Getting stuck inside your freighter’s superstructure is a frustrating issue for many No Man’s Sky players. This problem, seemingly stemming from changes introduced with major updates like Next or Beyond, prevents seamless traversal near landing bays and often requires workarounds like carefully navigating with shields up to trigger auto-landing. The core issue seems to lie in the game’s handling of proximity detection and collision physics, similar to the mechanics that prevent pulse engine usage near stations and planets.
While the intention behind disabling pulse engines close to large objects is clear – to prevent accidental collisions – the unintended consequence of getting trapped within a freighter’s geometry highlights a flaw in the current system. Before these updates, such issues were reportedly less common, suggesting that a change in the game’s code inadvertently introduced this bug. Some players have theorized that this is an intentional design choice, but the historical evidence and the parallels with the pulse engine restrictions point towards an unintended error.
The persistent nature of this issue, alongside other reported problems like terrain regeneration covering base structures and occasional clipping through floors, raises concerns about the development team’s prioritization of bug fixes over new content. The constant release of new features, like Living Ships and creature updates, while exciting, might be overshadowing the need for addressing fundamental technical issues that impact the core gameplay experience.
From a software engineering perspective, revisiting and resolving existing bugs is crucial for maintaining a stable and enjoyable product. While the “publish or perish” mentality of the gaming industry often pushes for rapid content releases, neglecting underlying technical debt can lead to a cumulative effect of frustrating glitches that detract from player enjoyment.
This freighter trapping issue underscores a broader discussion about balancing new content development with ongoing maintenance and bug fixing in game development. While players appreciate new features, addressing core gameplay problems should remain a priority to ensure a consistently positive experience. The implementation of a system akin to the pulse engine proximity detection, perhaps utilizing virtual antennas or similar mechanics, could potentially resolve the freighter trapping issue and improve overall navigation near large structures.
