The Orbital Update brings one of the best new features to No Man’s Sky: Ship Customization!
At long last, we can finally make our very own custom Starships to explore the vastness of space. It can be hard to get all the right parts and stuff, though, so it requires some elbow grease…
If you’re eager to build your very own custom ship, read on and we’ll tell you everything you need to know about Ship Customization.
Ship Customization Basics and Location
You can start the Ship Customization process at any given moment by visiting the new “Starship Fabricator” terminal.
There’s one in every inhabited Space Station out there!
The important thing to note here is that the terminal is that “Fabricator” is the key word here. It means you will be creating new custom Starships from scratch, not customizing existing ones.
It makes the term Ship Customization a bit of a misnomer, but it’s what the feature is officially called!
Anyway, interact with the terminal to start the process of making your very own custom Starship. You’ll get to make one of three types of ships, with each one requiring specific parts as follows:
- Fighter – Wings, Thruster/Engines, Fuselage.
- Hauler – Wings, Thruster/Engines, co*ckpit.
- Explorer – Left Wing, Right Wing, Hull.
You’ll need to have at least one of every part type for the ship you want to make! Additionally, you’ll require a Reactor Core part to complete the ship customization.
Do note, different parts within a category will have different stats. The game doesn’t show the stats for each specific part, though…
Once you’ve placed all of the parts down, a color palette will appear and let you further customize your ship’s appearance.
When you’re happy with your creation, click on Assemble and you’ll get a preview of your ship’s stats and inventory.
This also lets you add in any extra Components you have onto your ship, such as Warp Drives and Upgrades.
Finish your selection and click on “Proceed” to finalize your custom ship. You can then add it to your collection or swap your current ship for this new one.
Alternatively, press “Leave” to return to the previous part selection screen.
How to Get Ship Customization Parts in No Man’s Sky: Orbital Update
Now, it’s time to address the elephant in the room: how to get the actual parts themselves! Well, the only way to do so is by scrapping and salvaging ships in your collection.
For example, you can scrap any Fighter-type ship you have to get one of the Fighter-type parts.
However, you will only get one Customization Module part every single time you scrap a ship. This makes the process of getting parts somewhat arduous and very expensive if you decide to buy Starships to scrap.
Of course, you can also get the parts for free by salvaging Crashed Ships found on planets. It’s a time-consuming process, but it doesn’t cost a single Unit once you have the right tools!
To salvage a ship for its parts, approach the “Starship Outfitting” terminal. Just like with the Ship Fabricator, there’s one in every Space Station.
The terminal will allow you to scrap your current ship by selecting the “Begin Salvage Analysis” option. Do keep in mind that some special ships can’t be scrapped, though!
Once the Salvage Analysis is complete, select “Extract customization module”.
Lastly, select the one part you wish to get from the ship.
As said previously, you only get a single part for every ship you scrap, so choose wisely!
In short, you’ll need to scrap at least 3 different ships of the same class before you can use the Ship Fabricator to make one new custom Starship. It’s going to be a bit of a grind, to be frank…
Additionally, you’ll need to get a Reactor Core. Every single ship requires one!
How to Get Reactor Cores for Custom Ships and How They Work
Reactor Cores, unlike the other 3 parts of your Starship, are infinitely easier to get. You just have to speak to your local Technology Merchant!
Every Space Station has one Technology Merchant, too, so just approach them and choose to Purchase Upgrade Modules.
They do, however, cost Nanite Clusters. The better the Reactor Core, the higher the price.
You can get Nanite Clusters from multiple sources. This includes defeating Sentinels, cataloging all species on a planet, or even just looting abandoned buildings.
It’s also worth noting that the Reactor Core will also be the sole definer of your Starship’s Class. Splurging on an S-Class Reactor Core will ensure that your ship is the best it can be!
Once you’ve bought the Reactor Core you want and obtained enough Customization Module parts, you’re all set to start making your very own custom ships.
Head on back to the Starship Fabricator terminal and use what we’ve told you in this guide to make a ship you can truly call your oown!
