Unveiling the Secrets of Portal Combinations in No Man’s Sky

The vast, procedurally generated universe of No Man’s Sky is renowned for its staggering scale and the sense of limitless exploration it offers. A key element of navigating this immense cosmos is the use of Portals, ancient structures that allow for instant travel between distant locations. But just how many different destinations are reachable through these mysterious gateways? The answer lies in the number of unique combinations of portal addresses that can be created. So, let’s delve straight into the question: how many portal combinations are there in No Man’s Sky?

There are 4,294,967,296 possible combinations for portal addresses in No Man’s Sky. This is calculated by raising the number of unique glyphs (16) to the power of the address length (12) which comes out to 16¹².

Deciphering Portal Addresses: Glyphs and Combinations

To understand the number of possible combinations, it’s crucial to understand how portal addresses are formed. Each portal address is comprised of a sequence of 12 symbols, known as glyphs. There are 16 different glyphs in total, each representing a specific astronomical feature or concept. Think of it as a 12-digit code, where each digit can be one of 16 possible values.

Given this, the total number of unique addresses is calculated using simple mathematics:

• There are 16 possible glyphs for each position.
• There are 12 positions in a portal address.

Therefore, the total number of combinations is 16 multiplied by itself 12 times, or 16¹². This results in the massive figure of 4,294,967,296.

This large number highlights how diverse the destinations reachable by portals can be. While the total number of planets in the game is about 18 quintillion, the number of portal combinations is significantly lower. This means that many planets are not directly reachable by portal travel, and must be discovered through traditional exploration methods.

Why the Discrepancy? Planets vs. Portal Addresses

It is important to note that although there are over 18 quintillion planets, and only 4.3 billion portal addresses, the number of reachable locations through portals is a subset of the planets in No Man’s Sky. Not every planet has a portal that is directly reachable using any combination of these addresses, rather there is a system which is not fully understood that determines which planets can be reached with portal travel. The procedural generation of planets and their locations is more complex than just a simple 12-digit code. This ensures the sense of discovery and encourages exploration beyond the portal system.

Portals are designed to facilitate targeted travel to specific locations and community hubs, as well as specific planets. They are not intended as a fast travel system that lets you jump to any random world.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Portals in No Man’s Sky

Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further clarify how portals function, their limitations, and other related aspects within No Man’s Sky:

Portal Mechanics and Accessibility

1. How do you find Portals in No Man’s Sky? Portals are usually located on planets and are discovered by locating Monoliths. Once a Monolith is found, interacting with it requires a specific item that can be obtained from other in-game structures, and then the location of a Portal will be revealed.
2. Can you use a Portal to go to any planet? No. While there are billions of possible portal addresses, you can’t simply enter any random combination and expect to land on a random planet. Portal travel generally leads to planets where portals already exist, or that are in the general vicinity of previously visited locations or discovered by other players and shared through the community.
3. Are Portals the fastest method of travel in No Man’s Sky? For targeted travel to specific locations, they are indeed the fastest way to travel. Otherwise warping between star systems is the method for longer journeys.
4. Can you establish a base next to a Portal? Yes, you can build a base close to a Portal. This is a great strategy for convenience, to have easy access to frequently visited locations.
5. Do Portals allow you to travel to other galaxies? No, portals can only transport you to different locations within your current galaxy. To travel to another galaxy, you need to use the center of the galaxy or a specific anomaly.
6. Why do Portals require glyphs and charging? The glyphs in a portal address are a way to give it a specific destination. Charging the portal allows it to activate. This is more for immersion in the game’s lore.

Glyphs and Addresses

7. Where can you find all the Glyphs? Glyphs can be collected by progressing through the main story questline, which will unlock them all, or by interacting with travellers at Space Stations, this will give you the location of a grave with a single glyph.
8. Are Glyphs unique to a game save? Once unlocked, Glyphs are unlocked for all of your game saves.
9. Can you share a specific Portal address with other players? Absolutely. Portal addresses can be shared, enabling players to easily visit the same location. They are also able to share the addresses online.
10. How long does it take to enter a 12 glyph address? Depending on practice, it can take 5-10 seconds, making it quite quick to enter addresses.

Exploration and the Universe

11. How many planets are in the No Man’s Sky universe? The game boasts over 18 quintillion planets. This huge figure represents the vastness and scope of the No Man’s Sky universe.
12. Is No Man’s Sky truly infinite? No. While it may feel infinite, the universe is limited to a set number of planets and galaxies. However, the quantity is so large it would take billions of years to explore it all.
13. Has anyone explored all of No Man’s Sky? Due to the sheer scale of the game, no player has explored all of the planets, with only about 1% of the starting galaxy having been explored so far.
14. Are there any limits to planet generation? The procedural generation has some limitations, so there are recurring patterns. However, the variety is still extremely high, making every world feel unique.
15. How long would it take to visit all planets in No Man’s Sky? At a blistering pace of one second per world, it would take approximately 585 billion years to visit every planet in the game. This is why the game is seen as effectively infinite for one human lifetime.

Conclusion: Navigating the Vast Cosmos

The existence of 4.3 billion possible portal combinations in No Man’s Sky underscores the game’s immense scale, along with its inherent limitations. While these addresses do not encompass every planet in the universe, they form a crucial part of the exploration experience. Understanding how portal addresses work is important for every intergalactic traveler wanting to visit specific destinations in No Man’s Sky. So, while the universe may hold 18 quintillion planets, the 4,294,967,296 portal addresses represent the routes through its interconnected spaces, allowing for shared experiences and further exploration for millions of players worldwide. Happy travels!