Groups let you play together in No Man's Sky's shared universe
A group in No Man's Sky is a way to link your account with other players so you see each other in the game world, share bases, and coordinate exploration. You create or join a group through the game's social menu, and once you're in, you and other group members appear on the same servers and can interact directly — rather than playing in isolation or with random players.
The group system works the same way whether you're playing on PC, PlayStation, or Xbox. You don't need a separate launcher account or external software. Everything happens inside the game itself, though you will need an active internet connection and a valid account on your platform (PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, or Steam).
Key Takeaways
- Groups are created and managed from the social menu in the game, and you can join an existing group by asking the group owner for an invite code.
- You need a platform account (Steam, PlayStation Network, or Xbox Live) to join a group, but you do not need to pay for the game twice or own it on multiple platforms.
- Group members see each other in the shared universe and can build bases in the same star systems, but group size and features vary depending on your game version and when the group was created.
- If you leave a group or the group is deleted, your bases remain in the game world but you will no longer see other members' activity or receive group invitations.
How to find and join an existing group
The easiest way to join a group is to get an invite code from someone already in the group. Ask them for the code, then open No Man's Sky and go to the social menu (the icon that looks like two people). Select "Join Group" and enter the code they gave you. The game will confirm the group name and show you how many members are in it before you commit.
If you don't know anyone in a group yet, you can search for groups on community forums and Discord servers dedicated to No Man's Sky. Popular spaces include the official No Man's Sky subreddit, the Frontier Subreddit, and the official Hello Games Discord. People post group codes and recruitment messages there regularly. Always verify the group code with the person who posted it — do not use a code from an unknown source, as groups can be deleted or abandoned.
Once you enter a valid code, you're added to the group when ready. You'll see a notification in the game, and the group name will appear in your social menu. You can now see other group members' locations, bases, and activity in real time.
Creating your own group if you want to lead one
To create a group, open the social menu in No Man's Sky and select "Create Group." Give it a name, set a description (optional), and choose whether the group is open to anyone with the code or restricted to people you invite manually. The game will generate an invite code automatically.
Once the group exists, you become the group owner. You can share the code with friends, post it on community forums, or keep it private and invite people one at a time. As the owner, you can also remove members, change the group description, or delete the group entirely if you want to disband it.
Group ownership doesn't give you special powers in the game world — you can't control other players' bases or inventory. It just means you manage who is in the group and can remove people if they break community rules or cause problems.
What happens when you're in a group
When you join a group, you and other members occupy the same shared universe. This means you can see each other's ships, bases, and activity markers on the map. If someone in your group builds a base in a star system, you'll see it when you visit that system, and you can interact with it (though you can't delete or modify someone else's base without permission).
Groups also make it easier to coordinate exploration and resource gathering. If one member finds a planet with valuable resources, they can tell the group and you can all travel there together. You can also help each other with difficult missions or dangerous encounters, since you're all on the same servers.
However, group members are not automatically allies in combat. If another player attacks you, being in the same group doesn't prevent it. Most groups establish their own rules about PvP (player-versus-player combat) in their Discord or community space, but the game itself doesn't enforce those rules.
Leaving a group or what to do if a group closes
To leave a group, go to the social menu, find the group name, and select "Leave Group." You'll be removed when ready. Your bases stay in the game world and remain exactly as you built them — leaving a group doesn't delete your structures or inventory.
If a group owner deletes the group, all members are removed automatically. Again, your bases and progress in the game are not affected. You straightforward stop seeing other members' activity and stop receiving group notifications. You can join a different group or create your own at any time.
If you want to rejoin a group you left, ask the group owner for the code again and enter it in the social menu. There's no penalty for leaving and rejoining.
Platform differences and cross-play limitations
Groups work on PC (Steam), PlayStation 4 and 5, and Xbox One and Series X/S. However, groups are not cross-platform — a group created on Steam cannot include PlayStation players, and Xbox players cannot join a PlayStation group. You can only form groups with people on the same platform.
This means if you want to play with friends on a different platform, you'll need separate accounts on each platform and separate groups for each. The game itself does support cross-platform play in some modes, but the group system is platform-specific.
If you own No Man's Sky on multiple platforms, you can create different groups on each one, but your progress and bases do not transfer between platforms. Your Steam character is separate from your PlayStation character, so you'll be building and exploring independently on each.
Troubleshooting common group problems
If you enter a group code and get an error message, the code may be expired, the group may have been deleted, or you may have typed it incorrectly. Ask the person who gave you the code to confirm it's still valid. If the group was deleted, they'll need to create a new one and give you the new code.
If you're in a group but can't see other members' bases or activity, check your internet connection first — groups require a stable online connection to sync. If your connection is fine, try restarting the game. If the problem persists, the group owner may need to restart their game as well, or there may be a temporary server issue on Hello Games' side.
If you're being harassed or griefed by another group member, you can leave the group and report the player through your platform's reporting system (PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, or Steam). The group owner can also remove members who break community rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need PlayStation Plus or Xbox Game Pass to join a group?
You need an active account on your platform (PlayStation Network or Xbox Live), but you do not need a paid subscription like PlayStation Plus or Xbox Game Pass. A free account is enough. On PC, you just need a Steam account.
Can I be in multiple groups at the same time?
No, you can only be a member of one group per account. If you want to join a different group, you must leave your current group first. You can rejoin your old group later if you change your mind.
What if the group owner stops playing and doesn't manage the group anymore?
If the owner is inactive, the group will continue to exist and function, but no one can remove inactive members or change the group settings. If the group becomes a problem, members can leave and form a new group. There is no way to transfer ownership to another player.
Do group members share inventory or resources?
No, each player has their own inventory and resources. Being in a group does not give other members access to your items or currency. You can trade items with other players by meeting in person and using the trade menu, but this is separate from the group system.
Can I hide my group membership or play solo while in a group?
You can play solo exploration and missions while in a group — being in a group does not force you to play with others. However, other group members will still see your location and activity on the map. If you want complete privacy, you must leave the group.