Highlights
- Hello Games’ next project, Light No Fire, aims to give players an Earth-sized fantasy planet to shape, but skepticism remains after the rocky release of No Man’s Sky.
- No Man’s Sky suffered from over-promising and under-delivering at launch, but the studio has since improved the game through updates, making it a fantastic sci-fi experience.
- Players may be hesitant to trust Hello Games again and may need more convincing before jumping on board with Light No Fire, especially if the studio over-promises once more.
After spending seven years steadily improving No Man’s Sky, Hello Games has revealed its next ambitious project, Light No Fire. Instead of giving players a vast galaxy to explore, Light No Fire wants to give them an Earth-sized fantasy planet to bend to their liking. While the studio has not shown much, the initial reveal trailer holds some promise. However, Hello Games may have a lot to prove before fans are willing to give this one a shot.
Already, it seems like Hello Games may be repeating some of the mistakes it made leading up to the release of No Man’s Sky. That game is famous for over-promising and under-delivering upon release, but with years of updates it has become a fantastic sci-fi experience. As of now, the studio is once again promising the world, yet players are a bit more skeptical this time around. They are seemingly skeptical of the entire project, which could put Light No Fire in a bit of a tough spot as its release date eventually rolls around.
Light No Fire’s Ambition is on Par with No Man’s Sky, And That’s a Double-Edged Sword
Hello Games’ newly announced title Light No Fire is even more ambitious than No Man’s Sky, and it could end up cutting both ways.
Light No Fire May Pay For the Missteps of No Man’s Sky
No Man’s Sky Failed to Deliver at Launch
Leading up to release, No Man’s Sky was supposed to change gaming forever, or at least that is what it felt like. It was one of the most highly anticipated games of 2016 and even had the backing of Sony Interactive Entertainment. Everything about the game’s pre-release footage looked exactly like what sci-fi fans had been wanting for years, with the studio’s marketing promising a virtually limitless universe to explore. This helped it become one of the most hyped indie titles in history. However, that all came crashing down once it finally hit store shelves.
After years of hype, the game was finally released, and it left much to be desired. While there was a massive universe to explore, there was not really anything to do in said galaxy. Not only was No Man’s Sky lacking content, but it was also marred by technical difficulties and lacked the multiplayer mode that was promised. Because of this, the community reacted negatively, with many feeling like they were led astray by No Man’s Sky‘s marketing campaign.
Since release, No Man’s Sky has been vastly improved by consistent updates. Many of the promised features have finally been added to the game, and the studio has even taken it a step further by adding a slew of other changes. All of this has helped make it an amazing sci-fi adventure, but that release state will not be forgotten anytime soon, which could affect Light No Fire.
Hello Games May Be Over-Promising Again
Light No Fire will be taking the No Man’s Sky template but putting the focus on one planet rather than a limitless universe. Hello Games is already promising a true open-world adventure with a scale that has never been attempted before, so many things waiting to be discovered, and the ability to build communities with players from across the globe. This all sounds super intriguing, but players have been here before.
Just like with No Man’s Sky before it, Light No Fire‘s marketing campaign has already begun making this title sound truly game-changing. While that could very well be the case, players may be treading a bit more carefully this time around. They have already been burnt once by a Hello Games title, so they will likely not want to be burnt a second time. Even if the studio is committed to making it the best that it can be, it may be hard to get players on board right away.
Unlike No Man’s Sky, players may need a bit more convincing this time around. Unless the trailers really blow them away, there will probably be more players waiting to see what the launch state actually looks like before jumping on. And if Hello Games is not careful, then it may over-promise yet again. It may be too early to say if any of this is true, but players have been down this road before, so they may be a bit less forgiving this time around.
No Man’s Sky
No Man’s Sky is a space exploration game that is procedurally generated. After a rocky launch, develop Hello Games has spent years adding and adjusting the game to make it the arguable masterpiece it is today.
- Released
- August 9, 2016
- Genre(s)
- Adventure , Action , Survival
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Fantasy Violence, Animated Blood
- Metascore
- 82
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
- Engine
- Proprietary
- How Long To Beat
- 30 Hours
- X|S Enhanced
- Yes
- File Size Xbox Series
- 13 GB (April 2022)
- Platforms That Support Crossplay
- PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
