Light No Fire: Everything We Know

No Man's Sky developer Hello Games has removed the veil on its latest project—an MMORPG called Light No Fire. According to the team, the upcoming adventure will bring “the depth of a role-playing game to the freedom of a survival sandbox.” Moreover, it'll also feature a “planet the size of Earth”—a milestone that No Man's Sky aimed to implement with its quintillion planets and unique biomes. So, while we've yet to see the next IP in all its glory, we can't really fault Hello Games' ambition on this one.

Light No Fire isn't due out for a fair while yet, but thanks to The Game Awards, we do have a fair amount of information to share on the project. Care to join us as we delve into the roots of the MMO? Here's everything you need to know about Hello Games' newest venture.

What Is Light No Fire?

To cut to the chase, Light No Fire is an upcoming survival-adventure MMORPG, and more importantly, a sandbox game that reportedly brings a planet the size of Earth to a plethora of players, all of whom will have the opportunity to shape and govern over the weeks, months, and perhaps even years. According to the team, no player will “be the hero”; rather, each user will have the chance to play their part in the world's development, whether it's crafting new materials for newcomers, or building cities to help the community flourish.

In the words of Hello Games, Light No Fire will boast “a truly open world, with no boundaries at a scale never attempted before.” Light No Fire also “presents you with an ancient earth to uncover. One where you're not the hero. Thick with lore, mystery, and a constant fight for survival. Inspired by the adventure, charm, and imagination that we love from classic fantasy.”

Story

Light No Fire doesn't appear to have a linear story, but rather, a fully tailorable one, which will, of course, roll out differently for each new player that sets foot on the planet. As an MMORPG at heart, players will be able to shape their own narrative, whether it's alone, or with the power of an entire community behind their backs. Will you pioneer a new technology that will aid the masses? Will you dare to ascend the tallest mountain in a desperate attempt to locate a new settlement? Whatever the case, the choice will be yours to make; the fantasy planet will merely provide the tools to nudge you along your way.

Gameplay

From the looks of the footage that was shared at The Game Awards (we'll get to that in a moment), Light No Fire will feature a world that's entirely shapeable, which means each player will have complete control over the contents, materials, and settlements. Simply put, it'll be a clean slate—a vast open playground in which the populous will need to work together to lay the foundations for a planet-sized haven. There'll be exploration, crafting, and even the opportunity to branch out alone and discover unchartered lands for other players.

“Carve a life together. Meet players from across the globe, build a life, explore, and survive together. Construct persistent buildings and communities, or strike out alone to discover the world for others,” the description reads in part. “Every mountain can be climbed, and below them lie endless vistas, oceans, and continents perhaps no others have seen. Who will climb the tallest mountains, who will find the deepest sea? Set sail across vast oceans and rivers, ride wild beasts through fantastical landscapes, fly dragons over undiscovered landscapes.”

Development

Light No Fire

From the makers of No Man's Sky

🌍An Earth Sized Game
🌊Oceans
⚔️Fantasy RPG Elements
🐲Big Chonky Dragons
💀Tiny Evil Skeletons

Wishlist Nowhttps://t.co/iGD2anH84l pic.twitter.com/cUQlGxnH9Q

— Sean Murray (@NoMansSky) December 11, 2023

From what we caught at The Game Awards earlier this month, Hello Games has been working on Light No Fire for just short of five years, which means, while a release date has yet to be confirmed, the game could arrive a lot sooner than we might've thought. Again, it's a little too early to say for certain.

“For the last five years, we’ve been working on something new, something very different, something maybe more ambitious,” Sean Murray announced during The Game Awards 2023. “For our new game, we wanted to create an Earth,” he continued. “A planet that is as varied as a universe. Something that’s bigger than Earth. Something with real mountains, not video game mountains, but mountains that are miles high [and] taller than Everest.”

“The first real open world,” Murray explained. “Something without boundaries and we’re going to let everyone play in it together. It’s a place where people can live out their adventures together.” Exciting times.

Trailer

Thanks to Hello Games' timely appearance at The Game Awards, we do actually have a bit of footage to comb through for all the while the devs iron out the last remaining cresses. Need we say more? You can catch a glimpse of the upcoming sandbox-survival MMO in the announcement trailer embedded above.

Release Date, Platforms & Editions

Light No Fire hasn't been given a release date yet. Having said that, we do know that it'll be shaping up for a release on PC. Does this mean we can strike out the likes of Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5? Not yet. After all, with No Man's Sky receiving a console port in the two years following its PC debut, it seems all odds are pointing towards Light No Fire receiving the same treatment.

Interested in staying up to speed with Hello Games' upcoming sandbox IP? If so, then be sure to check in with the team over on their official social handle here. If anything even the slightest bit newsworthy does happen to pop up, then we'll be sure to fill you in on all the key details right here on gaming.net

So, what's your take? Will you be picking up a copy of Light No Fire when it comes to the market? Let us know your thoughts over on our socials here.