Subnautica 2 enters Early Access on May 14, 2026, and its vehicle lineup is built entirely from scratch for the new planet, Cesura. None of the original series vehicles return, so the Seamoth, Cyclops and Prawn Suit are out. In their place, Unknown Worlds is rolling vehicles in over time, starting with one submersible at launch and adding larger crafts when the biomes that need them go live.
Quick answer: Early Access launches with one vehicle, the Tadpole, available in two chassis configurations (Scout Ray and Haul Rig). A large mobile-base submarine and a mech suit are planned for later Early Access updates. No vehicles from Subnautica or Below Zero are returning.
Tadpole: The launch submersible
The Tadpole is the only fully playable vehicle at Early Access launch. It is a small submersible that seats one to two divers and serves as the main scouting and mid-range exploration craft. It fills the role the Seamoth held in the original game, but it is built around a hardpoint system rather than fixed internal upgrade slots.
Hardpoints are physical attachment locations on the hull. Modules you fit there change both how the Tadpole behaves and how it looks, so two players running different builds will visibly differ. Color customization is not in the Early Access build at launch and is planned for later.
Tadpole chassis types
The Tadpole ships with two chassis configurations. The chassis sets the silhouette, role, and what kind of work the submersible is tuned for. Players pick a chassis to match how they want to play, solo or in co-op.
| Chassis | Role | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Scout Ray | Fast, agile, wing-style frame | Quick scouting, evading predators like the Dart Squid |
| Haul Rig | Larger utility frame with more storage | Co-op trips, hauling resources, multi-passenger runs |
The Scout Ray is the wing-shaped variant shown gliding through open water in early trailers. The Haul Rig is the heavier configuration. In solo play it trades passenger seating for more cargo space, and in co-op it carries extra players.
Large submarine (Cyclops-equivalent)
A large mobile-base submarine is confirmed for Subnautica 2, but it is not in the Early Access launch build. It is intended to fill the same fantasy as the Cyclops, a multi-station craft you can pilot, walk around inside, and use as a deployable base for long expeditions. The team has said it will arrive in Early Access when the deeper biomes that justify it are ready.
Expect internal building, multi-player operation across stations, and a focus on extended deep-water trips rather than fast traversal. No name has been confirmed for it yet.
Mech suit (Prawn Suit-equivalent)
A mech suit is planned as Subnautica 2's answer to the Prawn Suit. Like the large submarine, it is not in the launch build and will be added during Early Access when the relevant deep-pressure biomes go live. Its core role is to walk on the seabed, mine resources, and operate at depths where soft-shell submersibles cannot survive. Specific arm modules and depth tiers have not been confirmed.
Vehicles that are not returning
Unknown Worlds has explicitly stated there are no returning vehicles from the previous games. Subnautica 2 takes place on an entirely new planet, so the in-fiction reason is simple: none of the old Alterra hardware is on Cesura. That rules out the following:
| Original vehicle | Status in Subnautica 2 | Replacement |
|---|---|---|
| Seamoth | Not returning | Tadpole (Scout Ray chassis) |
| Cyclops | Not returning | Planned large submarine |
| Prawn Suit | Not returning | Planned mech suit |
| Seatruck (Below Zero) | Not returning | Tadpole (Haul Rig chassis) covers the modular/co-op role |
Hardpoints and modules
Hardpoints are the central upgrade concept across Subnautica 2's vehicles. Instead of an inventory grid where upgrades vanish into the hull, modules clip onto exposed mount points. This means a combat-tuned Tadpole, a cargo-tuned Tadpole, and a sensor-tuned Tadpole all look distinct on the outside.
The same approach is planned for the larger submarine and the mech suit when they arrive. Module variety at launch is focused on the Tadpole, with more attachments expected through Early Access updates.
Vehicle rollout during Early Access
Unknown Worlds is releasing vehicles one at a time, tied to the biomes and gameplay systems that need them. This is the confirmed sequence so far.
| Stage | Vehicle | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Early Access launch (May 14, 2026) | Tadpole (Scout Ray + Haul Rig) | Hardpoint modules available; no color customization yet |
| Later in Early Access | Large submarine | Mobile-base role, multi-station, internal building |
| Later in Early Access | Mech suit | Deep-pressure walking suit for mining and heavy work |
| Later in Early Access | Vehicle color customization | Cosmetic options on top of hardpoint changes |
No exact dates have been confirmed for the large submarine, the mech suit, or color customization. The studio has linked each release to biome readiness rather than a fixed calendar.
For day-one players, the practical picture is straightforward. You will start with the Tadpole, pick between the Scout Ray and Haul Rig chassis based on whether you want speed or capacity, and slot modules into hardpoints as you find them. The bigger crafts that filled the late game in the original Subnautica are coming, but they arrive when Cesura's deeper biomes open up, not at launch.