No Man’s Sky’s “Relics” Update Turns You into a Space Paleontologist Collecting Alien Fossils

If you’ve ever fancied diving into No Man’s Sky and pretending to be a dinosaur enthusiast who, by some cosmic fluke, also happens to have dated Jennifer Aniston, you’re in luck today. Hello Games has just rolled out the Relics update, giving you the chance to gather massive alien fossils.

This follows the huge Worlds update that hit the game back in January, unveiling “billions of new stars and planets.” The update introduced vast gas giants and bizarre flying squid creatures that aren’t too pleased if you try to fish in their territory too aggressively.

As detailed in their blog post and the accompanying video, the highlight of the Relics update is the introduction of space paleontology. Imagine channeling your inner Ross Geller from Friends—when he’s not handling relationship drama or holiday mishaps—and embarking on a quest to dig up “hundreds of unique bones.” You’ll piece these relics together in your own museum, trying to recreate how these ancient creatures once looked. Perhaps you could mix and match bones in a whimsical way to convince the living aliens of No Man’s Sky that their ancestors were less than flawless in appearance. The idea is tempting, right?

But hold on, maybe think twice about disturbing those remains. The update introduces Reanimated Guardians—towering stone beings that guard these ancient sites, protecting them from any traveler who dares to meddle. These guardians resemble impressive stone robots more than bum-faced creatures, ruining my earlier theory. Additionally, there are Living Stone Sentries and gigantic Stone Effigies, remnants of once-great alien civilizations now watching silently over these relic planets.

On your travels, you may encounter still-living fossils like Titanic Boneworms and “skeletal fauna” prowling planets where bones are found and even in certain purple star systems. At Space Stations, you can meet Fossil Collectors to sell your crafted exhibits or swap bones for different fossils. Oh, and apparently, cooking with bones is on the menu too!

Don’t miss out on joining the Galactic Paleology Society. The new expedition brought by Relics offers a suite of rewards: a jetpack made of sentient rock, the ability to morph your character into a sentient rock, and even a skeletal creature companion.

Have you always dreamed of exploring the galaxy as a space-age Ross? Share your thoughts with us below!