Subnautica

The original Subnautica received a 2025 maintenance patch that improved controller support and addressed vehicle and base bugs. A later security hotfix also changed access to older branches of the game.

• PRAWN suit: Fixes addressed falling through the map or becoming stuck after Alien Arch travel, and frozen survival stats after leaving the suit.
• Cyclops: The Repulsion Cannon no longer displaces interior objects, and constructing a SeaBase piece inside the submarine no longer freezes the game.
• Controls: PC input options were reworked, with broader wired and wireless controller support and updated control icons.
• World behavior: A fix stopped Leviathans from flying above the ocean in certain encounters with vehicles.
• Security: Legacy and alternative branches were disabled following a Unity security concern, including the speedrunning branch.

A follow-up maintenance patch refined the original game's Steam integration and controller experience. Input and startup fixes addressed several specific problems without introducing a new content expansion.

• Controller aiming: Corrected stick dead-zone handling made aiming with a controller easier.
• Steam Big Picture: A virtual keyboard became available when using Big Picture mode.
• Startup: A fix addressed an occasional black screen when starting the game.
• VR: Another black-screen issue was fixed after changing resolution in virtual reality.
• Platform support: The Steam SDK and Steamworks .NET integration were updated, along with controller-related user experience refinements.

The Living Large 2.0 update brought major improvements to the original Subnautica, including building pieces previously available in Below Zero. It also unified the games on a common Unity version and addressed long-standing usability, save, and performance issues.

• Base building: The Large Room, Glass Dome, and Land Hatches expanded the options for constructing bases.
• Accessibility: UI scaling, PDA pause, and an option to disable light flashes gave players more control over presentation.
• Everyday play: Pinned recipes, run mode, improved Air Bladder behavior, and visible Cyclops pings made common tasks easier.
• Saving and performance: The save system was refactored and optimized, alongside broader performance and loading improvements.
• Reliability: Fixes addressed terrain streaming, base building, vehicles, creature spawning, and visual effects.

The original Subnautica reached new platforms during this anniversary year, arriving on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series in May 2021. Unknown Worlds’ launch-week post confirms those ports belong to the original game, while also reporting platform-specific stability issues under investigation. The year’s other confirmed original-game notices were smaller: the soundtrack became separately downloadable on Steam, and a December minor update moved the troubleshooting guide.

• Console and next-generation launch: The original game arrived on Switch, PS5, and Xbox Series in May 2021, alongside Below Zero’s launch window. The studio documented launch issues separately for Subnautica.
• Soundtrack availability: On April 30, the original soundtrack became a separate Steam download; existing owners received it at no additional cost.
• B89 minor update: The December notice describes a documentation change, moving the troubleshooting guide from Steam to Unknown Worlds’ blog, with no gameplay additions listed.
• Platform stability follow-up: Unknown Worlds identified Switch save-loading crashes and PS5 screen tearing as original Subnautica issues under investigation in its May launch-week update.

The original game's Micro Update concentrated on streaming, performance, and targeted fixes. It also adjusted Hardcore mode and preserved support for mods while improving the reliability of everyday exploration.

• World streaming: Improvements reduced cases where players could outrun terrain or fall through the world in a PRAWN suit.
• Hardcore: Low oxygen warnings were disabled in Hardcore mode, changing how players monitor their remaining air.
• Vehicles and bases: A distant PRAWN suit could no longer become stuck in the air, and a base pillar bug was fixed.
• Navigation: A disabled Lifepod ping now remained disabled after loading a game.
• Technical polish: The update fixed cloud quality and prop fade-in issues, updated translations, and disabled managed code stripping for mod support.

A substantial maintenance update improved the original Subnautica's reliability and performance during this year. Its Unity engine upgrade accompanied fixes across saved games, world streaming, vehicles, and interface controls.

• Saves and loading: The update addressed incorrectly loaded world data and saves stuck on a loading message, while improving background loading.
• Vehicles: Cyclops doors and Moonpools were fixed to respond to dockable vehicles, and a loaded Seamoth could open the Cyclops vehicle bay.
• World performance: Streaming and memory optimizations reduced work in the background, including changes to file I/O and the Kelp Forest.
• Gameplay fixes: Creature respawning, rocket platform physics, and several terrain clipping problems received attention.
• Interface: Gamepad and keyboard handling improved for save deletion and label editing, alongside updated translations.

The first post-release year focused on stabilizing Subnautica after launch. Update 84 addressed a wide range of issues in vehicles, bases, progression, and menus.

• Cyclops: Flooding indicators moved clearly outside the hull, and the hatch door collider was fixed.
• Progression: End-game achievements now trigger, and a saved rocket could correctly become ready for launch.
• Bases and vehicles: Fixes covered Moonpool ladders, Seamoth hatch animation, and entering the exosuit while sprinting.
• Presentation and controls: Menu language updates, controller navigation, translated text, and an option to disable subtitles improved usability.
• Performance: World recaching and reduced hitching when rebuilding bases helped smooth the experience.