Why Did My Freighter Base Not Transfer in No Man’s Sky?
The frustration of swapping freighters in No Man’s Sky only to find your carefully constructed base missing is all too real for many players. While the game is supposed to automatically transfer your existing freighter base to your new command ship, bugs and specific circumstances can prevent this. The most common culprit is a glitch related to freighter inventory. If the game doesn’t properly register the transfer, your base layout will be lost. There are other edge cases which can also lead to the loss of your hard work, which we will explore further.
Understanding Freighter Base Transfers: What Should Happen
Ideally, when you acquire a new freighter, the following should occur seamlessly:
- Automatic Transfer: Your existing freighter base layout is supposed to be automatically copied and reconstructed within the new freighter.
- Inventory Preservation: All items stored within your base structures, as well as your fleet and squadron, should remain intact and transfer with you.
- Reset Option: A Freighter Upgrade Control terminal allows you to reset your base layout at any time, essentially giving you a fresh start within your freighter if desired.
However, as with any complex game system, things don’t always go as planned.
Common Causes of Freighter Base Transfer Failure
Here’s a breakdown of the most frequent reasons why your freighter base might not have transferred:
- The Inventory Bug: This is the most notorious offender. The game sometimes fails to prompt the player to transfer the base layout when changing freighters. The fix is to leave at least one item in your freighter’s general inventory. This triggers a prompt asking if you’re sure you want to swap, acknowledging the item. Accepting the swap then usually triggers the crucial question about transferring the base layout.
- Hasty Decisions: Rushing through the dialogue boxes during the freighter acquisition process can lead to accidentally skipping the base transfer prompt. Pay close attention to what you’re clicking!
- Game Glitches: No Man’s Sky, despite its many improvements, isn’t immune to bugs. Sometimes, the transfer simply fails for unknown reasons. Restarting the game or console can occasionally resolve this.
- Corrupted Save Files: While rare, a corrupted save file can interfere with the freighter transfer process. Regular backups of your saves are always a good idea.
- Mod Conflicts: If you’re playing with mods, some of them might interfere with the freighter transfer mechanics. Try disabling mods temporarily to see if that resolves the issue.
- Older Game Versions: If you’re playing an older version of No Man’s Sky, before some of the patches that addressed freighter transfer issues, it may just be a problem that the old build didn’t handle correctly. Always make sure your game is up to date for the best and most stable experience.
Workarounds and Preventative Measures
While there’s no guaranteed fix, here are some things you can try to mitigate the risk of losing your freighter base:
- The Single Item Trick: As mentioned earlier, always leave one item in your freighter’s inventory before exchanging freighters. This is the most reliable workaround for the inventory bug.
- Manual Save: Before initiating the freighter swap, create a manual save point. This allows you to reload if the transfer fails.
- Double-Check Dialogues: Read all dialogue boxes carefully during the freighter acquisition process to ensure you don’t accidentally skip the base transfer prompt.
- Restart Your Game: If the transfer seems buggy, try restarting your game or console before proceeding.
- Report the Bug: If you encounter a persistent issue, report it to Hello Games through their official channels. This helps them identify and fix bugs in future updates.
- Backup Your Saves: Regularly back up your save files to an external drive or cloud storage. This is a good practice for any game, but especially important for No Man’s Sky, where progress can be extensive and time-consuming.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Freighter Bases
Here are some frequently asked questions to provide further clarity on freighter bases and their transfer mechanisms in No Man’s Sky:
How do I find a new freighter?
Freighters can be acquired in several ways:
- Free Freighter Encounter: After a certain number of warp jumps (typically five), you’ll trigger a freighter battle against pirates. Defeat the pirates and you’ll be offered the freighter for free.
- Purchasing from Captains: You can purchase freighters directly from their captains in space stations or freighter fleets.
- Exploring Space: Sometimes you may find a freighter without fighting pirates.
What are the different types of freighters?
There are two main categories of freighters:
- Capital Freighters: These are larger and more powerful, typically found during freighter battle encounters. The Sentinel and Venator are the most common.
- System Freighters: These are smaller and more common, found in space stations and smaller fleets.
What’s the best class of freighter to get?
Ideally, you should aim for an S-Class freighter, as it offers the highest stats and potential for upgrades. However, these can be very expensive. An A-Class freighter is a good compromise if you’re on a budget.
Can I have multiple freighters?
No, you can only own one freighter at a time. When you acquire a new freighter, you’ll need to exchange your existing one.
Do I lose my ships when I buy a new freighter?
No, your starships are tied to your character, not your freighter. They will transfer to your new freighter along with you.
What happens to my fleet when I get a new freighter?
Your frigate fleet is also tied to your character and will automatically transfer to your new freighter. You won’t lose any progress or ships.
Can I teleport from my freighter to my planetary base?
Yes, you can build a Teleport Chamber on your freighter. This allows you to teleport to and from your planetary bases. It requires power to function.
How do I power my freighter base?
Freighter bases are powered by Generators or Solar Panels, that can be added to your freighter base via the build menu.
Can I customize the exterior of my freighter?
Unfortunately, you cannot customize the exterior of your freighter beyond changing its color scheme. You can only customize the interior base layout.
What can I build on my freighter base?
You can build a wide range of structures on your freighter base, including:
- Living Quarters
- Farming Modules
- Science Labs
- Refining Facilities
- Teleporters
- Storage Rooms
- Command Centers for managing your fleet.
How do I get more storage on my freighter?
You can increase your freighter’s storage capacity by:
- Upgrading the Freighter: Purchasing freighter upgrades from space stations or the Nexus.
- Building Storage Rooms: Constructing storage rooms within your freighter base.
What are derelict freighters?
Derelict freighters are abandoned ships that you can explore for loot and story fragments. They offer challenging gameplay and unique rewards. Be warned: the game cannot be saved during derelict freighter missions, so there is no return if you leave.
How do I earn money quickly in No Man’s Sky?
There are several ways to earn money quickly, including:
- Trading: Buying low and selling high between different star systems.
- Farming: Growing valuable crops and selling them.
- Salvaging: Collecting and selling scrap from derelict freighters.
- Completing Missions: Taking on missions from the Space Anomaly and planetary terminals.
What is the best economy to sell goods in?
Galactic Trade Terminals at planetary Trade Outposts will offer better prices than space stations. Look for economies that are buying the types of goods you’re selling.
How do I find the best multi-tool?
The best way to find a good multi-tool is to look for multi-tool cabinets on space stations and planetary outposts. The class and stats of the multi-tool are randomly generated, so you’ll need to do some searching.
Final Thoughts
Losing your freighter base in No Man’s Sky can be a frustrating setback, but understanding the potential causes and implementing the workarounds can help you avoid this issue. Remember the single-item trick, pay attention to dialogue prompts, and back up your saves regularly. And if you’re interested in learning more about the intersection of games and education, be sure to visit the Games Learning Society website at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/ to learn more about the important work the Games Learning Society does. Happy exploring, Interlopers!