Inventory space disappears quickly in Subnautica 2, especially during the early hours when players constantly collect crafting materials, tools, and consumables. Fortunately, there are several ways to make inventory management much easier once you unlock extra storage and permanent upgrades.
One of the best early-game solutions is using Portable Lockers. These containers provide 15 extra inventory slots and let players stay out exploring far longer before returning to the Lifepod. One of the earliest Portable Lockers can even be found in the cave directly beneath the starting Lifepod.
While holding a Portable Locker prevents the use of tools, the added storage space easily outweighs the drawback during the beginning of the game. Once back at the Lifepod or base, players can unload resources into Wall Lockers or simply leave the Portable Locker filled with materials.
After unlocking the Habitat Tool, players can start building their own storage containers even before constructing a full base. Later in the game, Portable Lockers can also be attached to vehicles for deep-sea expeditions.
Another important upgrade comes from Biobeds located inside Colonist Bunkers. Unlike Portable Lockers, Biobeds permanently expand inventory capacity, making them one of the most valuable early-game discoveries.
Colonist Bunkers are usually hidden inside caves, and underwater lights often guide players toward them. Some of the early NOA black box waypoints also lead directly to these bunkers, making them worth visiting as soon as possible.
Good inventory management is just as important as increasing storage size. For example, Metal Salvage should remain intact until Titanium is actually needed. A single Metal Salvage only takes one slot, but once processed it becomes four pieces of Titanium, which consume far more space.
Players should also focus only on gathering resources required for active crafting recipes. Recipes can be pinned through the Blueprints menu by right-clicking an item, placing the required materials list in the top-right corner of the screen.
The hot bar at the bottom of the screen also works as an extension of the inventory. Tools and consumables placed there effectively free up to five inventory slots. During resource runs, it is often smarter to carry water in the hot bar while leaving tools like the Habitat Builder back at base.
Once a permanent base is established, building additional storage becomes essential. Wall Lockers are easier to craft, while Floor Lockers provide more capacity. Portable Lockers can also help transfer resources between the Lifepod and the base more efficiently.
As a Reminder, Subnautica 2 Guide — How to Get Maximum FPS in Subnautica and Successfully Start the Game.
