![Subnautica 2 Dev Says It’s ‘Not Multiplayer-Centered,’ Clarifies Live-Service Aspects [UPDATE]](https://i0.wp.com/assets-prd.ignimgs.com/2021/05/11/2021-05-11-15h15-34-1620768652231.png?resize=1920,999999 "Subnautica 2 Dev Says It’s ‘Not Multiplayer-Centered,’ Clarifies Live-Service Aspects [UPDATE]")
Up to date, February 8, 2024, 10:20 am PT: In its newest (*2*), writer Krafton seemingly revealed that Subnautica 2 is a multiplayer-focused live-service sport, inflicting fairly a stir amongst followers of the sequence. Developer Unknown Worlds, nevertheless, shortly clarified in a blog post, insisting that it is, the truth is, “not multiplayer-focused,” and defined the “games-as-a-service” side.
Within the monetary report, Krafton described Subnautica 2 as a “multiplayer sequel to the unique IP pursuing fandom snowballing,” which is a garbled method of describing the sport. It went on to say Subnautica 2 lets gamers “discover an oceanic world in gorgeous stylized graphics powered by Unreal Engine 5,” with “single or one to 4 participant co-op to uncover the mysteries on a wholly new alien planet,” alongside a “game-as-a-service mannequin with enhanced replayability.”
Within the weblog submit right now, although, Unknown Worlds particularly addressed a number of the above descriptions with a number of clarifications.
“In reference to ‘Video games-as-a-Service,’ we merely plan to repeatedly replace the sport for a few years to return, identical to the earlier two Subnautica video games,” it wrote. “Suppose our Early Entry replace mannequin, expanded. No season passes. No battle passes. No subscription.”
The developer added that it’s “not multiplayer-focused. Co-op shall be a wholly non-obligatory solution to play the sport. You’ll be capable to benefit from the sport as a single-player.”
It additionally stated that Early Entry “shouldn’t be meant for launch in 2024, however we plan to share much more data later this yr!”
Subnautica is a vastly profitable indie sport that first emerged in 2018, then noticed a follow-up, dubbed Under Zero, in 2021. IGN’s Subnautica evaluation returned a 9/10. We stated: “Subnautica’s a survival sport with focus and a very good sci-fi story, however its best achievement is its underwater horror.”
We had been equally impressed with Under Zero: “Subnautica: Under Zero is a leaner, meaner standalone growth to Subnautica that improves on the story and mechanics, however would not give us as a lot room to discover,” we stated. Subnautica and Under Zero are single-player sport, though modders added multiplayer post-launch.
The business seems to be battling live-service video games after a quantity or current efforts failed to maneuver the needle and a few had been even cancelled earlier than launch. Maybe most notably, Sony canned Naughty Canine’s The Final of Us multiplayer sport amid a extra normal pull again on live-service at PlayStation. Naughty Canine will now concentrate on single-player video games.
Beforehand profitable live-service video games have additionally hit onerous occasions. Bungie’s Future 2 has struggled commercially, and Fortnite maker Epic has introduced large layoffs. In the meantime, some single-player solely video games noticed huge success in 2023, with the likes of Hogwarts Legacy and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom blowing up gross sales information. Rocksteady’s lately launched Suicide Squad Kill the Justice League suffered forward of launch for its affiliation with the live-service mannequin.
Wesley is the UK Information Editor for IGN. Discover him on Twitter at @wyp100. You’ll be able to attain Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.