From Flop to Phenomenon: No Man’s Sky Hits 110K Players on Steam After Voyagers Update

No Man’s Sky (Credit: Hello Games)

No Man’s Sky has just pulled off its biggest comeback moment in years, with over 110,000 concurrent players on Steam — the highest peak since its infamous 2016 launch.

According to SteamDB, the milestone was reached on September 7, 2025, following the release of Hello Games’ latest expansion, Voyagers. This free update introduced Corvette-class starships, expanded base-building tools, co-op crew features, and more customization options, giving players fresh reasons to dive back into the galaxy-spanning adventure.

From Controversy to Comeback

If you remember No Man’s Sky’s rocky launch in 2016, you’ll know just how big this is. Back then, the game peaked at over 212,000 players, only to lose 90% of its audience within weeks as players criticized missing features and overpromises. Many called it one of the most disappointing launches of all time.

But here’s the twist: instead of abandoning the project, Hello Games doubled down. Over the past nine years, they’ve released dozens of free updates — from VR support and fleet management to new biomes, living ships, and community-driven expeditions. Slowly but surely, the game transformed into what fans had originally hoped for, and then some.

And now, Voyagers seems to have reignited the fire. For a short time, No Man’s Sky even overtook Destiny 2 and Warframe in concurrent players, making it one of 2025’s most surprising success stories.

Player Growth Since Voyagers Release

After the Voyagers update’s release on August 27, 2025, here’s how the numbers stacked up, according to SteamDB:

• Before August 27: 8k–10k daily players

• Aug 27: 29k

• Aug 28: 46k

• Aug 29: 60k

• Aug 30: 78k

• Aug 31: 93k

• Sept 1: 98k

• Sept 6: 102k

• Sept 7: 110k

A True Redemption Story

Sean Murray, founder of Hello Games, shared a lighthearted post on X saying:“God sends his toughest battles for his strongest soldiers.”

It fits. No Man’s Sky went from being a cautionary tale to becoming one of gaming’s greatest redemption arcs. While some games fade into obscurity after a rocky launch, Hello Games proved that consistent support and genuine care for players can completely rewrite a game’s legacy.

If you’ve been on the fence, now might be the best time to play. Unlike many live-service titles that burn out fast, No Man’s Sky keeps getting better with each update.