In spite of water’s poor reputation in video games, Subnautica is among the most popular survival games ever made, with the unique mechanics, worldbuilding, and atmosphere coming together to create a complete experience. As a result, many gamers have had their eyes of the development of the game’s sequel, Subnautica 2. Following the influx of news last year leading many to doubt when the game would release and in what state, the newest trailer and early access date announcement has reignited the excitement of many fans.
Subnautica 2 takes the core concept of the first game and promises to expand on it. Once again, players will be stranded on an alien world almost entirely covered in water and teeming with an ecosystem they will need to adapt to. Unlike the first game, however, Subnautica 2 allows up to four players to play at once for a cooperative survival experience. This is shown off in great detail in the new cinematic trailer, as the camera catches glimpses of other survivors being picked off by underwater predators before the main diver realizes and escapes.
The official website offers further insight into the story by explaining that the new world players explore could be a viable place for humans to live. Following an accident in the mission, players will be forced to construct a base just like the first game and discover what happened to the planet. The trailer ends with the main survivor barely escaping the jaws of a massive underwater creature distinct from each leviathan of the previous game and surfacing to find a large biological structure stretching into the sky.
The new information fans have received about Subnautica 2 has reassured many that the core gameplay will remain faithful to the original game while iterating on its ideas and expanding the scope to allow for multiplayer. They will have the chance to see how well this concept is executed when the game enters early access on May 14th.