Can I Do the Atlas Path After the Purge in No Man’s Sky?
Yes, absolutely! You can indeed undertake the Atlas Path even after completing The Purge in No Man’s Sky. The game’s structure allows for flexibility in how you approach its storylines. While the initial choices you make early in the game might seem pivotal, they primarily affect the order in which missions are tracked, not your ability to access the content later. In fact, the Atlas Path can be pursued at almost any time, whether you have already started the Artemis Path, or even finished other main story elements like The Purge.
Understanding the Structure of No Man’s Sky Storylines
The Intertwining Paths
No Man’s Sky features multiple intertwining storylines, primarily the Atlas Path and the Artemis Path. The Atlas Rises update significantly reworked these narratives, adding the Artemis Path and weaving it into the broader storyline. This means that even if you had previously completed the Atlas Path before the update, you may need to go through it again due to these changes. This intertwined approach means that the choices you make early on are not permanent roadblocks, but rather alternative approaches to the same ultimate story and goals of the game.
Flexibility in Mission Progression
The game doesn’t force you to commit to one path over another permanently. For example, the choice between following the Atlas, exploring freely, or heading to the final interface doesn’t lock you out of anything. It only alters the mission that’s actively tracked. This design encourages players to explore and delve into the different story aspects at their own pace.
The Atlas Path: What You Need to Know
What is the Atlas Path?
The Atlas Path leads you to strange space stations controlled by the mysterious Atlas entity. Interacting with the Atlas Interface inside these stations advances the storyline. The mission will reappear if you choose to dismiss it, requiring you to complete it again if you want to clear it from your log, adding another layer of flexibility for how players can engage the story content. There are a total of 11 Interfaces associated with the Atlas Path, each of which can only be completed once.
The End Goal of the Atlas Path
The path culminates with the option to birth a new star or to walk away. Birthing a star grants you the Star Seed blueprint, a crucial upgrade for your Exosuit’s health. However, choosing either path essentially completes the quest. At its end, the Atlas Path will lead you to a Black Hole, allowing you to progress further towards the galactic core. Interestingly, the path, even when “done correctly” by birthing a star, doesn’t significantly impact the game on a grand scale, as some players may expect. It’s a personal journey more than a grand game changing event.
Resetting the Simulation
Following the Atlas path can lead you to a point where you can reset the entire simulation, effectively choosing to move on to a new galaxy. This is a significant choice, but don’t worry, you can still access the Euclid galaxy via space station teleporters even after resetting. This reset doesn’t make the previous galaxy inaccessible, it only makes your access to it less direct initially. The choice to reset is a key aspect of this path, and ultimately provides a method to travel to a new galaxy without having to traverse the entire distance to the center the traditional way.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Should I prioritize The Purge or the Atlas Path first?
There’s no correct order. The game allows flexibility. It’s often recommended to start the Artemis Path first as it intertwines well with the base-building missions. The Atlas Path can then be pursued later.
2. Can I complete the Atlas Path after finishing the Artemis Path?
Yes, absolutely. The storylines are designed to be accessible independently and you can seamlessly jump between them, allowing you to complete them in any order you choose.
3. Does the Atlas Path mission have an ending?
Yes, it concludes once you’ve interacted with the final Atlas Interface. This unlocks the Black Hole indicators which point you towards the galactic center.
4. Can I do the Atlas Path multiple times?
While you can technically repeat it by dismissing the mission and having it re-appear in your log, the rewards will not be re-granted. Each of the 11 Atlas interfaces can only be interacted with once, however you can return and go through the motions again, if you wish to.
5. Does resetting the Atlas make me lose everything?
No, resetting the simulation moves you to a new galaxy and unlocks a method to return to the old one through space station teleporters. Your belongings and ships remain intact. You will just need to re-discover space stations within the old galaxy in order to teleport back.
6. What happens if I choose to follow the Atlas Path?
You’ll encounter Atlas space stations and interact with their Interfaces. This reveals more about the lore and provides you with a means to advance the story.
7. Is accepting the Atlas Path a good idea?
It is part of the game’s core content and lore so following it is recommended for full story completion. However, it’s best to follow your own preference and exploration goals in the game.
8. How many missions are associated with the Atlas Path?
There are 11 specific interfaces associated with the quest, meaning 11 specific waypoints to complete.
9. What happens if I reset the simulation?
You’ll be sent to a different galaxy, but you can still go back to the previous one. Also if you do not reset the simulation you will have to travel to the center of the galaxy via normal travel. This method of travel is more time consuming but some players find it more rewarding.
10. What happens if I put Artemis in the simulation?
Later in the Artemis Path, Artemis will contact you, allowing you the choice of telling them the truth or keeping them in the dark about their simulated existence. Your choice here provides different dialogue and interactions in the story.
11. Should I choose to birth a star or walk away at the end of the Atlas Path?
Choosing to birth a star unlocks the Star Seed blueprint. While walking away still finishes the path, the former is often recommended for the useful exosuit tech.
12. What is actually at the end of the Atlas Path?
At the end, you are given the option to birth a star, or to leave. Either of these choices will give you the Black Hole indicators, which will point to the center of the galaxy.
13. Can I go back to Euclid after The Purge?
Yes. You can return to Euclid through the space station teleporter if you have established a base there previously. However, as soon as you exit multiplayer you will be returned to the galaxy you chose to travel to at the end of the purge.
14. What’s the total playtime to complete the Atlas Path?
It generally takes 25-35 hours of total gameplay to complete all possible missions. This means completing both story paths, expanding the base, and general exploration.
15. Is the Atlas Path the main story of No Man’s Sky?
The Atlas Path is one of the three primary story missions in No Man’s Sky, but it is not the only one, nor necessarily the “main” one. The other main storyline is the Artemis Path, which often interacts with the Atlas Path.
In conclusion, the Atlas Path is an essential part of the No Man’s Sky narrative, and can be experienced both before and after The Purge, allowing for a flexible approach to exploring the game’s rich lore and mechanics.