New Submarine Vehicles for Subnautica 2? Let's Go Beyond the Known!

[drago307]

Hello everyone, Subnautica fans 🌊,

I've been thinking about the incredible submarine designs we already have in the original game and its expansion, Below Zero, like the Seamoth, the Cyclops, the Prawn Suit, and the SeaTruck. These vehicles allowed us to explore the ocean depths in unique and exciting ways, but... what if Subnautica 2 took things a step further?

Let’s imagine new submarine vehicles:
What if we considered a mix of vehicles inspired by marine creatures with more advanced technology? Here are some ideas to kick off the discussion:

1. The "Manta"
A light and stealthy submarine vehicle inspired by the manta ray, designed to blend in with its surroundings. This vehicle would allow you to navigate the waters undetected by hostile creatures, perfect for exploration and stealth missions in high-danger areas. Equipped with bioluminescent camouflage technology, it could change color to blend in with the environment or use the darkness to hide.

Features:

High maneuverability and speed in both shallow and deep waters.
Adaptive optical camouflage system (real-time camouflage).
Limited defense capabilities with electric discharges.
2. The "Atlas"
Imagine a large-scale exploration vessel like the Cyclops, but even more advanced. The Atlas would be a gigantic submarine, capable of serving as a fully equipped mobile base, where you could build crafting stations, beds, hydroponic farms, and even a small hangar for smaller vehicles like the Seamoth or underwater drones.

Features:

Modular vehicle, allowing full customization of interiors.
Auto-pilot function for long distances.
Exploration drones to send into hazardous areas for analysis.
What if vehicles evolved?
Another interesting idea is that vehicles wouldn’t stay static. Instead of simply upgrading them with modules, what if they could evolve depending on the environment? For example, if you spend a lot of time in deep, dark waters, your Manta could develop bioluminescent abilities or increased pressure resistance. If you spend a lot of time in a volcanic biome, maybe your vehicle could develop heat resistance or even harness geothermal energy to recharge.

Bringing back fan favorites:
Of course, it would be great to see classic vehicles return, but with logical evolutions to their functions:

Seamoth 2.0: A much more agile vehicle with more specific customization modules, like high-precision sonar or short-range flight capabilities to hop between islands or skim across the water's surface.
Prawn Suit 2.0: How about a Prawn Suit that can walk on the water’s surface or use “spider legs” to climb underwater cliffs?
Cyclops/Atlas: If the Cyclops is the tank of the group, why not create its successor, the Atlas, with full life support capabilities, almost like an underwater space station?
Hybrid technology or biotechnology:
Another intriguing direction would be to combine technology with biological elements from the environment. We’ve already seen a bit of this with creatures used to generate power or bio-luminescent fauna. What if in Subnautica 2 vehicles incorporated living elements? Like an exoskeleton or organic armor that adapts and regenerates over time.

Questions for the community:
What kind of vehicles would you like to see in a Subnautica sequel?
How about piloting vehicles inspired by real or imaginary marine creatures?
How could vehicles evolve based on the environments you explore?
Would you like to see a fully modular mobile base like the Atlas?
What do you think about integrating biotechnology into vehicles, combining the mechanical with the biological?
I’d love to hear your ideas and see where our imagination can take us! Who knows, maybe the developers will take note of some of these ideas for the future.

Let’s talk about what Subnautica 2 could offer us in terms of underwater exploration!

[Luminaris]

Wow, these ideas for new submarine vehicles in Subnautica 2 are absolutely incredible! 🌊 The vehicles in the original Subnautica and Below Zero were already such an integral part of the exploration experience, but you’ve taken it to a whole new level with these imaginative concepts. I love how you’re thinking beyond what we know and incorporating elements from marine life, advanced technology, and even evolution. Let’s break down these ideas a bit more:

The “Manta” – Stealth and Exploration Combined:
A stealthy submarine vehicle inspired by the manta ray? That’s brilliant! The idea of blending into the environment using adaptive camouflage is something that would truly elevate exploration, especially in areas swarming with hostile creatures. The Manta would allow players to navigate treacherous waters without alerting predators, which is something I feel was missing from the first game—sometimes you just need to observe without being noticed.

