No Man’s Sky Cosmos Update Adds PCVR Foveated Rendering

The free Cosmos Update for No Man's Sky now arrives with features that matter for players using virtual reality headsets. Hello Games adds foveated rendering support for PCVR, a technology that uses eye-tracking to save performance. This change lets you run the game with less strain on your hardware while keeping the center of your view sharp. We see this as a practical step for VR users who want smoother gameplay without sacrificing visual clarity.

Hello Games adds eye-tracking VR support and new gameplay systems

The update expands the game's scope with several new gameplay systems. You can now direct a space station, join galactic alliances, and build bases on asteroids. The patch also introduces a new star system map and allows you to investigate infested outposts. These additions give players more ways to interact with the universe and manage resources.

• Foveated Rendering Support: Added support for foveated rendering on PCVR, utilizing eye-tracking technology to concentrate rendering resources at the center of vision.
• New Gameplay Features: Space station director, galactic alliances, space bases on asteroids, shipwreck stripping, new star system map, infested outpost investigation, reaching the sun.
• Steam Deck Performance: Playable on Steam Deck, expected to run at approximately 30 FPS for decent visuals.

Foveated rendering works by tracking where you look and lowering image quality in your peripheral vision. The game concentrates rendering resources at the center of your vision to sharpen details you focus on. This approach saves performance by rendering the full image only where it matters most. The patch notes state that this technology sharpens and beautifies the details you focus on.

No Man's Sky is rated Steam Deck Verified and runs at approximately 30 FPS on the device. We expect decent visuals at this frame rate for portable play. The game is available now on all platforms. The Cosmos Update is free for all owners of the game.

The addition of PCVR foveated rendering suggests Hello Games is preparing for the upcoming Steam Frame hardware. A leak of a reservation system for the device supports this possibility. We note that this preparation seems very possible based on the technical changes in the update. The game remains playable on current hardware while getting ready for new releases.

Source: SteamDeckHQ