Hello Games, a studio renowned for their controversial if pioneering work in the gaming industry, especially with its sci-fi exploration game, No Man’s Sky, has once again captured the attention of gamers worldwide with their latest venture, Light No Fire.
Announced at the 2023 Game Awards, this new title marks a significant shift from exploring the vastness of the universe to the intricate detailing of a single, expansive world.
Sean Murray, the lead visionary at Hello Games, has helmed development on Light No Fire for the past five years with a small but dedicated team. This project diverges from their previous work by focusing on what Murray describes as “the first real open world” without boundaries. This groundbreaking game is not just about exploration; it will integrate an online multiplayer component, crafting, mining, and the thrill of riding flying mounts. Unfortunately, Murray stopped short of confirming if it will be an MMO.
Confusions about its multiplayer feature aside, Light No Fire could possibly set new benchmarks by promising an Earth-sized virtual planet, created using sophisticated procedural generation technology similar to that in No Man’s Sky. This fantasy multiplayer game aims to offer an experience that is both vast and intimate, combining the appeal of the classic fantasy game with survival-crafting and RPG elements. Players can expect to delve into a world full of fantastical color, strange creatures, and a space that is truly boundless.
The concept of Light No Fire revolves around a procedurally-generated multiplayer Earth, a true-to-scale world that’s of the same size as our home planet. This fantasy environment promises to be a massive playground, with deep oceans as well as massive mountains as imposing as those on Earth. The magnitude of this project is unparalleled, with hundreds of millions of square miles of explorable terrain.
After turning No Man’s Sky around, Hello Games is finally ready to spend time creating a new survival sandbox game. In Light No Fire, players can create custom avatars across various species and immerse themselves in a deep fantasy story. It’s set to feature character-driven quests, similar to No Man’s Sky, where players interact with NPCs in small outposts.
Light No Fire is more than just a game about exploration and survival; it’s about building a life and community within a shared, persistent world. The structures and communities players build will be discoverable by others, adding a unique layer of interactivity and unpredictability. This design choice underscores Hello Games’ commitment to creating a dynamic, living world that continually evolves based on player interactions.
While the concept isn’t unique, Hello Games’ experience with No Man’s Sky suggests that they’ve learned their lesson and will only release the game once it lives up to their initial promises. Nevertheless, some remain fearful that Light No Fire will enjoy a prolonged marketing campaign, not unlike No Man’s Sky.
If the latter were to happen, Light No Fire would find itself fodder for criticism almost immediately.
While No Man’s Sky and Cyberpunk 2077 have proven themselves that redemption arcs do happen, Hello Games needs to remind itself that lightning doesn’t strike twice. We don’t think gamers will be just as forgiving if Light No Fire goes through a similarly disastrous launch period like its predecessor.
Nevertheless, the initial trailer is setting Light No Fire up to be one of this decade’s most anticipated games.
If nothing else, Light No Fire should satisfy fans who are eagerly waiting for the release of The Elder Scrolls VI, which might not be ready anytime soon.
