New proximity voice chat, revive system and teamwork improvements strengthen cooperative play, while Unknown Worlds donates USD 100,000 to The Ocean Cleanup
EL SEGUNDO, CALIF. – AUGUST 18, 2026 – Unknown Worlds has rolled out the second Early Access update for its Open World Survival Craft game, Subnautica 2, introducing new features designed to strengthen communication and teamwork in co-op. Alongside the update, the studio announced a USD 100,000 donation to ocean cleanup non-profit The Ocean Cleanup.
This update focuses on strengthening the cooperative play experience, with new systems for how players communicate and support one another underwater.
Proximity Voice Chat
Proximity voice chat is the centerpiece of the update, applying distance-based spatial audio to player communication. Nearby teammates sound louder and more directional, while voices fade naturally as players drift apart.
New Revive System
A new revive system has also been added. When a player’s health is depleted, they enter a downed state instead of dying immediately and can continue exploring if a teammate revives them within a limited window. The change raises the tension of deep-sea survival while making cooperation more meaningful.
Communication and Teamwork Improvements
Communication and teamwork have improved in other ways as well. An emote system lets players signal one another without voice, and players can now access a teammate’s inventory directly to hand over resources. Other improvements have been applied across cooperative play, including throwable location tags, the signal system, and base-building convenience.
Supporting Ocean Conservation
The Ocean Cleanup is a non-profit organization that develops and scales technologies to remove plastic pollution from the world’s oceans. Unknown Worlds previously donated a portion of proceeds from the original Subnautica to The Ocean Cleanup on World Environment Day in 2019, and has continued to support ocean conservation efforts since.
“Subnautica began with a love for the ocean, and it means a great deal to continue the conservation work we started with the original game through this donation to The Ocean Cleanup,” said Fernando Melo, Executive Producer at Unknown Worlds. “We will keep doing our part to protect the ocean we have spent so long bringing to life.”
Subnautica 2 is available now on Steam, Xbox (Series X|S consoles and PC), and the Epic Games Store. Players can learn more by visiting the official Subnautica website.
About Unknown Worlds
Unknown Worlds is a renowned, global game development studio. The studio is best known for the genre-defining Subnautica series, which has sold over 18.5 million units worldwide, as well as the Natural Selection franchise and the turn-based strategy game Moonbreaker. For more information, please visit unknownworlds.com.
