
In the video game No Man's Sky, players can customize their starships in a variety of ways. While some players have expressed a desire to paint their ships, the base game does not include this feature. However, as of 2024, the Orbital update has introduced ship customization, allowing players to personalize their ships' colors, decals, and textures. Players can access the Ship Customizer at every space station to modify their ships' appearances. Additionally, players can enhance their ships' performance by selecting different parts, such as engines, shields, and weapons, to suit their preferred playstyle.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Can players paint ships in No Man's Sky? | Yes, since the Orbital update in March 2024, players can customize the color of their ships. Before this update, players could only change the color of their ships by editing the save file (JSON) or using a third-party save editor. |
| Customization options | Players can choose from a variety of colors, decals, and texture modes to personalize their ships. They can also swap out core body parts, wings, boosters, and nose cones. |
| In-game impact | Ship customization can significantly affect gameplay. Different ship classes excel in different areas, and players can tailor their ships to their preferred playstyle by upgrading weapons, shields, hyperdrive, and scanners. |
| Player feedback | Some players appreciate the added creativity and personalization that ship customization brings. Others enjoy the "Easter egg hunt" aspect of finding ships with their desired colors and specifications. |
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What You'll Learn
- Players can manually edit save files to change ship colours
- Ship colour customisation is possible when building a new ship
- Players can buy a ship of the same model in a different colour
- Ship customisation is not just about aesthetics, it can affect performance
- Hello Games has hinted at future updates to expand ship customisation

Players can manually edit save files to change ship colours
While No Man's Sky does not offer an in-game feature to paint ships, players can manually edit save files to change ship colours. This method involves editing the raw JSON save file, which the game recognizes and reads. Players can also use a third-party save editor to change the seed of their ship, which includes its colour.
To achieve a custom paint job, players must first purchase a ship of the same model in a different colour. Then, they can use a save editor to swap the seeds of the two ships. This process allows players to effectively recolour their ship, as the seed contains the colour information. However, it is important to note that this method may be challenging for beginners and may not work for all ship types.
Some players have expressed their desire for an official ship painting feature in No Man's Sky. They argue that finding a ship with the perfect combination of class, style, colour, and inventory/upgrade size is extremely difficult. Adding a ship painting feature would alleviate this challenge and give players more control over their ship's appearance.
Additionally, players have suggested that the ability to paint ships could be implemented through an in-game token system. This would allow players to maintain the excitement of hunting for ships while also having the option to customize their ship's colour if desired. However, others enjoy the Easter egg hunt aspect of finding ships and prefer the current system without custom painting.
While manual save file editing provides a workaround for ship painting, players eagerly anticipate future updates from Hello Games that may introduce official ship painting features. These updates could include a wider range of colours, decals, and other personalization options, enhancing the ship customization experience in No Man's Sky.
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Ship colour customisation is possible when building a new ship
Ship colour customisation is possible in No Man's Sky, but only when building a new ship. Players can choose the primary, secondary, and accent colours in matte or metallic from a selection of 12 colours.
While the game does not currently support repainting ships, players have found a way to customise their ship's colour by editing the save file (a raw JSON file). This method is not recommended for beginners, but it does work to varying degrees with all ships except the ball exotics. The game uses a 4-part RGB system of percentages to determine each colour, done as a decimal: 1.0 is 100%, 0.5 is 50%, and the last number is transparency (almost always set to 1.0).
Some players have also suggested that the ability to customise ship colours should be a feature implemented in the game, rather than having to rely on editing save files. This would allow players to have more control over the appearance of their ships and make them feel more personally connected to their ships. Additionally, some players have suggested that ship colour should not be tied to functionality, as it currently is in the game.
The developers of No Man's Sky, Hello Games, have hinted at future updates that will further expand ship customisation options, including more colours and decals. The Orbital update, released in March 2024, revamped ship customisation, allowing players to swap out the core body, wings, boosters, and nose cone of eligible ships, unlocking different silhouettes. Each new ship scrapped gives players customisation blueprints for its specific parts.
