NoMansSky:Game Structure

Game Files

Once unpacked, the PCBANKS .PAK files reveal an organized tree of folders and files.
Here is a description of these files :

GLOBAL.MBIN Files - Global game settings

AUDIO

WEM format : encoded audio files

Voice Reference Table - A list of all the exosuit voice files with their WEM IDs.

BANKS_INTERMEDIATE - No known use

FONTS

FNT files : text files storing char maps to extract them from the .DDS canvas

DDS files : Textures storing fonts as images

INPUT

JSON files : text files storing devices input mappings

ACTIONS.JSON Reference file

LANGUAGE

LANGUAGE .MBIN files : store all the strings, texts and dialogs of the game

MATERIALS

MATERIAL.MBIN files : generic game materials.

METADATA - Game database

MODELS

SCENE.MBIN Files - similar to a prefab and holds information about in-game objects all the way from models, behaviors to audio, particle effects and more.

ENTITY.MBIN Files - the MBIN that defines interactions and behaviors of objects.

TkPhysicsComponentData - Models Physical properties

DESCRIPTOR.MBIN Files - handle the nested hierarchies of procedural generation in-game

Allowed Game Components in ENTITY Files

Properties allowed within the ENTITY file

Actions and Triggers

SimpleInteraction and Interaction Types

Reward trigger types and Reward item IDs

GEOMETRY.MBIN Files - store the 3D models

LSYSTEM.MBIN Files - Rules controling NPC buildings procedural generation

MATERIAL.MBIN Files - define the texture maps and shader flags to be used

ANIM.MBIN files - Animation files

Animation Curves

MUSIC

XML files : text files controlling music samples

PIPELINES

BIN files : text files controlling shaders branching

PLAYTOGETHER - unknown

PROMO - old game promotional files

SCENES - Trailer and demonstration static files

SHADERS

BIN files : shaders initialization text files

SPV files : Vulkan fragmented shader files

TEXTURES

CACHE.SQS : Texture caching file for quick texture adressing. Stores header and footer of most used textures

DDS files

TEXTURE.MBIN files

TPFSDICT - Encrypted profanity words you can't use in NMS

UI

MBIN files : describes all the components and parts of the game GUI

TTF files : Standard TrueType Fonts used in game menus and interfaces

Configuration Files

These files are storing main game configuration settings and are located directly in the No Man's Sky/Binaries/SETTINGS folder.
Note that these are basicaly .txt files so they can be edited with any text editor.

Here is the list of the available files :

GCUSERSETTINGSDATA.MXML : These are main game settings and unlocked products and items as seen in the catalog

TKGAMESETTINGS.MXML : Your custom key mapping if you have set some

TKGRAPHICSSETTINGS.MXML : Game Graphical settings plus a few extra more.

NOTE:

Be sure to set the file in read only mode after your change to prevent the game from overwriting your changes.

HDR

.cube files : HDR LUT calibration files (These are simple .txt files too)

Save Files

No Man's Sky save files are stored in recluded folders.

Individual save files

Here is an example showing where you can find it if your operating system is on your C: drive :

C:/Users/YourUserName/AppData/Roaming/HelloGames/NMS/st_76561198016365084

Just 2 notes about this path : YouUserName is your user name on your computer and the final folder is unique so yours will be different

Save files are in .hg format which is obvioulsy an Hello Games proprietary format but some save editors can read and edit these files.

Shared catalog discoveries

Be also aware that NMS stores all the item discovered in your catalog during any game save in a separated file.

This file is located in :

Steam\steamapps\common\No Man's Sky\Binaries\SETTINGS\GCUSERSETTINGSDATA.MXML

So if you want to fully save your progression, it's important to also save this file.