Subnautica 2 (Early Access in 2025)

[Morgoth]

About This Game​

Subnautica 2 is an underwater survival adventure game set on an all-new alien ocean world. It is the next chapter in the Subnautica universe, developed by Unknown Worlds.

New World, New Adventure​

A new world awaits alongside an all-new story. You are a pioneer traveling to a distant world, but something is amiss. The ship's AI insists you carry on the mission. This world is too dangerous for humans to survive… Unless you change what it means to be human. What creatures, intelligent or otherwise, await your arrival?

Explore with Friends​

Play alone or with up to three friends in online multiplayer co-op. Whether exploring mysterious ruins, building custom bases, or adventuring deeper into the world… The challenge of this planet will test your ingenuity and ability to adapt, in unexpected and curious ways.

Craft Submersibles, Tools, and Bases​

Survival depends on utilizing the right tools. Alongside basic items such as your Scanner and Flashlight, you’ll find recipes for more advanced tools, equipment, and submersibles. Bases are more customizable with an overhauled building system. New tools allow for greater adaptation to the world.

Uncover Diverse New Biomes​

From towering underwater cliffs to lush coral fields, this aquatic alien world is brimming with vibrant and breathtaking biomes, each teeming with diverse ecosystems and unique creatures. But something isn’t right. The world is out of balance. What happened here? What happened to you? And more importantly, where are you?

Study Mysterious Lifeforms​

Uncover a rich world full of mysterious lifeforms, from the smallest fish to the largest Leviathans. Scan creatures to learn more about them. Use your Biosampler to take samples for study. As you learn more about this world, evolve your genetics to adapt your body for survival.

Survive Terrifying Depths​

This world is vast and deep. Venture beyond the safety of shallow waters, descending into a dark unknown. Wonder and danger lurks around every corner. To survive this planet, you’ll need to push beyond your boundaries and unlock the secrets of this strange world.

About the Team​

Subnautica 2 is being created by Unknown Worlds, a fully remote studio that traces its roots back to the 2002 Half-Life mod Natural Selection. It is the same studio that created the original Subnautica. The team is scattered around the globe, from the United States to the United Kingdom, France, Iceland, Austria, Australia, Canada, India, and many more places.

Early Access Development​

Subnautica 2 will be an Early Access game meaning it will be in active development at release. You may encounter bugs, in-development features, and performance issues. We will be adding additional biomes, creatures, craftables, and narrative as we proceed. Join us in Early Access and help shape the future of Subnautica 2.

 

[ColossusCimmerian]

I am looking forward to playing this game. Below Zero had mixed reviews, I don't pay much attention to it, and I didn't play it. I didn't continue playing the first game because it had a poor performance and a small world to explore. After you finish the game the first time, there is not much to explore.

 

[OSK]

Hopefully this is more Subnautica and less Below Zero.

For the record, I don't think Below Zero is terrible. It's just a let down because it's inferior to the original in every way.

 

[ColossusCimmerian]

Hopefully this is more Subnautica and less Below Zero.

For the record, I don't think Below Zero is terrible. It's just a let down because it's inferior to the original in every way.

In any case, as with any other game, it is advisable to wait for a period of 1 or 2 years before purchasing it.

 

[Lovely Feather Pillow]

Needs more blacks

 

[Elttharion]

First one was great. Second one was absolutely terrible. Hoping they let us customize our characters and keep the story at a minimum. Also no land exploration.

 

[Morgoth]

Needs more blacks

Maybe the whites all live a comfy life on Earth.

 

[Fargus]

They probably don't exist in diverse future the devs envisioned.

I'm tired of this type of games, but i always liked this weird reddit fish in the first one.

 

[Iucounu]

Needs more blacks

Maybe the whites all live a comfy life on Earth.

I'd love to play an all-black Subnautica if it was made by Africans. But since it's made by woke white Californians it's a hard pass.

 

[Hellraiser]

Best part of the first game was wreck diving.

Seconds best part of the first game was just exploring and trying to map the surroundings, finding entrances into the depths and new stuff etc.

The third best part was going into the Aurora wreck.