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Players can buy a ship of the same model in a different colour
Players of No Man's Sky have been asking for the ability to customise the colour of their ships for years. While the game does not currently offer an in-game feature to change the colour of ships, players have found a workaround. One way to get a ship in your preferred colour is to buy a ship of the same model in a different colour.
To do this, players can follow these steps:
- Purchase a ship of the same model in the desired colour.
- Use a save editor to swap the seeds of the original ship and the newly purchased ship.
- Enjoy your new paint job!
It is important to note that this method only works if you already own a ship of the same model. Finding a ship with the same model and desired colour can be challenging and time-consuming. Additionally, this method may not be suitable for beginners as it requires manual editing of the save file.
While this workaround allows players to change the colour of their ships, it is not an ideal solution. Players have expressed their desire for an official ship customisation feature, similar to the one available for land vehicles, that would allow them to personalise their ships without having to resort to workarounds. Some players suggest that the ability to customise ships could be unlocked through in-game tokens or other means, maintaining the excitement of hunting for unique ships while also providing customisation options.
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Ship customisation is not just about aesthetics, it can affect performance
Ship customisation in No Man's Sky is not just about aesthetics; it can also affect performance. While players have been asking for the ability to customise the colour of their ships for years, ship customisation can also impact how players play the game.
The ability to customise ships in No Man's Sky was introduced with the Orbital update, which sparked a wave of creativity in the community. Players can now select from various parts to enhance their ship's performance, including engines, shields, and weapons, classified under different categories like Fighters, Explorers, and Haulers. Each part plays a role in how the ship performs, and upgrades can be applied to improve these functionalities, making journeys through the galaxy smoother and safer. For example, a player who wants to focus on combat may choose to upgrade their weapons and shields, while another who wants to explore may opt for a larger hyperdrive and improved scanners.
The ability to customise ships also adds to the excitement of the game. Some players enjoy the challenge of hunting for the "perfect" ship, which extends gameplay and encourages networking among players. However, others argue that customisation options for colour, at the very least, should be included in the game. Some players have resorted to using third-party save editors to change the colour of their ships, but this is not an ideal solution as it requires manual editing of the save file and may not work for all ships.
With the Orbital update, Hello Games has hinted at future updates that will further expand ship customisation options, including new parts, colours, and decals. Players are eagerly awaiting these updates, which will allow them to personalise their ships even further and make their ships truly unique.
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Hello Games has hinted at future updates to expand ship customisation
No Man's Sky is a fantasy science-fiction game set in an infinite, procedurally-generated universe. Players have long been asking for the ability to customise their ships, including changing their paint job. While some players enjoy the Easter egg hunt aspect of finding a ship with their desired colour, others believe that customisation options would add depth to the game.
Previously, the only way to change a ship's colour was to buy a ship of the same model in a different colour and then use a save editor to swap seeds. However, this method was considered cumbersome and expensive.
Hello Games, the studio behind No Man's Sky, has consistently updated and improved the game since its launch. In March 2023, players could finally change the colour of their ship names, and in April 2024, ship customisation was added to the game. The Orbital update introduced various tools and options for modifying ships, including the ability to change the colour, body parts, and decals. Players can now scrap unwanted ships to obtain various parts and trade with other players to get specific parts.
While the addition of ship customisation was well-received, some players were disappointed with the limited colour palette of only 20 colours. Hello Games has hinted at future updates that will further expand ship customisation options, including more parts, colours, and decals. The ability to add wear and tear to ships to make them look older is also a highly requested feature. With Hello Games' dedication to improving the game, players can look forward to even more ways to personalise their ships in the future.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, players can now customize their ships in No Man's Sky. The Orbital update, released on March 27, 2024, introduced the Ship Customizer, which allows players to personalize their ship's colors, decals, and texture modes.
To change the color of your ship, you need to find the Ship Customizer, which is usually located near the ship scrapping area at every space station. There, you can access options to customize your ship's colors, decals, and other parts.
You can change the color of your existing ship. However, some players have mentioned using workarounds to change the color of their ships before the Orbital update. These include buying a ship of the same model in a different color and then using a save editor to swap the seeds, or manually editing the save file (raw JSON).











































