The developers of Subnautica 2 have confirmed that they currently have no plans to add weapons to the game, as it would go against the core philosophy of the series. Despite criticism from some players, the studio continues to focus on non-violent survival mechanics.
Subnautica 2 has already become a major success for Unknown Worlds even in early access. Shortly after launch, the game quickly climbed the Steam charts and reached nearly half a million concurrent players at its peak. Eight years after the original game’s release, the sequel significantly expands and improves many systems, although not every change has been welcomed by fans.
During a press conference, lead game designer Anthony Gallegos and media lead Scott MacDonald discussed the team’s approach to violence in the game. In Subnautica 2, players must deal with aggressive underwater wildlife, especially due to a new infestation known as bloom, which affects the behavior of creatures. However, players are unable to kill wildlife in the sequel.
ЗAccording to the developers, the studio is continuing the vision of Unknown Worlds founder Charlie Cleveland, who never wanted the franchise to encourage violence or feature firearms. Despite repeated requests from fans, the team has no intention of changing that direction.
While the original Subnautica did not include traditional weapons, players could still use certain tools for defense or even to kill creatures. In the sequel, however, players began complaining about the presence of “immortal fish,” arguing that it hurts immersion. Gallegos explained that one issue he had with the first game was how quickly players tried to figure out ways to kill leviathans so they would stop being a threat. In his opinion, that reduced the game’s tension.
Because of this, Subnautica 2 focuses on tools designed to distract or deter predators rather than directly harm them. The developers acknowledged that weapons will remain “a point of resistance” for part of the community, but for now the studio does not plan to change its philosophy.
The team also revealed that during development they received extremely persistent requests for weapons, to the point where even “one country,” which Gallegos refused to name, pushed the idea of introducing weapon manufacturing into the sequel.
For now, players will have to learn how to avoid conflict with underwater creatures instead of searching for ways to eliminate them permanently. Mods may eventually add weapons or allow players to damage wildlife, but console players will likely need to get used to Subnautica 2’s strong emphasis on non-violent survival.
As a Reminder, Take-Two CEO Reaffirms GTA 6 Release Date Again.