Below Zero failed because it never had anything comparable to those three. Map was too cramped and too rigidly divided into biomes (these were more scattered around the map of the original). The surface exploration sucked mechanically and didn't have any nice hidden stuff like the Aurora did. And of course the whole game had like one wreck (well I guess three, since it was split into 3 parts) to dive into.

It would be great if they learned from the failure of Below Zero, but considering that the teaser has shown just some bad CGI (or bad ingame footage, honestly it looks pretty shit) of a brocolli-haired nig-nog and pandering to "ocean is scary" memes about the first game, I do not have high hopes for this game.

 

[Iucounu]

Below Zero failed because it never had anything comparable to those three.

Instead it seems they focused on the already abysmal character writing. I guess that's what happens when you hire female writers, but do even female gamers like it (maybe they do)?

 

[Hellraiser]

Instead it seems they focused on the already abysmal character writing.

Here I have to say I disagree specifically with calling it "already abysmal". The character writing in the first game was fine, because it was just fluff, decor. it had it's place and didn't force its way in your face. It felt more like a classical excuse plot, not the focus. Hell here's one difference between the two, apart from the Sunbeam transmissions you never got forced to listen to any character. Just don't press the radio receiver to replay messages, you could skip the dialog from the logs and just skim it over.

Instead the developers thought that being able to make a few silly jokes about corporations means they should go for a narrative heavy game next, which of course meant a linear experience that made the map of Below Zero felt even worse than it otherwise could have had. And of course shoving the writing in your face with unskippable dialog. No longer was the theme and ambience one about solitude, that Man vs Nature kind of struggle that really was the first game (where nature is not just the fish, but also the iconic WARNING OXYGEN and ocean depths you could get lost in), Nature was just something you saw along the way while you got to experience THE STORY, that trite personal quest of the main character. Ugh.

I don't remember what exactly the OG version of the Below Zero story was, but I remember it was even worse about it because the sister IIRC was still alive and constantly chatting with the DEI main character.

 

[Iucounu]

Instead it seems they focused on the already abysmal character writing.

Here I have to say I disagree specifically with calling it "already abysmal". The character writing in the first game was fine, because it was just fluff, decor. it had it's place and didn't force its way in your face. It felt more like a classical excuse plot, not the focus.

What made it abysmal to me was things like the absurd female(?) merc character, and the clichéd subplot about her asserting dominance over the capitalist male. But I agree it didn't interefere too much with the real gameplay.

Instead the developers thought that being able to make a few silly jokes about corporations means they should go for a narrative heavy game next, which of course meant a linear experience that made the map of Below Zero felt even worse than it otherwise could have had. And of course shoving the writing in your face with unskippable dialog.

And make the female merc return as a main character.

No longer was the theme and ambience one about solitude, that Man vs Nature kind of struggle that really was the first game (where nature is not just the fish, but also the iconic WARNING OXYGEN and ocean depths you could get lost in), Nature was just something you saw along the way while you got to experience THE STORY, that trite personal quest of the main character. Ugh.

True. Why even make a space game to begin with then? The personal drama could work just as well in say an office setting, and then the devs wouldn't have had to create all the alien wildlife (most of the fish can't talk, after all).

 

[udm]

And make the female merc return as a main character.

Even in the first game, Marguerit Maida's logs were insufferable, the worst of them all. IIRC it was she who caused the destruction of Paul Torgal's base, when she brought in the unconscious Reaper.

 

[Iucounu]

And make the female merc return as a main character.

IIRC it was she who caused the destruction of Paul Torgal's base, when she brought in the unconscious Reaper.

You'd expect the writers to blame the male capitalist for that, but for once they subverted expectations.

 

[babayaga]

Listening to the recordings in the first game while exploring was mood. The game in general was amazing except the very ending that was "corporations bad" nonsense.

I wanted exactly the same thing again in Below Zero but they had to make it gay.

I have no hope for this one, they will force on you some leftist gay shit again.
I'll keep up with it out of curiosity but that's it.

 

[ColossusCimmerian]

I have no hope for this one, they will force on you some leftist gay shit again.

