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Quick Answer

  • The Base Computer is free to craft and must be placed before you can build anything else at a location.
  • It defines your base's center point and creates a circular buildable area with a default radius of roughly 300u.
  • You can expand that boundary outward to a hard cap of around 1000u by placing structural or technology objects at the edge of each bubble.
  • Each player save supports up to 400 planetary bases plus a freighter base. More than you'll ever realistically need.
  • Each individual base is capped at 3,000 components for server upload; exceeding this prevents the base from being visible to other players in multiplayer, though it still functions for you.
  • The Base Computer Archives mission unlocks key blueprints (Storage Containers, Landing Pad, and more) by interacting with your base computer and learning alien language words to decrypt each cycle.
  • Deleting a base removes everything permanently; half of the materials used can be retrieved via a Base Salvage Capsule.

Overview

The Base Computer is the cornerstone of every structure you build on a planet in No Man's Sky. Drop one anywhere on a planet surface, claim the territory, and the game registers your ownership with the Universal Cartographic Archive. From that moment on, a circular zone radiates outward from the computer's position: within that zone, you can place floors, walls, power systems, farming equipment, and hundreds of other modules.

Understanding how the Base Computer works, what limits it imposes, and how to push those limits outward is essential knowledge for any player who wants to build a serious automated farm, a scenic outpost, or a functional multi-hotspot mining operation.

Placing Your First Base Computer

The Base Computer is found under the Portable Technology category in your build menu. It costs nothing to craft, no materials required. You'll unlock access to it after progressing through the early story and speaking with Artemis during Alone Amidst the Stars.

When you place the Base Computer:

  1. Open your build menu (hold the build button, then navigate to Portable Technology).
  2. Select Base Computer and choose a flat or suitable location.
  3. Interact with the computer to claim the territory and name your base.
  4. You can now build freely within the surrounding boundary.

Tip: Choose your placement spot carefully. The Base Computer can be picked up and repositioned anywhere within your existing base boundary (added in update 3.73), but moving it only moves the physical object. It does not shift the base's center point or expand the zone in a new direction. If you want your buildable area to cover a specific hotspot or scenic view, plan your initial placement accordingly.

The Base Computer Archives Mission

Shortly after placing your first Base Computer and speaking with Artemis, you'll receive the Base Computer Archives secondary mission. This repeating quest chain is one of the best sources of early base-building blueprints, and it's worth engaging with consistently.

How It Works

The mission tasks you with checking your Base Computer periodically. Each time you interact with it, the computer asks for a password to decrypt the next archive segment. You provide that password by learning new alien language words, interacting with alien monoliths and knowledge stones out in the world, and once you've learned the right word, you can unlock the cycle, receive a blueprint, build the unlocked item, and move on to the next cycle.

Previously this mission was time-gated, requiring real-world waits between steps. Following the Waypoint update, the time-gate was removed and replaced with the alien-word password system, so the more you explore and interact with alien knowledge stones and monoliths, the faster you can progress.

What You Unlock

The Archives mission progresses through multiple cycles and rewards blueprints for core base structures, including:

Stage Notable Reward
First cycle Storage Container
Subsequent cycles Various walls, structures, and base-building parts
Later cycles Landing Pad and additional functional base items
After Part 1 Computer directs you to an Abandoned Building in a nearby system for further cycles and blueprints

Completing the chain is strongly recommended before committing to a large base build. Quality-of-life pieces like the Landing Pad (so ships can land at your base) are gated behind it. For context on why storage matters early, see the No Man's Sky Early Game Checklist.

Understanding the Base Boundary

Default Radius

When you place a Base Computer, it creates a circular buildable area centered on that point. The default radius is approximately 300u in all directions. You'll see the boundary visualized as a glowing circle on the ground while in build mode. Anything beyond it is off-limits until you expand.

The boundary is one of the few limits the build system enforces strictly. Most of the others (what can snap to what, what can be scaled, what can overlap) turn out to be negotiable if you know the input tricks, which is the subject of the glitch building guide.

Why Expansion Matters

A 300u radius is generous for a small outpost, but serious builders quickly outgrow it. If you want to:

  • Reach a mineral hotspot that sits just beyond your starting boundary
  • Build a long landing strip or extended structure
  • Run multiple mineral extractors spread across a wide resource deposit
  • Create sprawling scenic builds with room to breathe

...you'll need to push that boundary outward. See the No Man's Sky Automated Mining: Mineral Extractors & Supply Depots guide for a detailed look at why hotspot placement matters so much for mining bases.

How to Expand Your Base Boundary

The boundary expansion system in No Man's Sky works through a bubble mechanic. Every time you place a qualifying object at or near the edge of your current buildable zone, the game creates an additional bubble of buildable space, roughly 50u in radius, centered on that new object. You can then place another object at the edge of that bubble, creating a chain that gradually extends your reach.

Step-by-Step Expansion

  1. Save and reload first. There is a known bug where the boundary locks after teleporting to your base, preventing expansion. Save using a Save Point or Beacon inside your base, then reload the save. This resets the boundary and allows expansion.
  2. Enter build mode and walk to the edge of your current boundary (you'll see the limit glow on the ground).
  3. Place a structural or technology object right at the boundary edge. Good choices include:
  • A flat floor panel (cheap, uses minimal resources)
  • A wall segment
  • A Storage Container
  • Any technology module
  1. The game immediately generates a ~50u expansion bubble around that object.
  2. Walk to the edge of the new bubble and repeat. Placing another object to extend again.
  3. Keep chaining outward until you reach your target location or the hard cap.

