‘No Man’s Sky’ Sentinel Update Brings Combat Overhaul, Graphics Bump for PS4 Pro

By
Scott Hayden
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9

No Man’s Sky’s redemption arc isn’t over yet, as the open universe space sim has added some new combat challenges to the game in its 3.8 update, dubbed ‘Sentinel’. If you’re playing on PSVR via PlayStation 4 Pro, the update also includes a bump in image quality.

Hello Games released its latest update on all supported platforms yesterday, including PSVR on PS4 and PS5, and SteamVR headsets on PC.

There aren’t a ton of VR specific updates here—No Man’s Sky is already fairly well optimized for VR gameplay. Besides the image quality boost for PS4 Pro users, the studio says it’s modified the positioning of player weapons when in VR, something that ought to help with aiming more naturally. Not much, but we’ll take it.

Image courtesy Hello Games

The Sentinel update instead centers on combat, or more specifically those nosy little police drones that litter the game: sentinels. Up until now, they’ve been mostly just an annoyance, but now sentinels are getting a big boost in abilities for some more engaging PvE action.

You’ll also be able to install a Minotaur AI Pilot within the Exomech, basically making for a mech buddy who follows you around and helps out in combat. There’s a bunch more, including active camo and a few new weapons to play with too.

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Here’s an abbreviated list of changes in the Sentinel update. Check out the full change log here.

  • Three new types of Sentinel Drone have been added: Heavy Combat Drones, Repair Drones and Summoner Drones.
  • Sentinel Drones now deploy static combat shields, creating a dynamic battlefield. Players may manoeuvre to take advantage of these shields for themselves, or open fire to destroy the shield.
  • The sentinels now deploy their forces in greater numbers, to create more dramatic firefights.
  • A new high-level Sentinel has been added, the Hardframe Battle Mech.
  • PC support for AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution 1.0 has been enabled.
  • A new class of weapon has been added – the Neutron Cannon, a charged energy weapon that does not use projectile ammunition.
  • A new class of secondary grenade launcher has been added – the Paralysis Mortar, stun projectiles with a blast radius.
  • A new class of secondary Multi-Tool utility has been added, the Cloaking Device.

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Scott Hayden
Well before the first modern XR products hit the market, Scott recognized the potential of the technology and set out to understand and document its growth. He has been professionally reporting on the space for nearly a decade as Editor at Road to VR, authoring more than 3,500 articles on the topic. Scott brings that seasoned insight to his reporting from major industry events across the globe.
  • the vast majority

    The developers of this game fully redeemed themselves for the poor version at launch. Looking forward to this and their next game.

    • kool

      They won’t be redeemed until they add aim support…

      • adf

        thats what you think is holding them back…. mmmk grow up

      • Banana Lives Matter

        aim support?

        • Shy Guy

          I believe they’re referring to the PSVR Aim Controller gun peripheral.

  • Ookami

    It’s a literal crime that this game hasn’t won the Labor of Love Award yet smh.

  • Marcin Adamski

    Shame VR is kind of weird in this game, like an afterthought not a finished feature

    • namekuseijin

      it’s certainly an afterthought or at least an afterrelease

      but among flat games adapted to VR, this is among the very best: you take your “gun” from your backpack and fully aim around, you hit side of your head to scan around, you have inventory management by touching or laserpointing the holographic inventory, you can punch trees and creatures, and all vehicles in the game got some grabbable controllers. This is all way more than you often expect from flatgames…

  • namekuseijin

    it’s crisper, yes. but we’ve been asking for PS4 Pro patch to increase the resolution since the psvr mode didn’t quite match what was shown in the original trailer over 2 years ago. It’s a bit too late now and just a bit crisper (it’s actually dynamic and can go as low as before in crowded areas) won’t make up for increasingly outdated psvr1 with no psvr2 in sight for actual good controls, tracking and resolution…