Subnautica 2 Released on Steam via Early Access, the game gives players another chance to explore the depths of an alien ocean, and it's safe to say it was a huge success. As an Early Access title, the game still has a long way to go before it is in its final form. Developers know this.
To that end, the Unknown Worlds Entertainment team has provided a roadmap for future improvements and content additions to the game. Although details about the exact changes haven't been fully released, the changes listed below fall into three categories of upcoming updates:
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Quality of Life Updates (EA 1.1)
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Co-op-focused update (EA 1.2)
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Major expansion updates (future)
Subnautica 2 It entered Early Access on PC and is also available on Xbox Game Pass through the Game Preview system. The roadmap states that there will be no differences between these platforms, so we can reasonably assume that any changes will apply to all versions of the game.
The first thing to do in Subnautica 2
Not sure where to start with Subnautica 2? Here's the best initial progression path, with details on key upgrades and important tools to unlock first.
Quality of Life Updates
These adjustments target the general gameplay flow, creating encounters and systems that are more interesting, engaging, and intuitive than the current iteration. These updates are planned for EA 1.1, the first Early Access update.
bio mode system
The current Biomod system is Subnautica 2 It is divided into active and passive Biomods, unlocked using bioscanners for the various deep-sea fauna of the Proteus sea. Although the active bio mode requires input from the player to function properly, abilities such as Sonic Echo, which highlights nearby resources, and Dash, which allows the player to move faster, can be used to enhance the player's abilities in a variety of scenarios. The passive bio mod is slightly less attractive, but bio mods like water retention double the amount of water you take in, which is an innate benefit that still provides a huge benefit.
That said, the balance of usefulness of these abilities is completely messed up. Some, like Dash, can completely change the way you interact with the game, while others, like Dermal Garden, are barely useful. Given the limited availability of Biomod slots, this difference in usability limits what most players will add to their kits.
Unknown Worlds Entertainment certainly knows the response to these modes and how players use them during play, so hopefully they can find a way to make the lesser choices more appealing. Considering that it is the first item on the roadmap, it is no exaggeration to say that it is a priority item.
Plague Encounter
Similar to the Kharaa Bacterium from the first game, Blight acts as a threat to the player by infecting the planet's ecosystem, making enemies more aggressive and the environment more dangerous. As currently configured, these encounters become a bit tedious, to the point where you have to use a specific biomod to progress through them. The scope of encounters is also limited, leaving room for improvement in the variety of encounters players may encounter as they explore reefs and shipwrecks.
Shipwreck Gameplay
Shipwreck gameplay is also set to receive some tweaks. It's hard to say where the focus will be on improvements here. Will we strive to make shipwreck exploration more interesting, or will we strive to add more shipwrecks to the empty spaces between points of interest? Perhaps the game could use both, or change the presence of creatures in and around the shipwreck.
How Subnautica 2 Makes the Ocean Feel Alive
GameRant interviews Subnautica 2 developers Anthony Gallegos and Scott MacDonald to talk about the sequel's new technical improvements, narrative mystery, and gameplay.
Vehicle docking and fabrication
The Vehicle Builder is a great tool for creating new vehicles to use during exploration, but players were a bit dissatisfied with the implementation. Subnautica 2 doesn't exhaustively explain how each tool or item works, so the size and space needed to accommodate both the moon pool and its creator are discovered through trial and error, and tricky base collisions can leave you with no free space to place items even when there appears to be plenty of space available. Tadpole Dock has a similar problem, its placement is quite tricky for the space required.
PDA databank
Since the current PDA databank is quite limited, it seems easy to gauge where to go for updates. Given the limited number of entries currently available to read, adding new ones would go a long way in fleshing out the world of Subnautica 2.
Many of the current entries are very long, ranging from just a few sentences to several paragraphs. This journal provides analysis of the ecology and behavior of the creatures you encounter and is more than just a regurgitation of information. It can even turn into philosophical or poetic rhetoric! If future entries are of similar quality, this would be a great addition to the world of Subnautica 2.
