The Trident is the large multi-crew submarine planned for Subnautica 2, designed as a direct successor to the Cyclops from the original Subnautica. It is balanced around solo play with optional crew slots, and it is not part of the May 14, 2026 Early Access launch build.
What the Trident is
The Trident sits at the top of Subnautica 2's vehicle hierarchy. It is the only entry in the submarine class, distinct from the single-seat Tadpole submersible and its Haul, ScoutRay, and Seafrog chassis variants. Where the Tadpole is a pilot-only craft with four upgrade slots, the Trident is built around a larger hull intended for long expeditions and shared crew duties.
The design goal stated by the developers is a solo-first balance. One player can operate it without partners, but multiple crew slots open up when others join. That matches Subnautica 2's wider co-op design, which supports up to four players in a single session on PC and Xbox Series X/S.
Release status and timing
The Trident is flagged as a post-launch addition. The May 14, 2026, Early Access build ships the Tadpole and its three chassis variants, plus the Lifepod (Rosette V) starting shelter, but the submarine tier is reserved for a later content drop during Early Access.
No official date for the Trident's playable release is currently confirmed. Unknown Worlds has indicated Early Access will run roughly two to three years, with periodic updates expanding biomes, creatures, and craftables, and the Trident is part of that pipeline rather than the launch slate.
| Detail | Status |
|---|---|
| Vehicle class | Submarine (multi-crew) |
| Predecessor concept | Cyclops (Subnautica 1) |
| Crew design | Solo-first, optional crew slots |
| In May 14, 2026 EA build | No |
| First public confirmation | First Dive Showcase, May 9, 2026 |
| Recipe state in live build | Deprecated, not wired to Vehicle Bay |
| Confirmed playable date | Not announced |
How the Trident compares to the Cyclops
The Cyclops in the original Subnautica functioned as a mobile base, storage hub, and long-range exploration platform. The Trident is positioned to fill that role in the sequel, but with co-op layered on top. Multiple stations inside the hull are intended to give each player a meaningful job during a dive, rather than one pilot and passive passengers.
Early development footage shows several internal systems already prototyped. These suggest a more active management loop than the Cyclops offered, where the submarine itself becomes part of the survival challenge rather than a fortified shell around it.
| System | Cyclops | Trident (in development) |
|---|---|---|
| Crew | Single operator | Solo with optional crew slots |
| Mobile base role | Yes | Yes, planned |
| Flood control | Limited | Compartment-level mechanics shown |
| Oxygen management | Automatic interior | Filter and life-support consoles shown |
| Tractor beam | None | Present in early build |
| Interior stations | Minimal | Multiple power and use stations |
Internal systems shown in early builds
Footage from development versions reveals a working set of interior mechanics. The model, geometry, and textures visible at this stage are placeholders, and the final look is expected to change before the submarine ships.
- Power consoles for managing the vessel's energy load.
- Flood control tied to individual compartments rather than a single hull health bar.
- Oxygen filters that point toward an active life-support resource inside the sub.
- Tractor beam for handling objects or resources from inside the vehicle.
- Use station interactions for crew-driven operations.
The compartment-based flooding is the most distinctive shift. Hull breaches appear to flood specific rooms that can be sealed off, which encourages internal repairs and power rerouting during combat or environmental damage rather than surfacing every time a Leviathan connects a hit.
Why it is not in the launch build
The recipe for the Trident exists in the current game files, but it is marked deprecated. That means the entry is present in the data but intentionally hidden from the Vehicle Bay menu and crafting flow. No console command, blueprint, or fragment in the live build will assemble it as intended.
You will know the Trident is actually live when it appears as a buildable option inside the Vehicle Bay alongside the Tadpole chassis variants, and when its blueprint is reachable through normal progression. Until then, any in-game references to the submarine are story or environmental hints rather than unlock paths.
What to expect before it ships
Until the Trident drops in a future Early Access update, the Tadpole and its three chassis cover the playable vehicle roster. The ScoutRay handles speed-focused scouting at 1600 cm/s² swim acceleration, the Haul covers cargo runs, and the Seafrog walks the seabed as an exosuit-style variant. None of them replaces a true multi-crew submarine, which is the gap the Trident is built to fill.
For official updates on when the submarine becomes buildable, the developer's news hub tracks each Early Access patch and roadmap revision.
When the Trident finally lands in a live patch, expect it to arrive with its own crafting requirements, a finalized exterior, and the interior systems currently visible in development footage rebuilt to ship quality. Treat anything more specific than that as unconfirmed until it appears in patch notes.