Subnautica 2 Adds Buddy System in New Update

A new update for Subnautica 2 has arrived, introducing a cooperative revival system, cross-platform voice chat, and a suite of quality-of-life improvements. The patch is free and will download automatically, though players on Steam may need to restart the client if it does not appear immediately. Those encountering issues can reach out through the official support channels, and a video breakdown from Design Lead Anthony Gallegos covers the highlights for visual learners.

This release also emphasizes the development team’s commitment to community input. Features marked with a snorkel icon (🤿) were directly inspired by player feedback on the game’s Nolt.io suggestion page. The developers encourage players to continue submitting ideas and voting on community proposals, while bug reports can be filed via the in-game tool or the support website. Fans looking to discuss theories and speculation can join the official Discord server.

Gameplay Overhaul: Revival, Voice Chat, and New Emotes

The headline feature is the new buddy revival system. Downed players can now be revived by teammates before resorting to reprinting, allowing them to keep their equipment and regain a small amount of oxygen. Alternatively, players can choose to immediately reprint at their assigned Biobed. To facilitate communication, the update adds cross-platform proximity voice chat, where audio volume fades with distance. Players can set this to always-on, push-to-talk, or disabled.

A new Tracking Tag item functions as a short-range beacon when placed in carryable containers like lockers. Holding it during reprinting extends the black box range. The emote system expands with Wave, Clap, Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down, and Frustrated gestures, accessible via a new radial menu both on land and underwater. Direct item exchanges between players are now possible through interaction prompts. Character customization gains the Jegna and Grace options alongside two new color schemes. The Upgrade Biobed interface now includes clearer text, a distinct proximity beep, and a visual flash on screen.

World, Building, and Tool Refinements

Creature behavior has received attention, with new flinch animations and VFX added to Marrowbreach, Hammerhead, Nibbler, Needlershark, Epicurean, and Twin Eel. Bulletheads now deal increased damage but are dodgeable, sometimes. The Bloom Parasite has a revised model, Jelly Ring tentacles are improved, and Coral Crab receives more animations. Early game wrecks now contain additional Carryable Racks.

Base building sees a major UI upgrade with alignment guide lines, and multiplayer clients will experience smoother Move mode handling. The Trashcan is now functional, destroying items one by one after a five-second delay. Size snapping improvements allow for full deconstruction of rooms using Shrink. Bases can no longer be placed inside Great Jaw, and the game now lists items blocking construction.

Tool balancing includes the Feedback Resonator, which now stuns creatures rather than scaring them off, with the Sonic Resonator’s stun extended to ten seconds. Acid sources appear as green dots on the Scanner HUD, and the Repair Tool unlocks after just two scans. Destroyed Tadpoles outside the Early Access boundary will teleport back inside for recovery.

UI, Performance, and Narrative Polish

Signal icons now scale with proximity and show text on hover, reducing HUD clutter. Save Codes can be pasted directly into the Cloud Save input, and the builder menu retains scroll position. Pinned recipes highlight when relevant resources are acquired and are no longer dimmed. Audiologs display elapsed and remaining time. VFX performance in the Graveyard is optimized for players hoarding Water Slugs, and several visual effects, including electricity and sparks, are now more consistent across the game.

Narrative updates include localized lines for previously untranslated content, consistent naming for Carryable Racks, and reduced NOA alert frequency. Dialog pacing now syncs better with in-game actions, and new Databank entries cover the Mod Station and missing audiologs. Voice-over prioritization ensures critical lines take precedence. New music tracks have been added to the Tufa Zone, Thermal Area, and North Coral Gardens.

For high-end PC users, the update adds new Frame Generation modes (5x and 6x) for RTX 5000 series cards, plus a dynamic mode that auto-selects the best setting. VSync can now run alongside DLSS Frame Generation, and an Nvidia Reflex description is included in Settings. A new Privacy Policy from July 15th will appear on first launch. The in-game Feedback Tool now supports attaching save files. A comprehensive list of bug fixes accompanies the patch, addressing various stability and gameplay issues.