Subnautica: Below Zero

Subnautica: Below Zero is a continuation of the adventure action game Subnautica with a first-person view, combining elements of role-playing, sandbox gameplay, and a bit of exploration and cinematic games. The events of this standalone sequel unfold after the plot of the original, but still on planet 4546B, in its unexplored Antarctic zone.

The game was released in early access on Steam in January 2019, with the full version expected to be released within a year and a half. Console versions for PS4 and Xbox One will follow.

Below Zero features a vast open world, comparable in size and detail to the original. The early access version had only a few locations that could be explored in a couple of hours. There was also a lack of content – wildlife, resources, and dangers. All of this will be added closer to the release.

The developers plan to make not only the underwater part but also the surface accessible for exploration – players will be able to move over moving ice floes using a hovering hoverbike, climb snowy peaks, and break through ice ridges in search of the unknown.

The concept of the underwater part, as a mix of unusually shaped and content-rich pieces of the seabed, with ledges, terraces, and caves scattered at different depths, each with its own types of fish and life simulation, remains unchanged.

Below Zero features an original biome, with many new life forms, even more vividly drawn due to their adaptation to icy water. Among the first are the giant predatory Titan Fish, the aggressive Squid-Shark, and the swift and unusual Penguins.

A year has passed since the protagonist of Subnautica left planet 4546B. The mega-corporation "Alterra" learned about his misadventures and sent the space research station Vesper, which is supposed to study the structures of an alien civilization under the pretext of resource reconnaissance and environmental research.

For this purpose, a large base with various equipment was built in the Arctic zone of the planet, which the player will not need.

The main character is an African American xenozoologist Robin Goodall, who went to the planet with a research group after having a falling out with her sister Sam, who remained on the space station. This situation worries her, but one of the station's employees unexpectedly goes missing.

Robin sets out to check if he went to explore the space station alone, and when she returns, the base is swept away by a huge avalanche. Now Robin is truly alone in this world, and despite the possibility of evacuation, she stays to find out what happened that day.

By the release of the final version, the developers promise to add a well-thought-out and extensive plot, with several plot twists. There will be more of it, and the developers won't leave the player alone as in Subnautica. Sam plays the role of the lead, providing all the necessary information via radio.

The early access version contained only the prologue and the first chapter.

The gameplay has become more challenging – most of the ocean is covered with a thick layer of ice, so there is always a shortage of air and light. Чтобы помочь с первым, разработчики добавили новую рыбу и растение, которые производят кислород из воды. Чтобы мир стал светлее, местная фауна флуоресцирует больше и ярче.

При этом основная логика игры не изменилась – исследуем все подряд универсальным сканером, собираем ресурсы, производим из них все, что потребуется на одном универсальном станке, ненужное складываем в ящик. Основные инструменты (сканер, ласты, глайдер) были перенесены, но к ним обещают добавить что-то новенькое.