How to Start No Man’s Sky Expedition 9: Utopia

Expeditions are some of the most enjoyable missions in No Man’s Sky. They present players with a loose framework to use as a story and let them smash through objectives to earn cosmetic rewards they can use in future playthroughs. But first, they need to start those Expeditions.

The Utopia Expedition is the ninth Expedition that No Man’s Sky has received. This Expedition ties in with the Fractal Update and tasks players with working together to restore a planet and an entire system. However, the Expedition has also been rerun in December 2023, giving all players a second chance at earning the rewards they might have missed out on.

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How Do You Start No Man’s Sky Expedition 9: Utopia?

To start No Man’s Sky Expedition 9: Utopia, players must launch the game and select the option to start a new save file. This will take them to the game mode selection screen, where they can choose Community Expedition from the box in the top right-hand corner of the screen.

At the time of writing, Expedition 9: Utopia has been added to this screen because Hello Games is rerunning it as a celebration of No Man’s Sky at the end of December 2023. This means the Expedition is live for the second time so all players who missed it the first time can get in and claim those rewards. However, it won’t be live for as long as a standard Expedition, so players must work through the objectives quickly if they want every reward possible.

What Do You Do in No Man’s Sky Expedition 9: Utopia?

The overall goal of the Utopia Expedition in No Man’s Sky is to restore an entire system to its former glory. Bakkin was an affluent system at one point in time, but now it’s fallen into decay with halted trade routes and a rotting space station orbiting the local star along with the abandoned planets. To top things off, some anomalous solar activity is preventing any player from crafting outside of their shelters or planetary bases.

You’re part of the Utopia Foundation, a group of people working together for the system’s restoration. You’ll join a grand reconstruction program and complete various Milestones that will bring the system back to life. If you complete every Milestone and Phase, you’ll unlock the Bio-Warden Companion. This helpful robot follows you about and aids you in whatever you’re trying to do, including collecting resources.