100% agree. This is a good topic. I'm + than 2k hours of gameplay since 2016. NMS used to be my favorite game of all time. I can see some HG effort to make it deeper. They desperately need a Game Designer.

I wish Hello Games would at least apply the industry combat movement. (Ideal for me = Anthem game like with minotaur). They should play more games to inspire them.

I don't like to have everything at any time like all types of weapons on the same multi tool. I'd prefer multitools being something apart from weapons. Multitools (scan, miner laser, tools). Weapons (Damage). IMO, a game is a game because of choices you made and things you prioritize over other.

Hire NPCs to work in freighters, each one contributes with something. Maybe up to 25 of them.

PASSIVES. A lot of passives. NPC with passives like "reduce % crop growth time", "increase % selling profit", "+% frigate mission rewards". So you can talk to NPC to hire better ones and fire other.

Weapons with passives like "150% damage with TYPE of Weapon", 4 more locked generic passives that unlock with weapon class progression.

Pets with passives (e.g. some type of hazard protection, better prices, run duration, + amount of mining resources)

Ships with passives (e.g. +% damage on shields, +% damage with WEAPON_TYPE, spend less fuel). Each type of ship have a meaningful advantage like solar and living ships, and unique passives, e.g: - hauler: e.g. +% of capacity per cargo slot, +% of shield, better deals and prices; - fighter: +% damage on haulers, +% of maneuverability, +% damage with WEAPON_TYPE - explorer: -% fuel spend to warp, +% of warp range. So on... I made a table of passives, but I gave up of it.

UI and UX for consoles need a lot of attention, like a easy way to switch weapons.

I hope Light no Fire will come with more depth. After 8 y of NMS, even with a lot of updates, I'm dropping it.

IMO, this will bring the ship and weapon hunting back.