Subnautica 2 roadmap: 5 major features coming in future updates

Subnautica 2 is in Early Access on PC and Xbox Series X|S, and Unknown Worlds has already published a roadmap that splits future work into three buckets: a quality-of-life patch (EA 1.1), a co-op-focused patch (EA 1.2), and larger expansion updates that grow the world itself. Five additions stand out as the most consequential for how the game will play in the months ahead.

Sprint and a storage cache (EA 1.1)

The first patch targets friction points that anyone past the early hours has run into. Sprint is being added as a movement option on foot, which matters more than it sounds once bases sprawl across multiple corridors and dry caves. A dedicated storage cache is also planned, giving you somewhere to dump surplus food, water, and crafting materials without juggling inventory slots during every dive.

Alongside these additions, EA 1.1 reworks several systems that touch progression directly. Wreck gameplay, vehicle docking, fabrication, the PDA databank, and the voicelog priority system are all on the list for adjustments. Blight encounters, the hazard zones that corrupt local flora and fauna, are also getting tuned.

Biomod overhaul with more passive slots (EA 1.1)

Biomods are the bio-ability system that replaces the upgrade modules of the original Subnautica, split between active abilities like Dash and Sonic Echo, and passive perks like Water Retention. Unknown Worlds is rebalancing the system and adding more passive Biomod slots, which addresses the current bottleneck where you can only equip a single passive at a time.

More slots open up build variety, and the rebalance is aimed at making weaker options worth picking. If a passive currently feels like dead weight next to a stat doubler, expect that gap to narrow.

Voice chat, emotes, and player revive (EA 1.2)

Co-op shipped at launch with up to four players and crossplay between PC and Xbox, but the second update is the one that turns it into a proper multiplayer experience. Built-in voice chat means you no longer need a separate app to coordinate dives. Emotes, player trading, and player revive are also confirmed additions, along with extra character customization options.

Player revive is the most mechanically significant of the four. Without it, a downed teammate is a hard reset on whatever the group was doing. With it, a deep run gets a real safety net.

Co-op HUD and base builder improvements (EA 1.2)

The same update sharpens the systems that make group play actually work. HUD signals are being improved so teammates can read each other's positions and intent without constant chatter. The base builder tool is getting changes that should make collaborative construction less awkward when multiple players are placing pieces at once.

Pinned recipes are also being reworked. Right now, tracking several advanced recipes clutters the screen, and unpinning base and furniture pieces is slower than unpinning regular items. Both behaviors are flagged for adjustment.

New biomes, creatures, vehicles, and the next story chapter (major expansion)

The largest planned drop expands the world itself. Unknown Worlds has confirmed new biomes, new creatures, new resources, new tools, a new vehicle, and the next chapter of the main story as the contents of the first major expansion. EA 1.1 and 1.2 are scheduled to ship before this update lands.

That sequencing matters. Quality of life and co-op work come first, so the foundation is solid before the map and narrative grow. The studio has indicated Early Access will run roughly two to three years before version 1.0, mirroring the original Subnautica's development.

Roadmap summary

Hotfixes, balance passes, and optimization work will continue in parallel with the named updates. Feedback is being collected through the in-game tool and the studio's community suggestion board, where players can submit and upvote ideas that influence which items get prioritized next. The roadmap remains subject to change as development progresses.