In the summer of 2016, a wave of industry hype made No Man’s Sky one of the biggest releases of the entire year. Created by indie studio Hello Games, the game promised players the ability to explore a seemingly endless procedurally generated universe.

However, when the first NMS copies sold well and reviews were posted, the tide turned against the hopeful developers.

Seven years after a disastrous launch, NMS is almost completely unrecognizable. Older graphics have been revamped, large groups of players use multiplayer features to complete expeditions, and others build futuristic mechs and cities. Most importantly, fans and critics view NMS in a positive light, showering the title with praise and positive reviews on Steam.

But how did an independent development team breathe new life into their game?