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Subnautica: Below Zero News

Stranger Pings Update

A new update is available for Subnautica: Below Zero Early Access. Mystery awaits you in Stranger Pings. Investigate the abandoned Alterra bases, unlock new base decorations, experience new creature behaviors, and much more. Visit the Stranger Pings site to learn more!


  • Dig deeper into the mysteries of 4546B with new character portraits and base detailing
  • Decorate and personalize your base with new props and stairs for surface bases
  • Enjoy a smoother ride – with significantly less pop-in – thanks to improved grass and terrain fading technology
  • Discover further detail and polish work in Deep Lilypads and Iceberg Zone
  • Experience new creature behaviors, including Rock Puncher improvements
  • Utilize the Object Highlighting accessibility option to showcase interactable items


https://youtu.be/KNyR2yAlv_8


[h2]Alterra Base Polish[/h2]

As you investigate the abandoned Alterra bases on 4546B, you will now uncover additional environmental storytelling. Learn more about the scientists that lived and worked on the planet prior to your arrival, ranging from unlockable employee profiles, to personal items and decor. It’s even easier to know which base you’ve arrived at too, with symbols and name plates added to the exterior!


[h2]Base Decorations[/h2]

Add a touch more personalization to your own bases after you root through the Alterra labs, with the futuristic Executive Toy, a calming Aromatherapy Lamp, as well as stairs for your surface bases.


[h2]Artifact Pings[/h2]

Never lose an Artifact in the world again! A Precursor symbol will now accompany any Artifact locations on the planet, which can all be managed through your trusty PDA.


[h2]Known Issue: PDA Unlocks[/h2]

PDAs that you have previously collected during your playthrough may reappear with this update. If you have already unlocked them, you will not be able to pick it up again. We are working on a solution for the next update.


[h2]Biome Detail and Polish[/h2]

Further detail and polish work has been added to Deep Lilypads and the Iceberg Zone. Revisit these impressive biomes to discover just how rich and vivid the world is becoming.


[h2]Creature Behaviors[/h2]

The behaviors of several creatures that inhabit the vast waters of the planet have been revamped with this update. The Rock Puncher now trawls the ocean floor in search of sustenance, which also unearths resources that you can pick through. Squidsharks utilize a new lightning attack to chase away any threats. Other creatures have also seen updates to their pathing and animations, so make sure you get out in the world and interact with them... if you dare.


[h2]Object Highlighting[/h2]

This feature can be found under the new Accessibility section of the menu. With a selection of colors to choose from, you’ll be able to highlight objects in the world that you can interact with.

Follow Below Zero development

You can find out about upcoming updates in all sorts of ways. Sign up to the Development Newsletter to receive word every time an update is released. Follow the Unknown Worlds and Subnautica: Below Zero Steam groups to get a notification on Steam. You can also:

Enjoy, and happy diving!

- Unknown Worlds
https://store.steampowered.com/app/848450/Subnautica_Below_Zero/

Salad Days Update

A new update is available for Subnautica: Below Zero Early Access. Salad Days are here on 4546B! Grab a thermos of coffee, fire up the Recyclotron, and get ready for more ice-cold adventure... and salad. Visit the Salad Days site to learn more!

  • Visit Marguerit’s Greenhouse and uncover unique plants and all-new salad recipes
  • React to the changing environment of Planet 4546B with player emotes
  • Interact with the Recyclotron and dismantle crafted objects to retrieve materials
  • Discover the bridge to Arctic Spires and a new accompanying cinematic
  • Experience the latest additions and clues to Below Zero’s revamped story
  • Scale the Below Zero UI with an additional slider to tailor your game experience


https://youtu.be/HfHybGKKza0


[h2]Marguerit’s Greenhouse[/h2]
What hearty meal could be better to help you fight off the freezing temperatures of 4546B than salad? Take a moment out of your adventuring to visit Marguerit’s Greenhouse and discover new unique plants and recipes to aid your survival efforts!


[h2]Recyclotron[/h2]
In a pinch for resources? Have some crafted items you’re no longer making use of? Fabricate and utilize the Recyclotron to dismantle objects and retrieve the raw materials!


