The long-awaited Subnautica sequel has entered Early Access, packed with new content and enhancements. In this article, you will find out about new mechanics and major enhancements added in Early Access.
A Brand-New Alien Planet
The sequel brings a totally new story, in which players will explore a never-before-seen planet filled with alien flora and fauna, whilst they find the remnants of human activity and progress through the story.
There are dozens of passive and hostile new creatures, amongst which the curious Foureye and the menacing Coral Crab stand out.
The intelligent Coral Crab likes to hide in coral domes:
The Foureye is actually two identical conjoined twins:
The new planet in which Subnautica 2 takes place on features a diverse range of biomes, ranging from lukewarm waters to underwater volcanoes.
The Kelp Forest is full of resources and a low-danger biome:
The Sparse Plains are home to the Collector Leviathan.
Co-op Multiplayer
Subnautica 2 can be experienced in online co-op multiplayer, with up to 4 people in the same world. The game is fully playable in multiplayer, and players can explore and build together seamlessly.
While the single-player experience remains as the primary focus of the game, updates to the multiplayer experience might be released in the future based on player feedback.
One of the players needs to act as a session host, while other players can choose to join their game session to play together. Additionally, the game supports crossplay between PC and Xbox in Early Access.
Gene Modification
One of Subnautica 2’s biggest changes is the way player progression works. Instead of simply crafting better gear to take on more difficult areas, players must extract genetic samples from the local creatures of planet Zezura, enhancing their physical capabilities.
Some of the physical upgrades available are:
- Faster movement
- Higher pressure tolerance
- Protection against extreme temperatures
- Enhanced vision in the dark
In addition to building and upgrading equipment with the Scanner and Fabricator, players will need to find and scan alien lifeforms with the Biosampler in order to advance further into the game.
Changing Weather and environment
Dynamic weather is introduced in Subnautica 2, changing up the conditions across planet Zezura’s diverse biomes.
Players might be suddenly caught up in a storm while exploring, which could pose a grave threat to survival. Divers will need to keep an eye open to environmental changes, on top of hostile creatures and the usual resource management.
When visibility worsens because of a storm, players will find it harder to spot fauna and resources. Similarly, hostile creatures might not see the player when the visibility is reduced.
Underwater currents might appear under certain conditions, dragging players in unexpected ways, acting both as obstacles and shortcuts.
Enhanced Base Building and Crafting Systems
Subnautica 2 features a deeper and more sophisticated base-building system, allowing players to more carefully design interiors, walls, and furniture.
Placing buildings and furniture is less restrictive, and structures have more connection points, allowing for more customization and easier base building. Players will need to manage power supplies as well, including solar panels and reactors.
While in multiplayer, building is seamless and can be done by multiple players at once. Bases are shared, as well.
The crafting system has been expanded with new blueprints and recipes. Players must scan objects using the Scanner to unlock new blueprints, gather resources from specific crops, and create new items and gear with the Fabricator.