No Man’s Sky is expanding to another platform, with Hello Games confirming that the space exploration game will launch on iPhone and other supported iOS devices on October 28.
The mobile version includes almost every update released for the game over the past decade, including the recent Cosmos update. Hello Games also says it has managed to keep the installation size below 4GB, which is unusually small for a game of this scale.
The port will support devices equipped with an A12 Bionic chip or newer and will require iOS 26 or later.
Hello Games Says the iPhone Port Started as a Technical Challenge
Studio founder Sean Murray said the idea began when a team member suggested that No Man’s Sky could be made to run on an iPhone.
Murray initially doubted that it was possible, but the project eventually turned into another major technical port for the studio.
Hello Games has taken on similar challenges before when bringing No Man’s Sky to VR, Nintendo Switch and macOS.
The iPhone version follows the same philosophy, attempting to preserve the broader experience while adapting it to much more constrained mobile hardware.
| Feature | iOS version |
|---|---|
| Release date | October 28, 2026 |
| File size | Under 4GB |
| Minimum chip | Apple A12 Bionic |
| Minimum OS | iOS 26 |
| Multiplayer | Not supported |
| Planetary Settlements | Requires iPhone 15 Pro or newer |
| Recent updates | Includes almost all major updates, including Cosmos |
Preorders are already available through the App Store.
Multiplayer Will Not Be Available
The mobile version does come with some limitations.
Hello Games confirmed that multiplayer will not be supported on iOS.
That means players will not have access to the full online experience available on some other versions of the game.
Another restriction applies to Planetary Settlements.
Players who want to use that feature will need an iPhone 15 Pro or newer, suggesting that the system requires more processing power than the minimum supported devices can provide.
The rest of the game will still run on hardware starting with the A12 Bionic generation.
File Size Stays Below 4GB
One of the most notable parts of the port is its size.
Hello Games says the entire iOS version remains below 4GB despite including most of the content added since No Man’s Sky originally launched.
The studio also claims the game has been optimized to provide long battery life while running on Apple mobile devices.
No detailed battery figures were provided, so the exact runtime will likely depend on the device, display settings and workload.
Keeping the game below 4GB is still significant considering how much content has been added over the years.
No Man’s Sky has expanded with new planets, systems, exploration mechanics and large content updates, yet the mobile version has been compressed into a relatively small package.
Almost a Decade of Updates Are Included
The iOS release is not a stripped down version focused only on the original game.
Hello Games says almost every major update is included.
That also covers the recent Cosmos update, which expanded deep space exploration and introduced additional content only weeks before the mobile announcement.
This means iPhone players will be entering a much larger version of No Man’s Sky than the one that originally launched in 2016.
The main differences are the missing multiplayer mode and hardware dependent restrictions around Planetary Settlements.
Hello Games Briefly Mentions Light No Fire
The announcement also included a short reference to Hello Games’ next project, Light No Fire.
The studio did not reveal new gameplay details, a release date or other major information about the upcoming planet exploration game.
Instead, it encouraged players to wishlist the title on Steam.
For now, the focus remains on the iOS launch of No Man’s Sky.
With support beginning at the A12 Bionic and an installation size below 4GB, the port represents another substantial technical adaptation of a game that has already appeared across consoles, PC, VR, Switch and macOS.
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