No Man's Sky is set to launch on iPhone and iPad on October 28, developer Hello Games announced. The inclusion of the expansive space exploration game is a highlight of Apple's App Store Indie Games Week, an event showcasing new titles available on iOS devices.
According to Hello Games founder Sean Murray, the iOS port has been in development for several years. The delay in its release was attributed to the studio continuing to add free content updates to the game, which then required further work to implement on mobile platforms. Players will be able to sync their progress from other platforms with the iOS version. The game will support controller input, touch controls, or a combination of both, with Murray noting that the touch controls are particularly well-suited for navigating the game's extensive menus.
The port has been optimized to run on iPhones and iPads released as far back as 2019, with graphical settings that adjust automatically based on the device's hardware, though manual adjustments will also be possible. While the team is interested in exploring optimizations for future hardware like foldable devices, the primary focus has been ensuring smooth performance across a wide range of existing Apple mobile devices.
In addition to No Man's Sky, six other indie titles are part of the App Store promotion. These include Sifu from Sloclap, Vampire Crawlers by Poncle, Double Dagger Studio's Little Kitty, Big City, the deck-builder 9 Kings from Sad Socket, Dome Keeper from Bippinbits, and Yes, Your Grace 2: Snowfall by Brave at Knight. All six of these titles are priced under $10, with some offering a free trial before purchase.
Apple has been increasingly focusing on gaming, with its M-series Macs offering robust graphical capabilities and iPhones supporting demanding titles like Control and Death Stranding. Rumors surrounding an upcoming Apple event suggest a potential new Apple TV model powered by the A19 chip, the same processor in the iPhone 17. This could mean that AAA mobile titles, including No Man's Sky, may also become available on Apple's television platform in the future.