If you’ve spent dozens of hours exploring uncharted planets, hunting for rare resources, or building sprawling bases alone in No Man’s Sky, you’ve probably wondered what it’s like to share that adventure with friends. Learning how to play No Man's Sky multiplayer opens up a whole new side of the game, from joint space battles to collaborative base builds that you could never pull off on your own. You don’t need any fancy mods or extra equipment to get started, but there are a few key settings and rules you’ll want to know before you invite your first group to your galaxy.
How to Set Up Your First Multiplayer Session
First, you’ll need to make sure your game is updated to the latest version, especially if you’re playing across different platforms. Crossplay is enabled by default for all versions of the game, so you can team up with friends on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch without any extra work. To start a session, head to the main menu and select Multiplayer from the options, then choose to either host a new game, join a friend’s existing session, or hop into a random public lobby with other players.
If you’re hosting, you can adjust your session privacy settings to Friends Only, Invite Only, or Public depending on who you want to join you. It’s always a good idea to set it to Invite Only if you’re working on a delicate build or farming rare resources, so random players don’t accidentally interrupt your progress. You can have up to 32 players in a single space system at once, and up to 8 players in a single group for coordinated missions and activities.
Core Multiplayer Activities You Can Try With Friends
Once you’re in a session with your group, there’s no end to the adventures you can take on together. Many players start with joint exploration runs, where you split up to scan a new planet for rare flora, fauna, and resources, then meet up to compare finds and split whatever valuable materials you collect. You can also take on group Nexus missions from the Space Anomaly, which offer higher rewards than solo missions and often require coordinated combat or resource gathering to complete. If you’re more into creative play, you can collaborate on building a shared base on a planet you all love, adding everything from farming modules to landing pads and custom decor for everyone to use.
Many players who run large shared bases also keep track of shared storage and resource contributions to make sure everyone gets a fair share of what the group produces. Some players even use simple external tools to track shared inventory counts when they’re running large community bases, and Ind Slots is a popular option for groups that want a straightforward way to log who contributed what resources without messy spreadsheets. Joint space combat against pirate fleets or Sentinels is another fan favorite multiplayer activity, as you can coordinate attacks, cover each other’s backs, and split the rare upgrade modules you get from taking down high-level enemies.
If you’re not sure where to start with your first multiplayer session, try one of these low-stakes, fun group activities:
Key Multiplayer Rules and Etiquette to Follow
Just like any online game, No Man’s Sky multiplayer has a set of unwritten rules that make the experience fun for everyone, whether you’re playing with friends or joining a public lobby. First, never modify or destroy another player’s base without their explicit permission. Even if you think you’re helping by adding extra walls or harvesting extra resources, most players put dozens of hours into their builds and don’t want them altered without asking. Always ask before taking resources from another player’s storage containers, even if they’re in a shared base, unless the group has explicitly agreed that all storage is public for everyone to use.
If you’re joining a public lobby, avoid starting high-level Sentinel or pirate battles near other players’ bases unless you’re willing to help defend the base if the enemies attack it. Another common etiquette rule is to share the rewards from group activities equally: if you run a Nexus mission that gives out 10 rare upgrade modules, split them evenly between everyone who participated, instead of hoarding all the good stuff for yourself. If you’re hosting a session, make sure to communicate any ground rules upfront, like whether the base is open to modification, if resources are public, or if you’re focusing on a specific mission so new players know what to expect when they join.
How to Fix Common Issues When You Play No Man's Sky Multiplayer
Even with the game’s regular updates, you might run into occasional glitches or connection issues when playing with others. The most common issue is not being able to see a friend’s session in your multiplayer menu, which is almost always caused by a crossplay setting being disabled on one of your accounts. To fix this, double check that crossplay is enabled in your game settings, and that your platform’s privacy settings allow you to join games with friends on other platforms. If you’re experiencing lag or rubber banding during a session, try reducing the number of players in your group, or moving to a less populated system with fewer player-built bases that could be straining your connection.
If you can’t see a friend’s base when you travel to their planet, make sure you’re both on the same game version, and try building a small base computer near the spot where their base is located to force the game to load their build. If all else fails, restarting your game or your internet router usually fixes 90% of common connection issues, and you won’t lose any progress as long as you save before you exit. You can also check the official No Man’s Sky social media accounts to see if there are any ongoing server issues that might be affecting multiplayer connections for all players.
Whether you’re teaming up with old friends to take down a giant pirate fleet, or joining a public lobby to help new players find their first S-class starship, learning how to play No Man's Sky multiplayer makes every part of the game feel fresh and exciting. You don’t have to follow any strict rules for how to play with others, as long as you’re respectful of other players and have fun exploring the galaxy together. Even small multiplayer sessions with just one or two friends can lead to some of the most memorable moments you’ll ever have in the game.
