Just when you think Hello Games has explored every cosmic crevice in No Man’s Sky, they dig deeper—literally. The surprise launch of the Relics Update (version 5.6) marks one of the most imaginative shifts yet in the game’s ongoing evolution. Instead of scanning flora or photographing bizarre creatures, you’re now a space-bound Indiana Jones, brushing away the dust of millennia to uncover alien fossils, reassemble massive skeletons, and even build museums to showcase your finds. Welcome to the era of galactic paleontology.
Dig, Discover, Display: The New Fossil System
At the heart of the update is a detailed, procedurally generated fossil excavation system. With the Terrain Manipulator, players can now dig through planetary surfaces to uncover bone fragments from long-extinct alien species. Hello Games promises an incredible range of possibilities here, with hundreds of bone types spanning wildly different creature designs—some familiar, some grotesque, and others completely surreal. You’ll find remains from bizarre species like bogsnappers, warhounds, and the newly introduced and massive Titan Worm.
Once excavated, bones can be reassembled into full skeletons using a highly flexible crafting system. Hello Games boasts “millions of combinations,” allowing players to mix and match limbs, torsos, and skulls to create uniquely weird, terrifying, or awe-inspiring creatures. The system is more than just cosmetic: the rarity, completeness, and creativity of your skeletal reconstructions influence their value and appeal.
Fossil Economy & Space Museums
New to this update is the Fossil Collector, an NPC found at Space Stations who buys fully assembled fossils or trades individual bones. This opens up a brand-new economy centered around rare fossil hunting, fueling interstellar travel as players seek out specific biomes and planets rumored to hold valuable or exotic bones.
Even better: players can now curate personal museums using their collected skeletons. These creations can be stored in fused exhibit packages, allowing you to display them at your base, gift them to friends, or trade them for big Units.
The Relics Expedition: Limited-Time Prehistoric Adventure
Coinciding with the update’s release is the new Relics Expedition, a time-limited event that sends players on a grand tour of fossil-rich planets as part of the “Galactic Palaeontology Society.” This expedition offers unique rewards for participation, including:
- Skeletal Companion: A bony buddy to accompany your travels.
- Living Stone Hardpack: A sleek, fossil-themed jetpack.
- Full Living Stone Character Override: A skeletal visual transformation for your explorer.
As always with No Man’s Sky expeditions, these rewards are time-limited, but once unlocked, they’re permanently available to all your saves.
Not Just a Sandbox: New Dangers & Dynamic Challenges
Excavating fossils isn’t always safe work. Ancient burial grounds are protected by Reanimated Guardians—massive stone golems that lie dormant near bone caches. Wake one, and you’re in for a tough fight. These new enemies introduce a welcome risk/reward element, making fossil hunting more than just a grind for loot.
Additionally, the eerie purple star systems—first introduced in the Echoes update—are now crawling with bone-like alien lifeforms, further expanding the game’s horror-tinged biome variety. These regions, already mysterious, now serve as treasure troves for the most daring archaeologists.
QoL Updates, New Recipes, and Visual Upgrades
Beyond the big-ticket features, Relics adds a slew of enhancements that polish and enrich the experience:
- Water Physics Overhaul: Larger, more realistic waves and water interactions.
- Improved Atmospheric Effects: New visuals that enhance immersion.
- Expanded Journey Records: Additional lore entries for story-driven players.
- Abandoned Mode Overhaul: Derelict space stations now include working upgrade terminals and rare salvage boxes.
- Bone-Based Recipes: Use your fossils in the Nutrient Processor to cook eerie dishes with stat boosts or Cronus offerings.
- Refined UI and Storage Access: Including long-requested cooking storage access and museum-grade exhibit tools.
There’s also a welcome reduction in settlement attacks, which should make base-building more peaceful across the galaxy.
Hello Games’ Relentless Evolution
Since its rocky 2016 launch, No Man’s Sky has undergone one of the most dramatic turnarounds in gaming history. From underwater cities to living ships, musical composition tools, and now fossil archaeology, Hello Games continues to roll out free, substantial content that redefines what the game is.
The Relics Update isn’t just a content drop—it’s a thematic shift. By diving into alien prehistory, it adds lore, creativity, and a surprisingly touching sense of wonder to the galaxy. Whether you’re assembling your first skeleton or defending your dig site from a stone titan, there’s never been a better time to explore the universe.
So, grab your brush, load up the Terrain Manipulator, and start digging. The galaxy’s forgotten past is waiting to be uncovered.
