No Man's Sky Channels Pokémon in Latest Update

Travelers’ creature companions can be raised and trained to compete in arena-style battles in the new Xeno Arena update.

Hello Games’ Sean Murray has made a habit of tweeting out emojis shortly before a new No Man’s Sky update, subsequently sending the NMS community into a speculation-filled tizzy. This past Monday, the emoji was a stadium and now we have clarity on the new content.

Citing Pokémon, Palworld, and World of Warcraft’s pet battles as inspiration, Xeno Arena allows players to take any creatures they have tamed and added to their companion index into an arena to battle against other players and their creatures. The multiplayer arenas can be found in space stations and the Nexus on the Space Anomaly. The Xeno Arena itself is also available as a new structure that players can build and host competitions with other players. Players can earn rewards, complete daily challenges, and participate in organized tournaments. In essence, Xeno Arena is an entirely self-contained multiplayer game within No Man’s Sky.

Watch the Xeno Arena update trailer here.

Companion creatures have been a part of No Man’s Sky since the v3.20 update in 2021. That update allowed creatures to be adopted and stored in the companion index, able to be summoned on any planet. Creatures can also lay eggs that can be genetically modified from a hatchery in the Anomaly.

The Xeno Arena update expands on this system. Creatures now have elemental affinities based on their xeno species and home worlds. Their abilities can be checked before testing them in battle. This also opens up a new avenue for exploration and encourages players to seek out new biomes and planet types in the hopes of snagging a rare creature to take into the arena.

Hello Games also noted the existence of extremely rare ‘legendary’ variants of creatures with highly elevated stats and abilities.

Just as before, creatures can be genetically modified, now opening up the ability to create new variants and special colors. Creatures’ abilities can be raised by keeping them well fed, bonding with them, and successfully winning battles. The full patch notes can be read here.

No Man’s Sky is available on Steam and PS VR2. The Xeno update is free to all players.