Subnautica 2 to Get Predator Tweaks and Proximity Chat

Subnautica 2 is a first-person action‑adventure survival game developed by Unknown Worlds Entertainment and published by Krafton. A direct sequel to the 2018 original, it entered Early Access on PC (Steam) and Xbox Series X|S in 2025 and is the first entry in the series to include cooperative multiplayer. The game drops players into an alien ocean world where they must manage oxygen, craft equipment, build bases, and survive deadly sea life. The latest announced update package focuses on predator behaviour adjustments and proximity chat, targeting a more responsive and immersive survival experience.

Key Facts

What Are the Predator Behaviour Tweaks?

Unknown Worlds is introducing a series of predator behaviour adjustments to how hostile underwater creatures detect, chase, and attack the player. The changes are designed to reward situational awareness and reduce unfair instant‑death scenarios that have been a point of community criticism. Specific creature behaviour models are being re‑balanced, though the full patch notes have not yet been released. “These tweaks are meant to make every predator encounter feel more deliberate and less like a random coin toss,” explains Rock Paper Shotgun’s summary of the developer’s intentions.

Unknown Worlds has outlined a bunch of incoming small Subnautica 2 updates, including predator behaviour adjustments and proximity chat.

Players can expect changes in aggression ranges, line‑of‑sight mechanics, and reaction to player‑produced noise. The goal is a more dynamic ecosystem where predators feel alive and dangerous but also learnable.

Predator behaviour adjustments in Subnautica 2 aim to create a more balanced rhythm between exploration and threat, turning each deep‑sea foray into a test of nerve and preparation.

How Does Proximity Chat Work?

Proximity chat is a voice‑communication system that modulates audio volume and clarity based on the in‑game distance between players. In Subnautica 2, this means players exploring together in co‑op will hear each other clearly when close, but voices will fade to whispers or cut out entirely as they separate. This mechanic adds a layer of tension and strategy to multiplayer sessions, where staying within earshot becomes a survival asset.

Unknown Worlds confirmed the feature will be optional, allowing groups to use traditional party‑chat systems if preferred. Proximity chat naturally amplifies the isolation and horror elements that define the series—when a player’s voice suddenly disappears behind a rock formation or beyond a kelp forest, the silence can be as threatening as any leviathan.

Subnautica 2’s proximity chat ensures that player communication is physically grounded in the game world, raising the stakes of cooperative exploration.

Who Is This For?

The update targets existing Early Access players who want a more polished, responsive world. Solo explorers will benefit from the predator tweaks that make creature behaviour less erratic, while co‑op groups gain immense immersion from proximity chat. The changes also demonstrate Unknown Worlds’ commitment to shaping Subnautica 2 around player data and feedback, making it a living product that evolves during development.

Both features address the top requests in community forums, where aggressive fauna unpredictability and the lack of positional voice chat were frequently cited. Early adopters who value realism and tension in their survival games will find these updates especially compelling.

Subnautica 2’s incoming updates are laser‑focused on two of the community’s most requested improvements: fairer enemy behaviour and voice‑based social mechanics.

Common Questions

When will the Subnautica 2 updates be released?

Unknown Worlds has not provided a specific date, but the updates are described as “incoming small” patches and are expected to roll out over the coming weeks on both PC and Xbox platforms.

Is proximity chat available for all multiplayer sessions?

Yes, proximity chat will be an integrated feature in all co‑op modes, but it can be disabled in favor of conventional party chat. Players can toggle the function to suit their preferred communication style.

Which predators are being adjusted?

While the developer has not named individual species, the talk of “predator behaviour adjustments” suggests that hostile fauna across multiple biomes will see changes. Full details are awaited in official patch notes.

Sources and Methodology

This article is based primarily on the original report published by Rock Paper Shotgun on July 18, 2025 (Subnautica 2 to get predator tweaks and proximity chat). Additional context was gathered from the official Subnautica 2 Steam page and statements by Unknown Worlds Entertainment shared via the game’s Early Access community channels. All claims reflect the information available as of the publication date; missing numerical details indicate that no specific statistics or percentages were disclosed in the source material.

This article was last updated on July 19, 2025.