Planet Crafter Coming to PS5, Putting Pressure on No Man’s Sky

Planet Crafter, the space survival game by Miju Games, is making its way to PS5. This game features a core terraforming mechanic that allows players to permanently and visibly change an alien planet from a barren wasteland into a livable environment. This unique design choice has sparked direct comparisons to Hello Games’ long-standing title, No Man’s Sky, and it doesn’t paint No Man’s Sky in the best light.

Unlike No Man’s Sky, which offers procedurally generated planets that you explore and exploit, the gameplay feels transactional. You land, mine resources, and move on. Planet Crafter completely flips that model. Here, the planet becomes your project. Players adjust atmospheric pressure, heat, and oxygen levels in real time, witnessing the environment evolve with new weather patterns, oceans, and eventually, plant life. The planet transforms because of your actions, not in spite of them.

No Man’s Sky has had almost a decade of free updates aimed at enhancing environmental interactivity. Since its rocky launch in 2016, Hello Games has released over 30 major updates. These updates introduced base building, multiplayer features, and biological ship growth. However, large-scale terraforming is still missing from the game. Priced at $23.99 on Steam, No Man’s Sky enjoys 83% positive reviews from 230,693 users, reflecting significant improvements. Meanwhile, Planet Crafter seems poised to attract players who have been looking for that essential feature.

Planet Crafter first launched in Steam Early Access in 2022 and reached version 1.0 in 2024. It gained a dedicated following on PC before making its console debut. The PS5 version will come with native controls and a chance to reach new players who may not have tried it on PC. Miju Games is a smaller studio, but the game’s focused approach — one planet, one goal — gives it an advantage over the sprawling ambitions of No Man’s Sky.

The timing of this release is significant. Currently, No Man’s Sky has around 8,479 concurrent players on Steam, which is respectable for a game that’s eight years old, yet it’s lower than the peaks during major updates. A successful launch for Planet Crafter on PS5 could speed up the gradual decline of the space survival audience.

By The Numbers

No Man’s Sky Metacritic Score	75
No Man’s Sky Steam Reviews	83% positive (230,693 reviews)
No Man’s Sky Current Steam Players	8,479
No Man’s Sky Steam Price	$23.99
No Man’s Sky Launch Year	2016

Community feelings about No Man’s Sky are generally positive but come with important caveats. One reviewer on Steam summed it up well: “No Man’s Sky is a game with one of the biggest redemption stories in video game history. When it launched in 2016, it was a massive disappointment. The game was far from what the developers promised.” This shadow still looms over the game, while Planet Crafter arrives without such baggage.

What To Watch

• PS5 release date confirmation: Miju Games hasn’t set a specific console launch date yet. Keep an eye out for a simultaneous release on Steam and the PlayStation Store, which would indicate serious marketing efforts.
• Hello Games’ response: Hello Games has a track record of introducing major features in response to competitive pressure. If Planet Crafter gains traction on console, a terraforming-related update for No Man’s Sky would be a logical counter-move.
• Player crossover data: If Planet Crafter’s debut on PS5 significantly pulls from No Man’s Sky’s concurrent player base on Steam, it will confirm that both games are vying for the same core audience rather than working alongside each other.