Similar to every other game that has been released in recent times.

 

[babayaga]

I have no hope for this one, they will force on you some leftist gay shit again.

Similar to every other game that has been released in recent times.

Not true, there are plenty of indies and bigger eastern game studios that actively avoid politics.
All of the AAA western companies are high on leftist shit and a couple of western indies too. Avoid those and you are good.

 

[Iucounu]

The game in general was amazing except the very ending that was "corporations bad" nonsense.

The spaceship crafting was unrealistic and unchallenging. It would have much better if say you'd have to scavenge engine parts from the still radioactive Aurora wreck.

I wanted exactly the same thing again in Below Zero but they had to make it gay.

Below Zero was actually the very first game I decided to boycott (after seeing the CEO's pronouns, Pride flag and BLM hashtags on Twitter). Back then I didn't know the actual game was going to be bad, but in retrospect it of course makes perfect sense.

 

[Rövtomte]

Long as they don't reuse the fucking indian AI voice from Below zero. I hated hearing that annoying voice everytime I was running out of oxygen. "WARNING TEN SEKUNDS OF OXIGON REMANIN".

I ain't racist of course, but god damn at least try make the voices tolerable.

 

[udm]

Long as they don't reuse the fucking indian AI voice from Below zero. I hated hearing that annoying voice everytime I was running out of oxygen. "WARNING TEN SEKUNDS OF OXIGON REMANIN".

I ain't racist of course, but god damn at least try make the voices tolerable.

I'll always remember these 2 posts by None and Zarniwoop
https://rpgcodex.net/forums/threads...rning-past-post-1.120137/page-18#post-7391147
https://rpgcodex.net/forums/threads...stroyed-yet-another-game.143189/#post-7955601

Spoiler

I like Subnautica: Below Zero

Couldn't play Below Zero due to the fucking PDA voice. Whoever thought a woman with an Indian accent was a good idea is an idiot. "Passing 200 Meters" turns into "PARSING TWO HUNDRUD MEEDERS" and it's quite jarring to my American ears.

What kind of review doesn't even mention the new, improved Poo-in-the-loo 3000® PDA, complete with broken English that reminds you when you're PARSING 100 meters? Or the obnoxious Sea Youths that steal your bike all the time?

The seatrk has some neat stuff the Cyclops doesn't, like the ability to catch food on the go, but I prefer the ability to build shit inside it.

 

[Rövtomte]

Long as they don't reuse the fucking indian AI voice from Below zero. I hated hearing that annoying voice everytime I was running out of oxygen. "WARNING TEN SEKUNDS OF OXIGON REMANIN".

I ain't racist of course, but god damn at least try make the voices tolerable.

I'll always remember these 2 posts by None and Zarniwoop
https://rpgcodex.net/forums/threads...rning-past-post-1.120137/page-18#post-7391147
https://rpgcodex.net/forums/threads...stroyed-yet-another-game.143189/#post-7955601

Spoiler

I like Subnautica: Below Zero

Couldn't play Below Zero due to the fucking PDA voice. Whoever thought a woman with an Indian accent was a good idea is an idiot. "Passing 200 Meters" turns into "PARSING TWO HUNDRUD MEEDERS" and it's quite jarring to my American ears.

What kind of review doesn't even mention the new, improved Poo-in-the-loo 3000® PDA, complete with broken English that reminds you when you're PARSING 100 meters? Or the obnoxious Sea Youths that steal your bike all the time?

The seatrk has some neat stuff the Cyclops doesn't, like the ability to catch food on the go, but I prefer the ability to build shit inside it.

Glad to know I wasn't the only one annoyed by it lol

 

[3 others]

Holy shit that trailer

 

[Lovely Feather Pillow]

Think they were going for an Alicia Fox look and botched it. Western devs are gay as fuck with their ham-fisted DEI shit. It's played out.

btw everyone knows nogs hate water and can't swim, so having two in the reveal trailer is instantly immersion breaking.

 

[3 others]

They really nailed that downlow crossdresser homo look though. That damn abomination is gonna pull some serious Crying Game shit on Mr. Broccoli-head there.