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Subnautica: Below Zero

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Subnautica: Below Zero
Developer(s)Unknown Worlds Entertainment
Publisher(s)Unknown Worlds Entertainment
Director(s)
  • Charlie Cleveland
  • David Kalina
Artist(s)Cory Strader
Writer(s)
  • Jill Murray
  • Brittney Morris
  • Zaire Lanier
  • Tom Jubert
Composer(s)Ben Prunty
SeriesSubnautica
EngineUnity
Platform(s)
ReleaseMay 14, 2021
Genre(s)Action-adventure, survival
Mode(s)Single-player

Subnautica: Below Zero is an open world survival action-adventure video game developed and published by Unknown Worlds Entertainment. It is the sequel to the 2018 game Subnautica.

Subnautica: Below Zero is set to be released for the Microsoft Windows, macOS, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch on May 14, 2021. It was released in early access via Steam and the Epic Games Store in January 2019.

Gameplay

Subnautica: Below Zero is a survival adventure game set in an open world environment and played from a first-person perspective. The player controls a researcher who is studying the local environment of a nearby alien facility, on planet 4546B.[1] Like its predecessor, the player's goal is to explore the environments and survive in the alien environment while also completing objectives to advance the game's plot. Players collect resources, construct tools, build bases and submersibles, and can interact with the planet's wildlife.[2]

The game primarily takes place underwater, but unlike its predecessor, there are significant land-based areas to explore in the north of the game's world. There are more explorable structures to find both above ground and underwater which serve both as key locations for the story, but also for blueprints that the player can find for crafting. There is a day-night cycle which affects visibility and dynamic weather which further affects visibility, such as wind, snow, fog, and hail. In addition, the game introduces new gadgets like the Flashlight Helmet, the Mineral Detector, and the Booster Tank.[3]

Alongside returning mechanics such as health, hunger, and thirst, players now have a temperature gauge which activates when they are on land. If the player is exposed to harsh weather, they will begin to develop hypothermia.[4] This can be prevented by finding shelter in caves or buildings, utilizing plants or tools which can warm the player up, and by crafting appropriate survival gear which allows the player to stay outside in harsh weather for longer periods of time.

Upon beginning a new game, players must select a difficulty mode from the following four:

  • Survival — The player must manage health, hunger, thirst, oxygen and temperature. Upon death, they respawn, but certain items are lost from their inventory.
  • Freedom Mode — Just like survival, but with hunger and thirst disabled.
  • Hardcore Mode — Just like survival, but if the player dies, the player will no longer be able to respawn and the save file is permanently deleted.
  • Creative Mode — Health, hunger, thirst, oxygen and temperature are disabled, all the crafting blueprints are acquired, and no resources are required to craft. Additionally, the submersibles, a Seaglide, a mobile vehicle bay, a knife, a flashlight, a habitat builder, a scanner and a propulsion cannon are provided. They do not need an energy source and cannot be damaged (unless the player damages them intentionally).

Plot

The plot of Below Zero has not yet been finalized as the game is still in early access. However, some elements of the story may be played in the unfinished version of the game. Below Zero is set one year after the events of the first game. The player character has crashed onto a cold part of planet 4546b, called "point zero", and is searching for their sister and the mysteriously disappeared research team she is part of.[5]

Development

The game is under development by Unknown Worlds Entertainment. It was initially envisioned as a downloadable content (DLC) pack for the original Subnautica (2018), though its scope eventually expanded significantly, prompting Unknown Worlds to release Below Zero as a standalone product. Despite this, it was not considered to be a full sequel to Subnautica.[6] Announced in August 2018,[7] the game was released into early access for Windows and MacOS on January 30, 2019.[8] The full game is set to be released for these platforms, along with versions for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S, on May 14, 2021.[9] The game has a larger emphasis on storytelling when compared with the original.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b Avard, Alex (February 3, 2021). "Subnautica: Below Zero empowers the player with more gadgets and narrative momentum, but still makes you feel like a drop in ocean". GamesRadar. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  2. ^ Warr, Phillppa (February 4, 2019). "Subnautica: Below Zero is already a tantalising new twist on the original game". PC Gamer. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  3. ^ Devore, Jordan (July 17, 2019). "Subnautica: Below Zero has a new mining site to explore". Destructoid. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  4. ^ Hafer, Leana (February 6, 2021). "Subnautica: Below Zero Looks to Be More of What We Love". IGN. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  5. ^ "Subnautica: Below Zero Gets Free PS5 Upgrade And DualSense Features In May. Already out on PC in early access, Subnautica: Below Zero will launch for consoles this May". GameSpot. April 29, 2021.
  6. ^ Bailey, Dustin (February 2, 2021). "Subnautica devs want to make a full sequel – and they'll "rethink" multiplayer". PCGamesN. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  7. ^ Hall, Charlie (August 30, 2018). "Subnautica developers announce stand-alone expansion Below Zero". Polygon. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  8. ^ Tarason, Dominic (January 25, 2019). "Subnautica: Below Zero dives into early access next week". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  9. ^ Romano, Sal. "Subnautica: Below Zero launches May 14 for PS5, Xbox Series, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC". Retrieved February 24, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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