Hello Games has announced that the iOS (iPhone/iPad) version of the open-world space survival game *No Man's Sky* will be released on October 29, 2026, Japan Standard Time.
A version featuring all content up to the latest “COSMOS” update is coming to mobile!
This romantic sandbox survival game, in which players explore a procedurally generated universe, was originally released for PC and PS4 in 2016. It has since been ported to various platforms, and a 10th-anniversary update was released in September 2026.
However, a mobile version had not been released until now.
Regarding the announcement of this iOS version, studio founder Sean Murray revealed that it was sparked by a technical challenge that arose within the development team immediately after the announcement of the Mac version (scheduled for release in 2023): “Couldn’t we make this run on an iPhone too?”
Just as with the VR and Nintendo Switch versions, development of the iOS version began as a challenge to overcome a technical hurdle that seemed impossible at first glance.
The iOS version is not a so-called “Lite version” with stripped-down features, but rather a version that includes all major updates released to date—more than 40 in total. The development team stated, “We didn’t just phone it in!”
It includes everything from the 2025 major update “Voyagers”—which enabled the construction of large spaceships and saw player numbers reach their highest levels since launch—to the contents of the most recent update, “COSMOS,” released just recently.
Regarding differences in features compared to the PC and console versions, just as with the Nintendo Switch version at launch, the iOS version will not support multiplayer or planetary settlement features on its first day of release.
However, just as we expanded the Nintendo Switch version based on player feedback and evolved it into the Switch 2 version, we plan to provide future support for the iOS version based on player numbers and feedback.
Compatible with a Wide Range of Devices! Under 5GB in Size with Dedicated Touch Controls
The iOS version is not limited to the latest high-end devices; it has been optimized to run on a wide range of devices, including iPhone 11 and later models, as well as the 3rd-generation iPad Air (both released in 2019) and later.
While generating the universe in real time on the device is challenging, this approach has its advantages: the iOS version’s file size is less than 5GB. Furthermore, the development team has focused on thermal design—including measures to manage battery consumption and heat generation—enabling comfortable, extended exploration even in mobile environments.
In terms of controls, the touch control system has been completely rebuilt from the ground up to allow for intuitive movement across planets, spaceship flight, inventory management, and crafting. In addition to touch controls, the game supports various controllers and screen casting to a TV; the iPad version also supports mouse and keyboard controls.
The iOS version of *No Man’s Sky*—a game whose spirit of challenge is nothing short of “cosmic”—is scheduled for release on October 29 for iPhone (iPhone 11 and later) and iPad (3rd-generation iPad Air and later). It will be available on the App Store, where you can play the opening portion of the game for free. Unlocking the full game costs 3,000 yen.
*UPDATE (October 13, 2026, 12:38 a.m.): The store page has been published, so we’ve updated the information.
