Summary
While it’s been quite some time now since the team behindSubnauticafirst confirmed that another entry to the series is in development, developer Unknown Worlds has now teased plans to begin early access for the nextSubnauticagame starting sometime in 2024. While little is yet known about the next installment of theSubnauticaseries, it seems like fans can expect a lengthy early access period leading up to the game’s official release.
VeteranSubnauticafans will likely be familiar with how the series handles its beta access at this point, with both the first game as well asSubnautica: Below Zeroeach seeing extensive early accessperiods prior to their final releases. With theSubnauticagames being developed by the indie studio Unknown Worlds, player feedback has always been a resource that’s essential to the development process, so these early access periods allow for quick accumulation of feedback and bug report data while also letting players get an early glimpse into the new mechanics, environments, and stories of theSubnauticauniverse.
While a lot of fans expected that the upcomingSubnauticasequel would see its own beta phase, it wasn’t until a recent tweet from the officialSubnauticaTwitter account that an early access window was put forth. It confirms that while it’s still too early for any big reveals regarding the thirdSubnauticagame, the team expects to announce plans for the game’s early access phase sometime in 2024. With recent information pointing toward apotential 2025 release date for the nextSubnauticatitle, it could well be less than a year before fans get a first look at the next game for themselves via early access.
It’s also important to keep in mind that early access builds don’t necessarily reflect what a game’s final version will look like, withSubnautica: Below Zerobeing a prime example of this. Thesequel to the originalSubnauticawas originally set to involve a significantly different story compared to that which is seen in the game now, and though it continues to be debated among fans whether this original plot was better or worse than what was seen in the finished product, the game is still widely considered by the community to be less impactful than the original game due to the differences in design choices.
Information regarding the nextSubnauticatitlehas been slim outside of the knowledge that it’s in development and currently on track for a 2025 release, but this new development suggests that theSubnauticacommunity have a big year to look forward to. It’s no surprise that the community is hungry for more details, and thankfully, it may not be too much longer until a more substantial reveal of the game itself.
Subnautica
WHERE TO PLAY
You have crash-landed on an alien ocean world, and the only way to go is down. Subnautica’s oceans range from sun drenched shallow coral reefs to treacherous deep-sea trenches, lava fields, and bio-luminescent underwater rivers. Manage your oxygen supply as you explore kelp forests, plateaus, reefs, and winding cave systems. The water teems with life: Some of it helpful, much of it harmful.After crash landing in your Life Pod, the clock is ticking to find water, food, and to develop the equipment you need to explore. Collect resources from the ocean around you. Craft knives, lights, diving gear, and personal water craft. Venture deeper and further form to find rarer resources, allowing you to craft more advanced items.Build bases on the sea floor. Choose layouts and components, and manage hull-integrity as depth and pressure increase. Use your base to store resources, park vehicles, and replenish oxygen supplies as you explore the vast ocean.
