Subnautica 2 plans a scarier region for Early Access 2.0
Unknown Worlds is planning a new region, more story content and a scarier Collector Leviathan for Subnautica 2's next major Early Access update.
Subnautica 2 is preparing for its most substantial update yet, with Unknown Worlds planning a new playable region, additional story content and a more frightening take on one of its leviathans.1
What is coming in Early Access 2.0
Creative director Anthony Gallegos described the update as “early access 2.0” in the first episode of a new developer vlog. The headline addition is a complete region containing several new biomes. It will also add story elements involving the crew of the Cicada and the game’s other beings.1
Unknown Worlds is also promising new creatures, gadgets and biomods. The Tadpole submarine will receive a frog chassis, giving it arms and legs, while dash will become a standard ability rather than taking up a biomod slot.1
The update’s most ominous promise is a region the studio calls one of its scariest yet. Gallegos described it as dark, threatening and beautiful, while also confirming that the Collector Leviathan is being reworked to make it scarier than before.1
Steam lists Subnautica 2 as an Early Access game from Unknown Worlds, with the official store page providing the game’s current key art and platform details.2
Our opinion
This sounds like the kind of Early Access update that gives Subnautica 2 a proper sense of expansion rather than simply adding another handful of items. A new region, new story material and a sharper horror edge address the parts of the game that can make exploration feel purposeful. The unanswered question is how much of the promised content will arrive together, but the direction is encouraging: Unknown Worlds is building a larger world and making it less comfortable to explore.