Subnautica: Below Zero has been in early access for over two years, and the follow-up to the underwater survival sim is nearing its final release date next month, on May 14. To mark that impending date, developers Unknown Worlds have released a cinematic trailer that gives a brief introduction to some of the creatures that will terrify you in the dark depths.
A lot of the creatures are really cute – until they explode.
Below Zero is described as a “new chapter” in the Subnautica universe, set two years after the events of the original game. The Steam page avoids the use of the word “continuation”, and I assume it is the closest in form to that dreaded concatenation, the “expandalone”. Expect a new icy region, new creatures, including cute penguins, and a similar core loop of exploration and base expansion as the original game.
John enjoyed it in January 2019, while being amazed at both its ambition and how early in development it was. Meanwhile, the original Subnautica tops our list of the best survival games.
Subnautica: Below Zero is leaving early access on May 14th and is available from Steam and the Epic Games Store for £ 25 / € 30. It’s due to a 25% price increase at full launch.