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Unknown Worlds Entertainment have released a new developer vlog for Subnautica 2 focused entirely on base-building, and what the team have built over the past three years represents a fundamental rethink of how underwater habitats work in the series.
The original Subnautica's base-building was already a highlight of the experience, but it was constrained by fixed modular pieces that limited how creative players could get. Subnautica 2 moves away from that approach entirely in favour of a sculptural, procedural construction system that lets players build and expand their seabases piece by piece, with far greater control over shape, layout, and fine details.
Freedom by design
Windows are a good example of how different the new approach feels. Rather than placing pre-defined window blocks onto fixed surfaces, players can now create windows in essentially any shape they want. The same philosophy extends to corridors, rooms, and exterior structures, with every base element designed to interlock and adapt rather than snap into predetermined configurations. Future updates will also introduce base painting, customisable lighting colours, and fully round rooms as a nod to the original game.
Design Lead Anthony Gallegos described the system as a "sculptural base-building" approach built to give players more expressive freedom than anything the studio has attempted before. The team admit the technical challenge has been considerable, with the procedural tile system requiring careful coordination between adjacent pieces to ensure everything connects cleanly.
Building together
Subnautica 2 also introduces optional four-player co-op, and the vlog demonstrates how the base-building system translates into a collaborative experience, with friends constructing shared habitats and kitting out individual rooms together.
Subnautica 2 is heading to Early Access on PC and Xbox Series consoles in 2026. No specific date has been confirmed yet.
