to access all of these features, you don’t need the more expensive Extra or Premium tiers for any No Man’s Sky content.
Is PlayStation Plus Worth It for Casual No Man’s Sky Players?
If you only play NMS a few hours a week, or only play when you have free time between other games, the value of PS Plus depends entirely on what you want to get out of the game. If you only play single player, and don’t care about sharing builds or playing with friends, then PS Plus is a total waste of money for your NMS play. You get 90% of the game’s content without it, and there’s no pressure to sign up just to enjoy exploring the galaxy on your own.
But if you have friends who play NMS, even if you only join them once every couple of weeks for a base building session, it might be worth picking up a 1-month subscription every few months to play together. I do this sometimes when my friend group plans a weekend of exploring uncharted planets together, and it’s way cheaper than paying for a full year of subscription when I don’t use it for other online games. Also, if you already have PS Plus for other online games like Call of Duty or Fortnite, you don’t need to pay anything extra to access all NMS online features. There are no separate in-game purchases required for multiplayer or Expeditions, all of that content is included with the base game as long as you have your PS Plus subscription active.
Workarounds If You Don’t Want to Pay for PlayStation Plus
If you want to access some of the online features without paying for a full PS Plus subscription, there are a few legitimate workarounds you can try, depending on your situation. First, look for free PS Plus trial periods that Sony runs every few months, usually around holiday periods or big PlayStation State of Play events. I once got a 7-day free trial right when a new Expedition launched, and I was able to complete the entire event in that week without paying a cent, and kept all the exclusive rewards permanently on my save file.
Second, if you share your PlayStation console with other people in your household, you can use the console sharing feature to share one PS Plus subscription across all accounts on the same device. That means if your roommate or family member has PS Plus on their account, you can access all online NMS features on your own save file without paying for your own separate subscription. Third, never buy a PS Plus subscription at full price if you can wait for a sale, Sony runs discounts on the service at least 3 times a year, including Black Friday, summer sales, and PlayStation anniversary events, where you can get 12-month Essential subscriptions for up to 50% off. If you only need PS Plus for NMS, you can also buy a 1-month subscription for just a few dollars whenever a new Expedition launches, instead of paying for a full year of service you won’t use.
At the end of the day, the answer to do you need PlayStation Plus for No Man’s Sky depends entirely on how you prefer to play the game. If you’re a solo player who just wants to explore the galaxy, build bases, and finish the story at your own pace, you can skip the subscription entirely and still have hundreds of hours of fun. If you want to play with friends, take part in limited-time Expeditions, or share your creations with the wider NMS community, you’ll need an active PS Plus Essential tier subscription to access those features. There’s no wrong choice here, just pick the option that fits your playstyle and budget, and you’ll have a great time exploring the infinite universe of No Man’s Sky.
