Diversity of environments is a key design feature of Subnautica. We want Subnautica players to be able to experience vastly different and beautiful ‘biomes’ as they explore the underwater world. Of course, no underwater world would be complete without a coral reef!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bu9ydODgflw

Cory painted Coral Reef Zone 3 to the team visualise what a coral reef biome might look like. Creating an ‘alien’ coral reef is quite tricky, because by their very nature terrestrial coral reefs already look quite alien!

We also need keep our desire for diversity of coral life in check: Each new life form is a new model that needs to be created and put into the game. There are financial, performance, and time expenses …

Subnautica will take you to diverse environments: From lava, to ice, to coral, and more. In these environments, you will encounter all sorts of creatures, big and small. The above image is Cave Thing, and is a piece of Subnautica concept art that tries to give form to several gameplay ideas.

Cave Thing is painted with a diver’s mask at the edges, hinting at Subnautica’s first person nature. On the right, a small vehicle of some kind if shining lights on to the evidently bemused creature. Small vehicles will be pilotable (or this one an un-manned drone, supporting the swimming player?), deploying from ‘mothership’ style larger vessels (See Exterior Sketch for more about this!).

Most importantly, this little encounter is …

A ship is only as strong as her crew. She may have the most accurate navigation equipment, the most powerful engines, the strongest hull: None of it is of any use if her crew does not do right by her. Subnautica is being developed by a small team. What it lacks in numbers, it makes up for in experience, determination, and energy. During development, this team will grow slightly, and we will update this post as it does.

Charlie (Flayra) is our leader, taking on the role of game director and lead gameplay programmer. He brought the idea of Subnautica to Unknown Worlds, and has inspired us to work on it. He is responsible for designing the …