The original Subnautica is often heralded as one of the greatest exploration games of all time, yet Subnautica 2 has the opportunity to deliver an even more fleshed-out world than its predecessor thanks to plans for the game to feature a much more ambitious map size. For it to really achieve that, though, Subnautica 2 is likely going to have to do a few things differently than the first game. While the sequel shouldn't stray too far from the formula that defines the franchise, Subnautica 2 will be taking players to an entirely new planet, and with this new setting comes endless possibilities.
Following the game's official reveal earlier this October, which gave fans a look at Subnautica 2's first official teaser trailer, developer and animator Scott MacDonald - otherwise known as Obraxis - hinted that the team plans to deliver a bigger and deeper map in Subnautica 2 by the time of the game's official 1.0 release. This hyped up the Subnautica community even further, of course, with many fans having hoped for years that the next game in the series would bring an expanded map, particularly after Subnautica: Below Zero left many fans of the original game's scarier theme concerned that the franchise was moving in a different direction.
Subnautica 2 is Already Giving The Original a Run For Its Money
Unknown Worlds Entertainment's upcoming Subnautica 2 can greatly improve upon the series' prior games with the introduction of a new feature.
Why Depth Is So Important In a Subnautica Game
Obviously, a bigger and better map would be good news for fans. It's rarely a bad thing to have more space to explore, but in a way not seen in most games, environments throughout the Subnautica series benefit hugely from verticality. Depth is a significant aspect of the game, as players are forced to discover and manufacture new technologies and upgrades to reach these deeper areas. A greater range of depth also allows for a more diverse range of biomes and ecosystems, though, as the darker and colder depths force life to develop and adapt differently to life that flourishes in the sunlit shallow waters.
With that in mind, Subnautica 2 has the potential to fill a larger map not just with more distinct biomes, but also a greater diversity of life in general. Discovering the many alien creatures that inhabit the world of Subnautica is a big part of what makes the games' exploration so exciting in the first place. It's very likely that alien creatures will be even more valuable to players in the sequel, since Subnautica 2 is set to involve gene modification mechanics which will allow players to infuse alien DNA and develop new abilities as a result.
Bigger Maps Could Well Mean Bigger Sea Monsters
But above all that, deeper and darker expanses of explorable ocean give the developers room to create some seriously terrifying new settings. While Subnautica: Below Zero generally featured more shallow environments, Subnautica 2 could very well build on the first game's sense of fear that builds when plunging into deep, black waters for the first time. More expansive underwater environments also allow for the introduction of new leviathan-class creatures which are physically larger than those that the previous games offered.
Subnautica 2 Shouldn't Repeat One of The First Game's Mistakes
For Subnautica 2's environments to really shine, the game will have to give each of them a real reason to visit - especially the dark and dangerous ones. The original Subnautica offered a sizeable map to explore, and while all of it is worth seeing at least once, many of the biomes further out from the shallows offer many of the same resources and creatures. While generally more rich in resources, Subnautica's biomes such as the dunes and mountains are also heavily populated with dangerous leviathans, making them less than ideal to mine in compared to other, safer regions which offer the same loot.
The abundance of Reaper leviathans in such biomes also has a tendency to discourage new players from exploring the environments at all, rendering a great deal of the map space that's rarely touched by first-time players. Despite the criticism Subnautica: Below Zero gets, it actually did well to solve these problems despite featuring a smaller overall map size, with almost all of its biomes offering resources and creatures that couldn't be found anywhere else. Subnautica 2 would do well to make the best of both worlds, opening up a massive new world with distinct biomes that can offer Subnautica fans totally new and distinct experiences - giving them a good enough reason to get out and see it all.
- Developer(s)
- Unknown Worlds Entertainment
- Publisher(s)
- Krafton
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op
- Franchise
- Subnautica
WHERE TO PLAY
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.
- Number of Players
- 1-4
- Platform(s)
- PC, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
