No Man’s Sky joins Final Fantasy 14 as one of the most incredible video game comebacks of all time. When it released, the game was torn apart online for its lack of expected features like multiplayer, with its randomly generated worlds also criticized for being too repetitive and visually unappealing. Fortunately, Hello Games did not give up on the project following this criticism, putting an immense amount of time and resources into making No Man’s Sky all that it can be. After the game recovered, it featured a fun crossover with Mass Effect, and it is odd that similar content has not been prioritized.
The No Man’s Sky of today is a terrific game that many developers and companies would surely love to be associated with, as its deep ship mechanics, character customization, and base building would allow for a huge number of themed cosmetics. With countless sci-fi properties to pull from, the sky is the limit for Hello Games, and No Man’s Sky should feature far more content from other IPs than just the Normandy.
Star Wars Content in No Man’s Sky
The most obvious option for a huge No Man’s Sky crossover, and the one that would get the most eyes on No Man’s Sky, is a teamup with the Star Wars franchise. The number of iconic ships is frankly absurd, as everything from the Millennium Falcon to The Mandalorian’s N-1 Starfighter could be usable if such a crossover were to take place. Hello Games could create a few custom planets like Endor and Kashyyyk, complete with unique wildlife like Ewoks and Wookies. Droid companions can be added, a mining tool that resembles a Star Wars blaster can be acquired, and Storm Trooper armor could be obtained for the player’s character. With base building items that allow players to create Tatooine huts or Death Star-like interiors being an option as well, this could surely be the most expansive content drop when it comes to crossovers.
Dead Space Content in No Man’s Sky
If No Man’s Sky wanted to get a bit darker, it could release some Dead Space content. Given the sheer number of Isaac Clarke cameos, letting players don his armor would not be too surprising, though Hello Games could go a step further by letting players explore the USG Ishimura. The Freighters that already exist in No Man’s Sky would provide the perfect starting point, and some hostile aliens designed to look like Necromorphs could fill the ship. If players were to clear this freighter, they could be rewarded with a Plasma Cutter mining tool - an item many fans of the franchise would be determined to acquire.
Destiny 2 Content in No Man’s Sky
Given the expansive lore of Destiny 2 and the large amount of content Bungie has added to its game over the years, it is hard not to think about all the possibilities that could come from a team-up with No Man’s Sky. Obviously, letting players dress up as Hunters, Warlocks, and Titans would be a start, but any of the ships from the franchise could be used as well. A Ghost cosmetic item that follows the player around could be plenty of fun, while letting gamers explore a No Man’s Sky version of a place like the Dreaming City could be interesting. Any crossover planets could feature new resources pulled straight from Destiny 2 as well, with “engrams” dropping from Vex Sentinels that can be sold for high amounts of units.
Borderlands 3 Content in No Man’s Sky
One final option would be a Borderlands 3 teamup, and though this may seem a bit strange on paper, Gearbox’s hit looter shooter series moving to space makes it seem like a more viable option. Sanctuary 3 could be recreated as a Freighter, while Borderlands’ Vault Monsters could inspire massive creatures on some custom-designed planets. Mining tools directly inspired by Borderlands’ weapon manufacturers could be fun to collect, and armor sets inspired by the Crimson Lance or Tediore soldiers could fit the aesthetic of No Man’s Sky perfectly. A cel shaded filter could be the icing on the cake, making the entire game feel more like Borderlands.
Alien Redesigns Could Take No Man’s Sky Crossovers to the Next Level
Though a crossover with the Alien franchise would certainly be cool, this idea focuses mainly on the aliens from the aforementioned crossovers. If players were to flick a switch in the game’s menu, perhaps the Gek could turn into Gungans or the Vy’Keen could become Dathomirians. Destiny’s Vex could easily replace the Korvax, while the Vault Guardians from Borderlands could appear time to time on planets and the Anomaly. Mass Effect could even be returned to so that Quarians, Krogans, and other races could be represented. Though this would require even more work on Hello Games’ part, reskins for the game’s aliens would be yet another way to make these crossovers feel massive. Mass Effect’s Normandy was fun to see, but ultimately it represents a lot of untapped potential for the once-struggling exploration game.
No Man's Sky is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
