• Gravitino Coil: New anti-gravity multi-tool module for grabbing, flinging, and carrying large objects.
  • Heavy Utility Vehicles: Customizable trucks, including tipping flatbeds and haulers, for resource transport.
  • Waste Processing Plants: New industrial locations added for recycling collected salvage.
  • Community Expedition: A fresh event focused on planetary cleanup and salvage convoys.
  • Steam Deck QoL: Official fix for touch input issues when running on SteamOS.

Physics and Utility: The Remnant Overhaul

Hello Games is kicking off 2026 by turning No Man’s Sky into a physics-driven playground. The **Remnant** update isn’t just about adding more "stuff"; it’s about changing how we interact with the world. The standout addition here is the **Gravitino Coil**. We’ve seen gravity-manipulation tools in other shooters and sims, but bringing this tech to NMS changes the game-changer for base building and exploration. Being able to "fling, toss, or carefully carry" massive objects adds a layer of tactile interaction that the game has lacked since launch. In our view, this is a clear move toward making the environment more than just a backdrop for resource mining. It turns every planetary surface into a potential sandbox where physics actually matter.

Logistics and Heavy Hauling

Industrial Evolution

If you’ve been looking for a reason to actually use ground vehicles for more than just getting from point A to B, this is it. The update introduces **customizable trucks and haulers**. We’re not just talking about cosmetic skins; these are functional tools like tipping flatbeds designed to move salvage. This ties directly into the new **Waste Processing Plants**. The loop is clear: find junk, haul it with your custom rig, and recycle it for profit. It’s a blue-collar industrial layer that gives the mid-to-late game a much-needed sense of purpose beyond the usual "jump to the next system" routine.

Convoys and Cleanup

The new community expedition leans heavily into these new mechanics. It’s designed to pull the community together into convoys, tasking players with cleaning up planets littered with wrecks and salvage. It’s a smart way to force-test the new trucking mechanics while making the galaxy feel a bit less empty. We’ve always said that NMS is at its best when it feels like a lived-in universe, and planetary cleanup efforts are a great way to reinforce that.

Technical Notes and QoL

On the technical side, the Lead Tech Analyst in us is pleased to see Hello Games hasn't forgotten the handheld crowd. The patch notes specifically mention a fix for **touch input on Steam Deck**. Given that NMS is a staple for Linux and SteamOS gamers, these QoL tweaks are essential for keeping the experience smooth. This is only the first update of the year, and with the developer’s usual "more will follow" teaser, it’s clear the 2016-era title still has plenty of gas in the tank. The Remnant update proves that even ten years in, there are still ways to reinvent the core loop without breaking what makes the game special.