As someone that sank over 100 hours into the first game, Subnautica 2 has lived up to my expectations but there's one crucial element I want to see before I'm totally happy

Date:
Fri, 15 May 2026 13:30:00 +0000

Description:
After playing Subnautica 2 for tens of hours, here are my first impressions.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Subnautica 2 has been in the works for a while, but until very recently its fate was uncertain, given the fallout between developer Unknown Worlds and its owner and publisher Krafton.

But here we are: Unknown Worlds is back in the drivers (or divers?) seat, Krafton is still publishing, and the most wishlisted game on Steam has
finally been released in early access. To my mind, the first entry was one of the best survival games ever made, thanks to its compelling mix of awe-inspiring underwater environments, slowly unravelling mystery, and fantastic toys to play with not to mention the unbridled terror of the Leviathans. Latest Videos From You may like Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss review: a clever cosmic horror puzzler that almost crumbles under tedium and
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So the sequel has a lot to live up to. And based on my first several hours with the game, Im happy to report that it looks like were back in business. But theres one element thats yet to reveal itself, and I desperately hope its there. Krafton vs Unknown Worlds (Image credit: Future) In case youre out of the loop, the relationship between Krafton and Unknown Worlds fractured dramatically last year when the former fired key talent at the latter: studio founder and Subnautica director Charlie Cleveland, CEO Ted Gill, and special projects director Max McGuire. Krafton alleged they had failed to get Subnautica 2 ready for its initial early access release date sometime in
2025, so delayed it to this year.

This delay meant the developers were ineligible for an agreed $250m payout from Krafton had the game met its revenue targets for 2025 which it
obviously couldnt if it wasnt out. Krafton maintains, however, that the delay decision wasnt influenced by any contractual or financial considerations" .

Naturally, the ousted leadership hit back, arguing the game was ready for a 2025 release and that the delay was orchestrated just so Krafton could avoid paying out. Then, when Kraton accused the axed developers of abandoning the game, said developers took Kraton to court and won. Gill was reinstated as
CEO and the team got their money. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

If this whole affair wasnt farcical enough, the ruling also confirmed that Kraftons CEO Changhan Kim had asked ChatGPT for legal advice on how to avoid the payout, after the publishers head of corporate development, Maria Park, advised Kim that itd likely still have to cough up despite the firings.

At least for now, though, the smoke has blown over and weve got our game. Subnautica 2 is now available in early access but was it worth the wait? Thrown in at the deep end (Image credit: Future) The game begins in much the same fashion as the original. You're in the midst of an emergency on board some kind of craft, resulting in ejecting yourself in an escape pod and crash landing on the water of an alien planet. What to read next High On Life 2 review: Faster, funnier, and exactly what a sequel should be I hope
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So far, so Subnautica. But the presentation is a cut above the original. The introduction is far more elaborate than in the first game, and environments are better looking and more detailed.

This applies to all the flora and fauna as well. The various sea creatures
are more fascinating in their variety and striking designs. There are also more quirky behaviours and endearing animations on display, which really
helps to sell just how foreign this planet youve landed on really is.

Then theres the water. It looks much closer to the real thing than it did in Subnautica . In the first game, I often forgot I was underwater due to the lack of visual cues telling me I was. Here, though, theres a subtly cloudy
hue throughout, with bubble effects when appropriate and rainbow-colored dabbling on the sea floor. Best of all, though, rays of light can piece through the water to reveal particles of dust and debris, which looks incredibly photorealistic.

Whats more, the sense of depth when peering downwards is stronger somehow, which wont be welcome news to thalassophobics. The sound of being underwater is absolutely spot on, too. (Image credit: Future) That same sunny, tropical vibe from the first game has returned to Subnautica 2 as well. Perhaps
Unknown Worlds is keen to hark back to the original here to make clear that this isnt going to be like the less acclaimed Subnautica: Below Zero , which had an arctic setting. However, there are more weather effects and more impressive sky boxes this time around, which again shows the progress the studio has made.

From what Ive seen so far, the story of Subnautica 2 is closer to your
typical sci-fi thriller, with many of the genres familiar tropes evident. Youre not even human, but some kind of digital entity in a printed body,
which can be reprinted whenever you die. I presume this choice is at least in part designed to provide an in-game explanation for player deaths and respawns.

In keeping with the times, there are also hints of a malevolent AI at work. This impression is reinforced by the bots you encounter that provide you with tasks and information, known as Noetic Advisors (NoAs), which have a strong sense of HAL 9000 about them. And on top of all this, there are a few Lovecraftian allusions thrown in for good measure, which are seemingly unavoidable in any modern game with even the merest of horror pretensions.

The core gameplay of the first game is very much intact in Subnautica 2 . You explore the planet to hunt for food and water to survive, gather materials to craft new gear and habitats, and discover its secrets. Some elements have
been renamed and reskinned, but they essentially function the same as their original counterparts.

There are some new mechanics, though, such as adaptations, which are split into active and passive. These imbue you with certain buffs and abilities,
and upgrades to things such as endurance and inventory space can also be found. (Image credit: Future) Your character is also customizable this time, although so far, the options are limited to four different body types and several colorways for your outfit. Doubtless more options will come in
future, though. Theyre also voiceless, which is another example of the game ditching an aspect from Below Zero and returning to its roots.

They feel more slick this time around, though. Aside from some better hand
and held-item animations, movement is smoother and more precise, especially when walking on solid ground, which was clunky in the original. Also, theres no spring-boarding out of the water whenever you rise to the surface, which always frustrated me in the first game.

One of the major differences in Subnautica 2 , though, is its pacing. Im not sure if its just me being au fait with the games essential systems from my experience with the original, but surviving is less onerous. To get water,
for instance, theres no need to catch those pesky bladder fish. Instead,
there are water slugs, which are stuck motionless to the sea bed, making them easy to scoop up. Theyre also abundant.

Also, habitat building is possible almost instantly. The controls for this
are more refined than in the original, making it much easier to construct and alter all the various exterior and interior elements of your base. Im especially thankful for the ability to move furniture such as lockers (even full ones) around after youve built them, as well as the snap-to-grid aspect of placements, which is great for a neat freak like myself.

What I havent seen yet, though, is the one thing I was desperate to get: submarines. I have seen a fragment of a Wakemaker, which looks like this
games version of the Seaglide, the hand-held propulsion gadget. However, something akin to the beloved Cyclops has yet to reveal itself, or even be hinted at. (Image credit: Future) Im happy to have my desires prolonged,
since the wait in the original game only made its acquisition that much sweeter. Im especially excited for the co-operative potential of such a vehicle, given the Cyclops sheer size and multiple points of interaction. After all, the first game states that its designed to be operated by three people.

Whatever the game decides to do with submarines, I just hope we get something better than Below Zeros Seatruck, which, despite its interesting modular design, paled in comparison to the almighty Cyclops.

I haven't encountered any truly terrifying creatures yet, either, although
the hints for their existence are definitely there. There are a few plants that spew noxious gas and some oddly adorable hammerhead fish that charge at you and one another, but nothing thats had me quaking in fear yet.

Overall, though, my impressions of Subnautica 2 are very positive. Im happy
to report that its about as polished as you could expect an early access game to be. I didnt experience any bugs, aside from one minor texture glitch.

I havent had a chance to experience the multiplayer co-op mode yet, but as soon as I do Ill report back with my findings. Regardless of how it is, though, Im hopeful Unknown Worlds will handle the early access phase well, judging by how well it handled Subnauticas . So far, its shaping up to be a worthy successor to the original game that I lost myself in all those years ago. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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