Creatures, do you want to live forever? No Man's Sky: Xeno Arena – Update 6.3 brings turn-based creature battles

Yet another ton of free content. With the free 6.3 “Xeno Arena” update, No Man's Sky is getting a completely new tactical gameplay system: turn-based battles with your tamed animal companions.

Sandbox games within a sandbox game: Hello Games is stepping it up once again with No Man's Sky. With the free Xeno Arena update (Version 6.3), a complete turn-based combat system is making its way into the Traveler's universe. Those who have so far only taken their animal companions along for cuddles can now turn them into real fighting machines and have them battle each other at Holo-tables. But Patch 6.3 has even more up its sleeve.

Get ready for a beating in the Holo-Arena

At the heart of the No Man’s Sky update are the new Holo Arena tables, which you’ll find in planetary buildings, space stations, settlements, and aboard the Space Anomaly. There, you’ll pit your tamed creatures against alien species or other players—all beautifully simulated in holograms, so no one gets hurt. Each creature brings its own set of combat abilities, which depend on its species and native environment: attacks, healing, status effects, shields—the tactical repertoire is quite extensive. Eight different affinities determine strengths and weaknesses. For example, fire-based companions have an advantage over ice creatures but fare worse against radioactive opponents.

Breed, Upgrade, Dominate

By winning battles, your creatures in No Man's Sky gain experience and can be genetically upgraded to improve their agility, stamina, and combat strength. The “Egg Sequencer” aboard the Space Anomaly also allows you to selectively breed offspring with desired traits. The new Arena League faction offers five medal ranks, dedicated mission guides, and exclusive title awards. Unique creatures like the Geno-Prawn or the Boundary Horror await as special rewards. Players who participate daily can also test their skills against the Oceanus NPC in the daily challenge.

By the way, the limit for tamed companions increases from 18 to 30. In addition, Update 6.3 noticeably improves GPU performance on PC. The complete patch notes are once again extensive reading material that will bring tears of joy to NMS players’ eyes.