[h2]Bridge to Arctic Spires[/h2]
Gain access to Arctic Spires via Glacial Bay with this new bridge! Well, it might need a little bit of love, care, and repairing first. But once across, you can uncover all of the delights that Arctic Spires holds… including a huge, felled Ice Worm.


[h2]Iceberg Zone[/h2]
Life is abundant in the Iceberg Zone, above and below the surface! But it’s not just creatures that you’ll stumble across here. Who knows what Architect mysteries and artifacts await, hidden away in this biome.

[h2]Player Emotes[/h2]
The weather on the surface can change fast. Robin has some new, expressive emotes to react as the temperature drops, and to other environmental shifts.


[h2]Thermos and Coffee[/h2]
Make yourself a piping hot coffee to shake the chill from your adventures across the freezing waters and icy ground of 4546B. Don’t forget to do your part in keeping the planet safe by using and reusing an environmentally friendly thermos!


[h2]Snow Stalker Improvements[/h2]
The Snow Stalkers live up to their name this update, with new stalking behavior. But don’t worry, as long as you have a flare, you’ll be able to put a little distance between you and your fuzzy friend. You did bring a flare, right?


[h2]Ice Bubbles[/h2]
Oxygen is at a premium as you dive ever deeper! Keep one eye out for ice bubbles and use your laser cutter to pop them open to avoid making a hasty retreat back to the surface.


[h2]More Story Additions[/h2]
Below Zero’s story continues to expand with a whole host of new additions. From PDA entries, to detail work in Alterra’s abandoned bases, and the Radio Tower location, there’s plenty to explore and uncover as you piece together the clues about Sam’s disappearance.


[h2]Environmental Polish[/h2]
Return to the Deep Purple Vents, Glacial Forest, and Arctic Spires and enjoy even more polish and detail work to the biomes.


[h2]UI Scaling[/h2]
Tailor your Below Zero experience even further with this new slider in the settings menu to scale the UI to your liking.

Follow Below Zero development

You can find out about upcoming updates in all sorts of ways. Sign up to the Development Newsletter to receive word every time an update is released. Follow the Unknown Worlds and Subnautica: Below Zero Steam groups to get a notification on Steam. You can also:

Enjoy, and happy diving!

- Unknown Worlds
https://store.steampowered.com/app/848450/Subnautica_Below_Zero/

Subnautica: Below Zero State of the Project (May 2020)

Hello, Subnautica friends.

These are strange and challenging times we’re all living through.

I hope you and yours are staying healthy.  If you play Subnautica or Below Zero, I hope that our games bring you happiness and some kind of healthy distraction.

We recently released EA9.  Here’s a quick update on where we’re at:

  • The new story is just starting to come online.  You can start a new game, experience the new intro sequence, and check out the new voice actors brought in to play Robin and Sam.  We are much further along in planning than we are in implementation, and you can expect a lot more story content in the coming months.  For now, we hope you enjoy the fresh start and new perspective, but please keep in mind that we have only finished a fraction of the new story.

  • Voice acting is going to take some time.  We know it’s a bit confusing that we have some Robin / Sam voice in-game and nothing else.  Lockdowns in response to COVID-19 prevented us from recording Al-An and Marguerit as planned for this release, and the uncertainty has made planning for voice more complicated than usual.  The story will likely be text-only for at least the next few months.  It’s likely that - much like more traditional game dev projects - we may just do all the voice recording in one pass once the story is 100% complete.

  • We continue to chip away at the icy, cold surface.  Our main objective is to better integrate surface and underwater sections of the world.  Previously, the “surface areas” of the game felt too removed and disconnected from the core underwater game.  To accomplish that, we rebuilt the Glacial Basin from scratch around the new Glacial Bay, survival mechanics went live for the first time, and a variety of supporting tech and equipment has been added or upgraded.

  • We continue to polish and improve the underwater world, such as a detailed art pass on the Purple Vents and digging into the crevices of the Lily Pads biome.  We’re also continuing to invest in the quality of creatures like the Sea Monkey and Snow Stalker.





  • Looking forward, you can expect the story to continue taking shape, a focus on player progression, and more polish across the board.  There are very few features left to add; it’s time for us to pull everything together and make the experience work holistically.


As you may know, old save games will no longer function due to the story change.  We will do everything in our power so we don’t have to take this step again, but we are still in early access - things are going to be a little rough around the edges until we hit 1.0.

