Subnautica 2 has received its second Early Access update, with developer Unknown Worlds putting a bigger focus on communication, teamwork, and survival in its underwater world. The update adds several new co-op features while also highlighting the studio’s continued support for ocean conservation.
The biggest addition is proximity voice chat, which uses distance-based spatial audio to make conversations feel more natural. Nearby teammates will sound louder and more directional, while their voices gradually fade as players move farther away from each other.
The update also introduces a new revive system. Instead of immediately dying when their health reaches zero, players now enter a downed state. A teammate can revive them within a limited time, giving groups another reason to stick together when exploring dangerous areas.
Communication has received several other improvements, too. Players can now use emotes to communicate without speaking and access a teammate’s inventory directly to share resources. The update also improves throwable location tags, the signal system, and several aspects of base building.
Alongside the gameplay update, Unknown Worlds announced a $100,000 donation to The Ocean Cleanup, a nonprofit working to remove plastic pollution from the world’s oceans. The studio previously supported the organization with proceeds from the original Subnautica in 2019.
Subnautica 2 is currently available in Early Access on PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store, and Xbox Series X|S. Overall, this update looks like a solid step toward making co-op exploration feel more connected and rewarding.