No Man's Sky iOS Launch: Dates, Supported Devices and What's Missing

No Man’s Sky is coming to iPhone and iPad on October 28, 2026, according to Hello Games and Apple’s announcement. There are two important qualifications before pre-ordering: the US App Store currently displays October 29, and the mobile edition does not support multiplayer.

This is a native version that generates its universe on the device. Apple describes exploration, trading, combat and survival across its procedural galaxy; it is not a cloud-streaming subscription.

October 28 or October 29?

Hello Games’ October 12 announcement gives October 28, matching Apple Newsroom. The US store page, checked on October 13, instead labels the release “Expected Oct 29, 2026.”

Neither announcement specifies an unlock hour that resolves that difference. Treat October 28 as the announced date and check your own regional store for availability; the US display does not establish a worldwide October 29 launch.

Which iPhones and iPads can run it?

Do not take the store’s XR/XS entries as proof those phones can run it. Its device list includes iPhone XR, XS and XS Max, but Apple’s iOS 26 compatibility list excludes all three. That conflicts with the game’s stated OS requirement. Until the listing is clarified, those entries are not a reliable compatibility promise.

The second-generation iPhone SE also appears in the game’s listing, and Apple does support iOS 26 on that model. This is a more useful exception to the studio’s iPhone 11 shorthand. Check both your exact model and installed OS before purchasing.

For iPad, the store lists models including the fifth-generation iPad mini, third-generation iPad Air and eighth-generation iPad alongside newer devices. Compatibility is not a guarantee of identical graphics or performance across them.

What is included, and what is missing?

The store lists COSMOS and Voyagers among the included expansions. Apple also identifies Cosmos’s station ownership as part of the mobile release. Our COSMOS breakdown explains those systems; this launch changes where you can play them.

Hello Games states two limits:

• No multiplayer support. The announcement gives no date for adding it.
• Planetary Settlements require iPhone 15 Pro or above. The studio does not specify an equivalent iPad threshold, so do not assume every supported tablet includes them.

Its description of a full universe with more than 40 major updates therefore comes with feature restrictions. It is not a promise of complete parity with PC and consoles.

Touch controls and the official deep dive

The studio has rebuilt touch input for movement, flight and menus. It also says the edition supports controllers, TV casting, and mouse and keyboard on iPad.

The official presentation below is published by HelloGamesTube and embedded in the studio’s announcement. It demonstrates the mobile interface; it is not an independent performance test.

Free trial, US price and download size

The App Store describes a free beginning, followed by a one-time purchase to unlock the full game. The checked US listing prices that unlock at $19.99; other stores may differ. “Free” here does not mean the entire game is free.

The listed download is 3.8 GB, consistent with Hello Games’ under-4-GB claim. Allow additional free space for installation and future updates rather than treating the download figure as a fixed storage ceiling.

Can I transfer my save or play offline?

The iOS announcement does not confirm cross-save support or spell out offline-play requirements. Neither should be assumed from how existing versions work. It also supplies no device-specific frame-rate or battery-life figures.

Our returning-player guide covers earlier platforms and updates, not confirmed iOS save transfers. The release calendar records the announced mobile date with the current US-store caveat.