The bioluminescent camouflage system sounds like it would add a whole new layer to gameplay, especially in the darker, deeper biomes where stealth could be the difference between survival and becoming a Leviathan’s next meal. This vehicle would also encourage more thoughtful exploration, where you could choose between aggressive or passive exploration strategies depending on the situation.

The “Atlas” – A Moving Fortress:
The Atlas sounds like the ultimate dream vehicle for those of us who love the idea of turning our submarine into a fully functioning, mobile base. The Cyclops was already incredible, but giving us a larger, more modular vehicle that can serve as a literal underwater fortress is a game-changer. The ability to fully customize interiors, from crafting stations to hydroponic farms, opens up so many possibilities for long-term exploration.

I also really like the idea of an auto-pilot function—being able to set a course and have the Atlas move while you focus on other tasks (like gathering resources or managing your base) would add a layer of convenience that feels both futuristic and practical. The addition of exploration drones is genius, too—sending them into hazardous areas before risking your own life is exactly the kind of cautious gameplay that Subnautica rewards.

Evolving Vehicles – A Dynamic, Adaptable Experience:
The concept of vehicles evolving based on the environments you explore is absolutely fascinating. In the original games, upgrading vehicles with modules was fun, but the idea that your submarine or suit could develop new abilities or adapt based on the challenges you face adds a whole new layer of depth. This could also encourage players to explore a wider range of biomes, knowing that their vehicles would organically evolve to handle the unique challenges of each environment.

For example, spending time in volcanic zones and having your vehicle develop heat resistance, or evolving bioluminescent features in deep-sea biomes, could make exploration even more immersive. This kind of feature could also create a stronger connection between players and their vehicles, almost like your exploration gear becomes a living extension of your journey.

Bringing Back and Evolving Fan-Favorites:
Seeing a return of the Seamoth, Prawn Suit, and Cyclops with new upgrades would be exciting for long-time fans of the series. However, I think making their evolutions logical is key. The Seamoth 2.0 could offer higher agility and maybe some fun customization modules like precision sonar or even short-range flight capabilities for hopping between islands. The Prawn Suit 2.0 could gain "spider legs" to climb underwater cliffs or even the ability to walk on the water’s surface. And of course, the Atlas—a worthy successor to the Cyclops—could be the ultimate modular submarine base, equipped with life support and mobile base-building capabilities.

Hybrid Technology – Combining the Mechanical with the Biological:
I love the idea of integrating biotechnology into the vehicles, combining mechanical elements with organic ones. Imagine using biological elements from the local fauna to generate power, or perhaps having an organic exoskeleton that regenerates over time. This could also open up interesting gameplay possibilities, like harvesting biological components from creatures to upgrade or repair your vehicles. Subnautica 2 could take this further by introducing vehicles that adapt and grow just like the organisms around them.

Questions for the Community:
What kind of vehicles would you like to see in Subnautica 2?
How about piloting vehicles inspired by real or imaginary marine creatures?
How could vehicles evolve based on the environments you explore?
Would you like to see a fully modular mobile base like the Atlas?
What do you think about integrating biotechnology into vehicles, combining the mechanical with the biological?
There’s so much potential here, and it would be amazing to see the developers take inspiration from some of these ideas! Let’s keep the conversation going and see where our imagination takes us.

If you found this discussion inspiring, feel free to send an award! 😊✨

[drago307]

I’m so glad you loved it! 😊 I’m really happy that my ideas resonated with you and captured what you’d like to see in a potential Subnautica sequel. Also, I sincerely apologize for the delay in responding—I’m so sorry for letting so much time pass without replying! The good news is that I have tons more ideas like these ready to share with you.

Thank you for your patience, and get ready for more exciting concepts! 🌊✨

[Luminaris]

Originally posted by drago307:

I’m so glad you loved it! 😊 I’m really happy that my ideas resonated with you and captured what you’d like to see in a potential Subnautica sequel. Also, I sincerely apologize for the delay in responding—I’m so sorry for letting so much time pass without replying! The good news is that I have tons more ideas like these ready to share with you.

Thank you for your patience, and get ready for more exciting concepts! 🌊✨

yea for sure :D