Does Custom Game Count Toward Any Achievement in NMS? Exploring the Rules

When it comes to gaming, particularly in expansive and customizable environments like No Man’s Sky (NMS), players often find themselves puzzled over the different game modes and their implications on achievements. One common question that arises is whether or not playing in a Custom Game mode counts toward unlocking any achievements. This article aims to clarify the rules surrounding achievements in No Man’s Sky and to serve as a guide for players looking to maximize their experience while ensuring they are aware of the limitations of custom settings.

Understanding Game Modes in NMS

No Man’s Sky offers various game modes ranging from the standard Survival mode, where permadeath is a core mechanic, to Creative mode, which allows for limitless building and exploration without the threat of dying. Custom Game mode presents players with the opportunity to tweak various settings to tailor their gameplay experience. However, this customization comes with specific rules that can impact achievement unlocking.

In typical scenarios, players may wonder if modifying certain settings within Custom Game mode will prevent them from earning achievements. Based on community feedback and official guidelines, it is evident that altering game settings to create a Custom Game can lead to a disabling of achievements. This means that if you change any settings from the standard modes, such as Survival or Permadeath, you may not be able to unlock achievements associated with those modes.

Achievement Restrictions in Custom Game Mode

The crux of the issue lies in the distinction between Custom Games and the default game types. In No Man’s Sky, achievements are designed to reward players for progressing through the game under specific conditions. When a player switches to Custom Game mode, they are essentially stepping outside the intended playstyle that the developers have specified for achievement unlocking.

Community discussions indicate that while you can experiment with various difficulty settings, doing so in Custom mode automatically disables the ability to unlock achievements. This has been affirmed by numerous players who have tested the waters of Custom Game settings. If your goal is to earn achievements, it’s crucial to stick to the standard Survival or Permadeath modes without any modifications.

The Importance of Sticking to Preset Modes

Players often find themselves torn between wanting a personalized gaming experience and the desire to achieve specific milestones within the game. If you are looking to earn achievements related to Survival gameplay or permadeath challenges, it is advisable to refrain from altering the preset difficulties. Achievements are specifically designed to recognize skill, perseverance, and risk-taking within the constraints of the game’s main modes. By modifying the difficulty, you are essentially changing the rules of engagement, making it unfeasible for achievements tied to those original parameters to be attainable.

Offline Play and Achievement Syncing

It’s worth noting that achievements earned while playing offline will sync to your account once you reconnect to the Xbox network or your preferred gaming platform. This means that if you engage in achievements while offline, they will still count as long as you were not in a Custom Game mode during that play session. This feature is particularly useful for players who may want to explore the game without the pressure of earning achievements or who simply want to enjoy the expansive universe of No Man’s Sky at their own pace.

Creative Mode Considerations

While Custom Game mode restricts achievement unlocking, Creative mode is a distinct case where achievements are usually not earned due to the lack of challenges present in this playstyle. As players explore Creative mode, they can take advantage of unlimited resources and protection from hostile environments; however, this mode undermines the core challenges that achievements are designed to reward. Hence, if achievements are your end goal, it’s advisable to avoid Creative mode altogether.

In Conclusion

To sum up, players venturing into No Man’s Sky with aspirations of unlocking achievements should be aware of the limitations imposed by the Custom Game mode. Modifying game settings to create a Custom experience will likely disable achievement tracking, meaning you’ll miss out on those satisfying milestones tied to the game’s intended challenges. For the best shot at earning achievements, stick to the standard modes and embrace the challenges they provide. Enjoy your journey through the cosmos, but remember that some of the most rewarding achievements come from facing the odds as the game designers intended!