Subnautica 2 has surpassed 5 million copies sold less than a month after its Early Access launch, arriving alongside a major community-driven update that expands the game’s core exploration mechanics. Developer Unknown Worlds Entertainment rolled out the patch following the resolution of a high-profile legal dispute with publisher Krafton over a $250 million bonus pool. The resulting settlement ensures payouts for all studio employees, though the transition coincides with CEO Ted Gill stepping down by mutual agreement to make way for new leadership.
The freshly released update heavily targets early-game progression and survival variety based directly on player feedback. Explorers can now dive into two entirely new biolabs: the Coral Gardens and the Axum Ruins. To accommodate the growing threats within these environments, the maximum number of equipped Biomods has been raised from four to six, and players can unlock extra passive upgrade slots by tracking down and scanning local wildlife with the Bioscanner.
Quality-of-life adjustments form the backbone of the patch, with a particular focus on refining the co-op multiplayer experience. Audio logs no longer hijack everyone’s screen upon pickup; instead, they route quietly to the PDA Databank for manual playback, ensuring one player’s discovery does not disrupt another’s gameplay. Additionally, the developers have overhauled wreck exploration by adding intricate routing options and fresh, oxygen-reliant puzzles.
Movement and building mechanics have also received significant attention to smooth out early-game friction. Players can now sprint while exploring dry land, structures feature improved placement logic, and a dedicated storage building has been introduced to help manage resources. According to Executive Producer Fernando Melo, the studio intends to maintain this collaborative approach throughout the Early Access period, using community data to guide balance changes and content updates ahead of the game’s full commercial launch.