What Counts (and What Doesn't)

Not every object triggers an expansion bubble. The item must be a structural or technology element:

Creates Expansion Bubble Does NOT Create Expansion Bubble
Floor/wall/roof panels Decorations and furniture
Storage Containers Decals
Technology modules Non-harvestable plants
Supply Depots Lights and small props

When in doubt, a basic floor panel is the cheapest and most reliable option for extending your boundary.

The Hard Cap

The maximum boundary you can establish through daisy-chaining is approximately 1000u from the original Base Computer location. Once you hit this limit, the game will not allow further expansion regardless of what you place.

Important: Power wiring and supply pipes do not extend automatically. If you chain your boundary out to a remote hotspot, you'll need to run power lines all the way from your main base or install independent solar panels and batteries at the remote location. The No Man's Sky Base Power & Wiring Guide covers this in detail.

Base Limits: How Many Bases Can You Have?

No Man's Sky is generous with base counts. Each save file supports:

  • Up to 400 planetary bases
  • Plus 1 freighter base
  • Plus 1 planetary settlement (if you govern one)

For the vast majority of players, 400 bases is essentially unlimited. You can place outposts near every portal, on every planet you mine, near every trade route, and still have room to spare.

Per-Base Component Limits

Each individual base has a hard cap of 3,000 components. This includes every object you've placed: floors, walls, power lines, machines, decorations, and so on. Bases that exceed 3,000 components cannot be uploaded to the server, meaning other players in multiplayer won't see them, but they still function normally for you.

Across your entire save file, there is also a global limit on total base objects. If you're a dedicated builder running many large bases, keep an eye on this total as you scale up.

Deleting and Relocating a Base

Deleting a Base

Interact with your Base Computer and choose the Delete Base option. This removes the computer and every object built around it. Be aware:

  • When you delete a base, half of the materials used in its construction are automatically set aside. These can be retrieved using a Base Salvage Capsule: a piece of base technology whose blueprint is unlocked after you acquire your first freighter. The capsule does not need to be present before you delete; it simply lets you collect the refunded materials afterward.
  • After deletion, the land remains claimed for approximately three real-world days before it can be reclaimed by another player (the server needs time to clear the registration).
  • Deletion is permanent. There is no undo.

Moving Your Base

You cannot move a base as a whole to a new location. Your options are:

  1. Reposition the Base Computer within your existing boundary (it moves the physical object only, not the zone center).
  2. Delete the base and place a new Base Computer elsewhere.
  3. Build a second base at the new location. Since you have 400 slots, there's rarely a reason not to just start fresh elsewhere.

FAQ

How do I unlock the Base Computer?

You receive access to the Base Computer blueprint after progressing through the early story mission Alone Amidst the Stars and speaking with Artemis. It costs nothing to craft and appears under Portable Technology in your build menu. If you're still on the first planet and haven't triggered this yet, the No Man's Sky: How to Repair Your Ship & Leave the First Planet guide will help you get to that point.

Why can't I build beyond my base boundary?

You've hit the 300u default radius. To expand, place any structural object (a floor panel works) at the very edge of the glowing boundary circle. This creates a ~50u expansion bubble at that point. If it still won't let you build, save and reload. There's a known bug triggered by teleporting that locks the boundary until you do a fresh load.

Can I have multiple bases on the same planet?

Yes. You can place as many bases as you like on the same planet, and each has its own independent boundary. There's no restriction on proximity between bases on the same world, though their zones cannot overlap.

What happens if I exceed 3,000 parts in a base?

Your base continues to function normally for you: all machines, farms, and extractors keep working. However, the base cannot be uploaded, meaning it won't appear in other players' games during multiplayer. If community visibility matters to you, keep builds under the 3,000-part ceiling.

Does the Base Computer Archives mission ever end?

The first part of the mission concludes when the archive data reaches 98% recovered and you unlock and build the Landing Pad blueprint. After that, your Base Computer directs you to an Abandoned Building in a nearby star system for additional cycles and blueprints. The chain eventually concludes after visiting multiple abandoned archives.

Can I expand my boundary more than 1000u?

Not through normal means. The ~1000u mark is a hard-coded cap. If you need to access a resource hotspot farther away, you'll need to place a separate Base Computer closer to it and build a second base there. You can then link both bases to the same teleporter network. See the No Man's Sky Teleporters & Base Networking Guide for details.

Key Takeaways

  • Place your Base Computer freely. It costs nothing and immediately claims a ~300u radius of buildable territory.
  • Complete the Base Computer Archives mission as you play; it's the main source of early blueprints like Storage Containers and the Landing Pad. Progress by learning alien language words to decrypt each cycle.
  • Expand your boundary by placing structural or technology objects at the edge of each bubble. Cheap floor panels work perfectly.
  • The maximum boundary is ~1000u from the base computer; plan your layout before committing to a long chain.
  • Each base is capped at 3,000 components for server upload, and each save holds up to 400 planetary bases.
  • Always save and reload if your boundary feels locked. This fixes the most common expansion bug.
  • Deleting a base lets you recover half the materials used. Retrieve them afterward with a Base Salvage Capsule (unlocked once you have a freighter).