These are essentially seasons akin to Diablo, Path of Exile, or other games of that ilk. In a recent update, Hello Games added a new Expeditions feature which gives the game more structure than it’s ever had before.
While I have a list of things I’d like to get to eventually like finally getting an S-Class freighter, unlocking all Nanite research, and getting every Quicksilver cosmetic, those are all user driver goals. The early part of the game has clear objectives and goals. I’ve started No Man’s Sky over more times than I have save slots. If you’re anything like me, this actually starts to be a problem. Go explore the cosmos, settle all kinds of planets, invest money into creating mineral extractors, become a farmer, the number of things to do never seems to stop growing.