We understand that COVID-19 is affecting people’s lives in all kinds of ways, and we’re grateful to be in a position to continue working (almost) entirely as before.  Our team is distributed around the world and has been mostly working from home for many years; for most of us, life is largely unchanged.  For some of us, the disease has hit a little closer to home.  Side effects of the outbreak - like families suddenly staying home together or our UK-based voice recording studio closing due to lockdown rules - can affect our work in unexpected ways.

It’s hard to know what the future holds, but we endeavor to continue making Below Zero the best game it can be.  To no small extent, we are able to continue doing this thanks to your support.  For that, you have our deepest gratitude.

Stay safe and healthy out there!

Yours,

David Kalina
Project Lead / Subnautica: Below Zero

Frostbite Update

A new update is available for Subnautica: Below Zero Early Access. Start your brand new adventure on Planet 4546B with a revamped story and intro cinematic. Visit the Frostbite site to learn more!

  • Experience the beginning of an all-new story and intro cinematic
  • Explore the extensively reworked Glacial Basin
  • Interact with the new cold mechanics and avoid hypothermia
  • Discover new Snowball interactions with the Snow Stalkers
  • Encounter escalating weather conditions
  • Uncover further improvements and polish to existing biomes
  • Enjoy crisper, and more clear in-game text

https://youtu.be/SXnjJxMmec0


[h2]New Story and Intro Cinematic[/h2]
Start your brand new adventure on Planet 4546B with a revamped story and intro cinematic. As you crash land on the surface a new mystery awaits you, with further secrets to uncover about Alterra and Robin’s sister, Sam. But a familiar presence is also waiting deep beneath the surface…


[h2]Glacial Basin[/h2]
Explore and traverse the cavernous, newly reworked Glacial Basin biome. With more nooks and crannies to uncover, the Basin now merges more seamlessly with underwater experiences via Glacial Bay.


[h2]Cold Mechanics and Escalating Weather[/h2]
Avoiding hypothermia while exploring the surface of the planet is now a concern with the introduction of cold mechanics. Make sure to plot out routes and take an abundance of coffee on your adventures] to stave off the chill. Weather conditions also naturally escalate, so keep one eye out for any snowstorms slowly rolling in.


[h2]Biome Polish and Improvements[/h2]
Take time out to rediscover and explore the Thermal Vents and Lilypad Connection biomes. With further polish and improvements, these biomes are now more vibrant and varied, with additional detailing work to the terrain.


[h2]Quantum Lockers[/h2]
Utilize this Precursor technology in order to access your Quantum Locker storage across the planet, wherever you place them.


[h2]Status Indicators[/h2]
Wondering about the status and durability of your items? Keep an eye on your power usage with newly introduced status indicators, which will visually prompt you when they need a little care and attention.


[h2]Ore Veins[/h2]
On the hunt for resource-rich areas? Keep an eye out for ore veins in Arctic Spires and Glacial Basin, which will now provide increased materials for all of your crafting needs.


[h2]Snowballs and Water Purification Tablets[/h2]
The dual-use Snowballs can be life saving in more than one instance. A well-timed throw can distract a Snowstalker, to facilitate your quick escape. But they can also be utilized in the new water purification tablets, providing you with a new water source and keep you from dehydrating.


[h2]New Ice Worm Animation[/h2]
The fearsome Ice Worm has all new interactions and animations to uncover, as you attempt to cross its treacherous territory. But this leviathan-class creature doesn’t just have its sights set on you.


[h2]Surface Beacons[/h2]
Worried about losing your way on the surface? You can now place Beacons above ground, so you can mark out any important areas that you’d like to easily rediscover.


[h2]Crisper Text[/h2]
Below Zero’s text is now crisper and cleaner than ever, thanks to an all-new update that improves readability.

[h2]Follow Below Zero development[/h2]
You can find out about upcoming updates in all sorts of ways. Sign up to the Development Newsletter to receive word every time an update is released. Follow the Unknown Worlds and Subnautica: Below Zero Steam groups to get a notification on Steam. You can also:

Enjoy, and happy diving!

- Unknown Worlds
https://store.steampowered.com/app/848450/Subnautica_Below_Zero/

How We Approach Story

Hi everyone,

Narrative Designer Jill here. As you know, we’re changing the story for Subnautica: Below Zero. I wanted to give you an idea of what goes into this process.

