Hello Games appears to be ramping up the teasing for the next major No Man’s Sky update, Cosmos, with another round of mysterious emoji posts. After previously dropping cocktail glasses, the official No Man’s Sky account has now added a cowboy emoji to the mix, sending players back into speculation mode ahead of what could be an imminent reveal.
The timing is especially interesting since Cosmos was first announced during No Man’s Sky’s 10th anniversary celebrations in August 2026, but Hello Games has revealed almost nothing about what the update will actually contain.
In brief:
- Hello Games has posted more cryptic emojis seemingly teasing the No Man’s Sky Cosmos update.
- Cocktail emojis are widely believed to reference a Cosmopolitan, or “Cosmo,” tying directly into the Cosmos name.
- A cowboy emoji has now joined the teasing as Steam activity around No Man’s Sky continues.
- Hello Games has yet to officially reveal the features or release date for Cosmos.
Sean Murray’s Emoji Teasing Returns for No Man’s Sky Cosmos
Cryptic emojis have become something of a tradition whenever a new No Man’s Sky update is getting close. Hello Games founder Sean Murray previously posted a cocktail glass emoji, with the official accounts later joining in with even more glasses.
Players quickly made the obvious connection between a Cosmopolitan cocktail, commonly shortened to “Cosmo,” and the upcoming Cosmos update. Hello Games has not officially explained the meaning, but similar emoji campaigns have preceded previous No Man’s Sky updates, making the timing difficult to ignore.
Now, a cowboy emoji has appeared alongside the ongoing cocktail teasing, giving the community another clue to obsess over. Whether the cowboy points toward an actual Cosmos feature or is simply another playful part of Hello Games’ marketing remains unclear.
Steam Activity Adds to Cosmos Update Speculation
There are also signs of activity behind the scenes. SteamDB recorded changes connected to No Man’s Sky on September 8 and September 9, adding further fuel to speculation that something is being prepared for release. These changes do not reveal what Cosmos contains, but combined with the emoji posts, fans understandably believe an announcement could be close.
Cosmos was originally teased as the next chapter of No Man’s Sky during the game’s tenth anniversary. After a decade and almost 40 major free updates, Hello Games is still expanding its procedurally generated universe with no indication that support is slowing down.
