FAQ

[TJ]

I'll continue to update this as questions come in!

- When is the next update?
We are aiming to update the game every 6 weeks for one year, but if you want to see things sooner (and more broken) you can play in the experimental branch which receives updates daily.

- How can I play experimental branch?
Right click the game in your steam library, select the Betas tab, and choose 'experimental'.

- I have a problem with the game how can I fix it?
Troubleshooter guide: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1640719623

- What is planned for future updates, and where can I keep up to date?
So much! Check out our development tracker: https://favro.com/widget/35200a08dbbad85b26102638/06debf2f78b651dfb12c8fcf

Sign up to the newsletter: https://unknownworlds.com/subnautica/newsletter/

Follow the live experimental changelist on twitter: https://twitter.com/SubnauticaSCM?lang=en-gb

Browse the wiki: https://subnautica-belowzero.fandom.com/wiki/Subnautica:_Below_Zero

- Will there be multiplayer?
Nope. It's a huge undertaking. We love the idea, we'd love to pursue it in future projects, but there are no plans at this time.

- Will you fix XYZ?
Probably, with your feedback. All voice and text will be redrafted and re-recorded before 1.0. All tech distribution will be iterated on. New biomes will be added. We are still working on cold systems. There will be more creatures, better animations, new vehicles. If it looks broken, probably it's broken.

- Is this game much more linear or guided than the first?
That is not our intention. There is more voice and dialog, especially in the intro sections of early access 1, but the Vesper is going to become less helpful in the mid-game and you're going to be left to your own devices more. We want to tell a more involved story, but we don't want to take away from your agency and freedom.

- How come below zero is so rough compared to Subnautica? What standard of polish can we expect?
Please expect the same standard of polish as Subnautica at 1.0. We have made improvements to the base game since 1.0 which we are gradually phasing into BZ; meanwhile we have made big additions to BZ which are slowing performance and introducing new bugs. Things may get worse before they get better, but they will get better.

- Will there be VR?
Nope, sorry. We don't think we'll be able to do VR justice. Not because we don't love VR (we do) or all own multiple headsets (we do)....We wanted to do a better job with SN1 but time and availability of people was difficult. We just don't want people having a bad experience in VR for Below Zero, so we're likely not doing it unless we can find the time. Making the game itself is the top priority.

- Where should I report issues?
The in-game F8 menu for bugs, reviews and forum posts for qualitative feedback. Please try to search the forums to see if your topic has already been raised before making new threads, thanks!

- Should I play now or wait for 1.0?
The game is broken and incomplete right now. Only play it now if you really want to see the work in progress and help us fix bugs. Wait for 1.0 in a year or more for the best experience.

- Why is this a whole new game I have to buy instead of DLC?
We set out on a path to create something smaller. It grew. New vehicles, new map, biomes, creatures, new story and characters. We will spend at least 2 years developing it. And we want as many people to play it as possible, including those that may not have bought the first.

[TheGraveDigger]

Thank you for adding this

I hope you guys learned from subnautica discussion and hire mod(s) to look after the thread

[Snine]

My only question is will we get to see a Precursor at some point in time lol

[Giga Clapper 9000]

I just want those big arctic leviathans (I hope that there will be a pacifist leviathan like a reef-back)

[FI5HER]

How big is the map gonna be, how much space will certain biomes take up?
Also, is this the final game set on 4546B? Or is there not a clear answer to that yet?

[Warspite]

An FAQ is a good idea. It might stop the countless multiplayer threads but I doubt it.

[Valdyr]

Originally posted by Weaponised Autism:

I just want those big arctic leviathans (I hope that there will be a pacifist leviathan like a reef-back)

I've already encountered one, looks like an alien humpback whale. I think it was called a Glow Whale or something.

[Presi]

There is no need to change the voicelog, just tweak it a little like how when i jump my player character is talking still, i suggest adding a stopper between lines if i jump.

Also pls fix the bug which is located at the left side of the pod thanks, the fabricator can be accessed from outside of the pod

[Presi]

Also Devs pls ignore the people who are asking a change in character, the game sounds great with a female character. Im pretty sure women are as strong as men

[That Cat from Stranger Things]

Vulkan support please. Unity 5.6 supports Vulkan and this would help those running Proton immensely.

[#1 Slime NA]

Originally posted by TJ:

- Is this game much more linear or guided than the first?
That is not our intention. There is more voice and dialog, especially in the intro sections of early access 1, but the Vesper is going to become less helpful in the mid-game and you're going to be left to your own devices more. We want to tell a more involved story, but we don't want to take away from your agency and freedom.

Thank you for this, it was my biggest concern so far. Please consider dialing back the direct guidance and linear feel of the intro section. You're barraged with too many beacons - considering the electrical storm barraging the area, I think you've got a good enough excuse to just give rough ideas of where things might be in these communications. Maybe just make the compass a built-in function of the HUD (or something available to craft right away) and you can give rough north/south/east/west distance and depth estimates.

Originally posted by Weaponised Autism:

I just want those big arctic leviathans (I hope that there will be a pacifist leviathan like a reef-back)

There already is a new pacifist leviathan, and you can ride it.

[NekroRaptor]

Just a general question, will the game receive optimization updates for slower/lower tier computers? I know that the answer is probably yes, but I just want to make sure, as I've been waiting so eagerly for this game to drop. Best wishes from a huge fan of the series! Keep up the awesome work!

[Zork Nemesis]

For people who want to opt into the experimental branch, will there be a place to view changelogs for various tweaks or changes you guys might introduce? Maybe not a log for each update but perhaps if something a step up from a minor change is pushed will there be some place to check out what changed instead of just fumbling around the game looking for something different?

[Bronzeborg]

but how is FU00 supposed to play this? :(

[Dan]

I am a little disappointed to not see any multiplayer implemented at this early stage. Even being that is would be a "a huge undertaking" MP would have naturally generated a greater interest and more revenue in the long run. I love SN but have always wished to play it with my friends..and accepted the the reasoning for the rejection in the past, but now? Looks like a little investment in the MP programming side wouldn't go amiss! Such a shame..
Rework it while there is still time? :(

[Phoraex]

Will be there multi- joke, My real question is: Will be the map smaller than Subnauttica?