[h3]First, the basic requirements:[/h3]

  • Our narrative since Subnautica has been delivered primarily by breaking the story into dozens of fragments and scattering them around the ocean floor.
  • In Subnautica: Below Zero, Robin is a speaking player protagonist with a lot to think and say compared to Ryley in Subnautica. In addition to a detailed personality and working inner-life, she needs a character arc that will develop as players play.
  • That implies some kind of linearity but only some. As a player, you need to be able to play the game in your own way, at your own pace. That means you’re going to make up a lot of your own story order.
  • So we need to figure out which ways players might be most likely to play and also what ways you can play if you’re determined enough. We want the story flow and outcomes to match play styles as much as possible, so you get an experience that makes sense to you. (Or not, if you were trying to play in a disjointed way.) We trust you to find your own new take on things that we didn’t think of. 

[h3]What you can count on (SPOILERS BE HERE!):[/h3]
  • There’s a lot to love in everything that’s been made for Subnautica: Below Zero until now, and we want to make sure we respect that. So there are some familiar things you can count on seeing in the new story.
  • Robin. Some of her details may change, but you’ll recognize her character art, and play as her. She’s going to have more autonomy than in the previous iteration. We hope you’ll enjoy that.
  • Al-An. You’ll still meet the alien, download him to your mind, and help him find a body that’s not yours. We’re giving some attention to his personality, backstory and motivations, so there’s more to learn about him along the way. Having an alien IN YOUR BRAIN is a BIG DEAL so we want to let you focus on that.
  • Marg. It wouldn’t be Subnautica: Below Zero without her, as far as we’re concerned. We love her and she’s staying. We’re hoping to connect her to the story more. She’ll still be her wild self though. No plot can fully contain her.
  • The World and its creatures. Bases may come and go, or shift a few hundred meters in one direction or another, but the substance of the world in Subnautica: Below Zero will remain fundamentally the same. That means we need to work the new story around the twists and turns, dark caverns, and mischievous sea monkeys we already know.
 

[h3]How does story come together?[/h3]
Players sometimes say to me, “oh, so you’re the narrative person so you decide what the story is.” Not quite.

What I actually do when I arrive on a team where I’ve been asked to help evolve a new story out of the elements of an old one, is talk to everyone and find out things like:

  • What do players like about this game and its story?
    How does the team feel about what they’ve made so far?
    What are the deadlines and constraints?
    What is the team actually going to build?


We do a lot of brainstorming-- what could we do in this or that space. What if a given character behaved in way X instead of way Y? We don’t just do this internally. We reach out and gather expert input from outside the team.

From there, it’s a lot of meetings about every element of the game-- each cinematic, the way different environments will change or be employed differently.

How can the various game mechanics be used to tell different parts of the story? What can we reflect back to the player about their choices, through the way things in the game work, and the way the world and other characters respond to them?

Then I begin to sketch out the story overview, and try to imagine how the narrative can be split into all those bits that get scattered around the sea. I make complex diagrams no one else will ever read, but they help me ask the right questions and plan the right plans.



Most of this happens in a cycle. More discussions. More brainstorms. We come to a more refined understanding of what is possible. We revise, we cut, we add, we cut something different, we add again. I make a new set of diagrams.

When the meetings start to consist of less debate and more “so how do we do this?” that’s when we can really start setting both deadlines and story details in stone. 

Then (finally?!) the writing and casting and all of the production of story stuff you’ll be able to see and hear and read in the game begins for real. But I’ll have to tell you more about that another time. 

[h3]So what’s in this release?[/h3]
The story updates you’ll notice in the upcoming release largely pertain to the way Subnautica: Below Zero begins:

  • Totally new intro cinematic
  • You’ll get to hear the new Robin and new Sam’s voices for the first time
  • New journal entries from Robin and calls between Robin and Al-An, in text
  • We’ve also had a chance to try things out that led us to understand how to do things better, and we’ve improved the narrative pipeline -- how words actually get into the game is always more complex than anyone could hope.


We’ll have more to say about casting and how COVID-19 has impacted our recording process soon. We think it deserves its own post.

Thanks for reading, and if you have any questions, please ask in the comments. I’ll do my best to respond!