No Man's Sky is coming to iPhone and iPad with a free opening section and a one-time purchase for the full game. Hello Games announced the port on October 12, with major updates through Cosmos included. Multiplayer is not supported.

That makes this an option for solo exploration, not a replacement for playing with friends on another platform. The developer also limits planetary settlements to iPhone 15 Pro and newer.

What the App Store currently lists

The US App Store shows a 3.8GB download, iOS or iPadOS 26.0 requirements, and a $19.99 full-game unlock. The free listing means you can try the beginning before buying; it does not mean the complete game is free.

Hello Games says it rebuilt touch controls and supports controllers, TV casting, and mouse and keyboard on iPad. These are announced features, not Game Pelt performance tests.

A suited No Man's Sky traveler stands beside alien plants beneath a large planet in official iOS announcement artwork.
Image: Hello Games.

Two details still need clarification

Hello Games names October 28 as the release date. The checked US App Store listing instead says October 29. Neither source explains the difference, so there is no basis here to call it a delay or assign an unlock time.

Device support also differs between the sources. The announcement starts at iPhone 11 and third-generation iPad Air, while the storefront lists some older models, including iPhone XS and XR, under its A12 Bionic-or-later requirement. Check your exact device on the App Store page; general compatibility does not remove the separate settlement restriction.

The official iOS trailer provides a first look. Our Cosmos coverage explains the broader update included in this port, but it is not proof that every PC or console feature works on mobile.

Use the free opening to check controls and performance on your own device before paying for the unlock. We have not independently tested frame rates, heat or battery life.