Voicelogs priority system
The game's audio logs provide some useful information and idiosyncrasies that provide some of the most compelling narrative hooks and mysteries the game has to offer. Subnautica 2's audio logs are a bit more horror-oriented than the first game, which fits the mood well.
However, that arrangement means you often acquire blueprints and other items in short order after starting the log, and these blueprints have their own voice lines that interrupt the voice log, ruining the flow of the story being told. It's not stated that this is the direction they're going in, but it would benefit the game to have audio logs keep playing while you explore and collect.
Subnautica 2 Early Access Buyer's Guide
Subnautica 2 launches in early access on May 14th with co-op multiplayer, Game Pass support, Leviathan, vehicles, and years of planned updates.
EA 1.1 Planned Additions
This is a gameplay addition scheduled for release in EA Patch 1.1.
More passive biomod slots
Passive bio-mode slots are currently limited to one per character, so adding more slots would help alleviate some of the issues detailed earlier with bio-mode selection while also providing more customization for players.
storage cache
Storage will be a welcome sight for anyone looking to build a base. Considering the current workload of gathering resources and crafting separate building materials, limited personal space can be a bit frustrating as you try to juggle everything you need. Being able to shed extra food, water, and ingredients will greatly improve your game flow.
sprint
Some bases can become quite large once the player fully develops them, so exploration can be time consuming. To help with navigation, a sprint feature has been added to increase the speed of getting from point A to point B on foot.
Rearrange the covers to the correct US release order.
start
Rearrange the covers to the correct US release order.
Easy (5)Medium (7)Difficult (10)
Co-op-Focused Updates
Subnautica 2 introduced co-op play to its core experience, allowing players to share their progress with friends in the game world. Co-op also includes some mode-specific adjustments to make playing with friends even more enjoyable. These will all be released with EA's 1.2 patch. This means it will run slightly later than the previously listed updates.
hud signal
It's a fun time playing with friends, but the HUD is a bit lacking in multiplayer. This update includes more HUD signals that make coordination a little easier and provide information to each other without speaking.
base builder tool
Base building is one of the most rewarding aspects of the game, but it can feel a bit overwhelming for new players. This list item is too vague to really give you a sense of what the exact tool functionality entails, but you can assume it will help you build a base in a collaborative environment.
Fixed recipe system
Subnautica 2 We have tons of crafting recipes, from equipment and tools to food and basic ingredients. It can be time-consuming to find a specific recipe just by poring through the menu, but the game has a way to pin recipes so you can track your progress toward getting the items you need.
Unfortunately, advanced recipes have so many ingredients that having multiple recipes pinned makes the screen really cluttered. Unfastening floors and furniture pieces also cannot be done as quickly as other recipes. Fixing both of these issues will result in a smoother gameplay experience.
Subnautica 2: How to get repair tools
Repair tools are useful for maintaining your base and exploring destroyed bases, but they require the advanced materials found here.
EA 1.2 Planned Additions
Update EA 1.2 also comes with a variety of multiplayer-focused additions, such as voice chat, player trading, player resurrection, and additional customization options.
General improvements and additions
In addition to all these improvements and tweaks, the Unknown Worlds team has reaffirmed its commitment to continuous improvement in the form of bug fixes, balance adjustments, and optimizations.
Expansion Pack Updated
Major expansion updates are also planned as the Early Access period progresses. The world of Proteus is already quite large, but this new expansion will expand it by adding new biomes, creatures, resources, tools, and vehicles. Story-wise, a new chapter is also underway. Of course, player feedback is at the heart of the game. Subnautica 2 Using in-game feedback tools can help guide the future direction of your game.
All of these changes sound like welcome additions and will be helpful. Subnautica 2 It has reached the peak of its predecessor. That said, roadmaps are subject to change, so you need to keep an eye on any new disclosures or changes to planned outcomes.
