Subnautica 2 Addresses Its Violence Issues at Last

Subnautica 2 is making waves as it kicks off its lengthy Early Access phase, already offering a solid 20 hours of gameplay. While the experience could benefit from a bit more freedom, there’s plenty to dive into. However, one of the main gripes from players is the excessive aggression of the larger fish. Fortunately, a recent hotfix aims to tone down the chaos.

A vocal segment of the player base has been clamoring for the ability to take down the alien sea creatures that populate this mysterious ocean world. The original Subnautica included a knife for desperate situations, but the sequel has opted for less lethal, underwhelming methods to handle its more ferocious aquatic life. Despite the heated discussions around combat options, the developers have firmly stated that this won’t be a feature.

In a recent discussion, the design lead shared insights into this design choice, emphasizing that it’s not about promoting pacifism but rather about crafting a specific gameplay experience. He explained that the goal was to avoid giving players a sense of dominance over the environment, instead encouraging a coexistence with the world. He also mentioned that the team draws inspiration from games like SOMA and Alien: Isolation, noting that if players could fight back, they might prefer combat over the intended tension of the game.

That said, the aggressive fish can be quite bothersome. Players familiar with the early access version know that certain areas are plagued by relentless shark-like creatures, turning exploration into a frustrating endeavor. Back in May, the developers acknowledged these concerns and promised to make adjustments in future patches. An open letter confirmed that they recognized the need for better creature balance, stating that some predator encounters felt more annoying than thrilling.

The first of these balance updates has arrived, bringing improvements alongside an upgrade to DLSS 4.5 and fixes for some annoying crashes. Key changes include Hammerheads no longer attacking unpiloted Tadpoles, which was a particularly frustrating issue, and a reduction in the frequency of Marrowbreach attacks, though their damage has been increased. The patch also addresses the pesky Nibblers, reducing their perception range, extending the time they circle before attacking, and slowing them down, all while making their bites more dangerous.

I’m hoping to see similar adjustments for the Bulletheads soon, along with a damage increase. However, my biggest annoyance remains the Collector Leviathan, which patrols the main route between the first two bases with overwhelming power. I’m eager for innovative ways to dodge its attacks rather than just making it less intimidating. I look forward to what the next hotfixes will bring. Here are the full patch notes for Hotfix 3:

– Fixed issues that could cause DLSS to crash the game.
– Fixed issues that could cause DLSS settings not to be saved correctly.
– Fixed Frame Generation not being available in certain versions of the game.
– Upgraded DLSS to version 4.5.
– Reduced Interior Wall costs to 1/4 of their previous price.
– Hammerheads no longer attack unpiloted Tadpoles.
– Hammerheads can still take an interest in Tadpoles.
– Fixed Hammerheads occasionally not being attracted to Flares.
– Increased overall damage of Marrowbreaches.
– Spaced out Marrowbreach attacks to occur less frequently.
– Reduced Nibbler perception range, making players less visible to them.
– Increased the duration Nibblers circle the player before attacking.
– Reduced overall movement speed of the Nibblers.
– Increased sensitivity of the Nibblers to the Multitool.
– Increased overall damage of Nibblers.
– Fixed a rare crash when starting games.
– Fixed Clients (not the game host) reverting to their previous position when rejoining a multiplayer session.
– Fixed Strike Armor modification stacking additively, which could result in a potentially game-breaking state.
– Fixed goggles remaining visible in first-person view when exiting the Tadpole Haul Chassis as a passenger.
– Localized text callout on the Terms of Service acceptance screen.
– Added additional context to crash reports to provide better details for hard-to-reproduce issues.