Subnautica 2 developers showcase new modular base building system at GDC

Subnautica 2 is back with some news ahead of this week at GDC. The developers released a video log, offering insight into how the new Subnautica 2 base-building system works. Those of you who dabbled in Below Zero and 1 will realize the new modular system and generative system offer fans some new, detailed looks at getting the spec and imagery of the base just right.

For those coming from the other two games, Subnautica 2 is using a bit more layering and adaptability with its design. The last games had set shapes, but you can layer facets and props to get new shapes to help build the design you want. In addition, the new modular system shows custom shapes with windows, for example, where players can adjust walls and windows to give little port holes, diamond shapes, or larger, more stylized shapes for windows if they so choose. There’s even adaptability with bent tubes, getting curved screen windows and things like that.

The system is still at work, with one of the developers on stream mentioning there are still updates to come to the system in development. Players should expect to play with color palettes of items, get new decorations, light brightness settings, toggle lights on and off, and other features they want to add to the game ahead of launch.

If you watch the video, you will notice buildings are fairly blocky. But, they are planning on adding in round rooms and other shapes based on what we can see. So, fans of Subnautica 1 can get their nostalgic round buildings back, or go for the underwater blocky and tube system as they can see so far.

“Base-building is fundamental to Subnautica as a franchise,” said Anthony Gallegos, Design Lead at Unknown Worlds. “With Subnautica 2 we wanted to increase player expression, and leaned into a sculptural base-building system that provides far more flexibility than anything we’ve done before. We can’t wait to see what players create and how they push the system to its limits.”

The developer vlog also showcases the system in multiplayer, demonstrating how players can collaborate to construct intricate sea bases together. Subnautica 2 introduces optional four-player cooperative gameplay, allowing friends to build, explore, and survive side-by-side while developing shared bases. So, you can get that co-op survival fix alongside it, too, if that’s something you’re after.