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The creator of No Man’s Sky, one of the most anticipated video games of 2016, says he does not expect everyone to like it.
Sean Murray, head of Hello Games, who developed the space exploration game, says it will not be loved by everyone and a positive response from only a few is “just fine” for him.
The game, which launches in the UK on Wednesday, has caused a stir in the industry because of the unique artificial intelligence that powers it, enabling its universe to hold more than 18 quintillion planets, making it, in theory, infinite.
The procedural algorithm at the heart of the game uses mathematical equations to determine where a player is within the universe and display only that part of it at one time.
“The really short answer is I don’t actually go around trying to convince people that they should play No Man’s Sky,” Murray told the Press Association.
“I know that sounds weird but for some people this is a cool concept that they like the idea of – some people will watch a video and think ‘I am in’, others won’t.
“I’m OK with No Man’s Sky being a bit different and really appealing to some people and not to others.”
The game also has no obvious mission structure, with players placed on a planet at the start of the game with a spaceship that needs repairing before they can take off into space. From that point on, it is open to be played how a user wishes.
“It’s a very simple concept actually,” Murray says.
“You’re going to have a universe, it’s a sci-fi and you’re going to be able to visit all the planets. If you were a kid you would expect every game should have that, it’s only when you grow up that limitations come in.
“It’s a simple idea for us – build a universe, give them a spaceship and send them off.”
Since No Man’s Sky was first unveiled at the E3 games convention in 2014, it has been the subject of intense scrutiny, including when its launch date was pushed back from June.
This is something Murray admitted had been a challenge for the small independent studio, which is based in Guildford, Surrey.
“The game having the amount of interest that it has, you’re so outnumbered by the number of people who contact us or who want to talk to us or want more information about the game,” he said.
“The amount of noise that that generates, that’s a challenge. But it comes with this amazing thing and that is the community – who are in the vast majority and are just standing at the sidelines and just shouting you on.”
Murray, who has previously worked for Electronic Arts (EA), added that when it comes to public reaction to the unusual game, the studio is not seeking unanimous success.
“You know what, I don’t think it’ll get universal praise. I think it will resonate with some people and not with others and that’s fine,” he said.
“I’m not in this for universal praise or even commercial success, what I really want is just that a few people feel that emotion that we really wanted to get across with the game.
“That for a few people, they’re landing on a planet and they have a moment of awe or wonder or they feel that this is a little bit more real than a level in a game.”
