Developer Unknown Worlds Entertainment has offered some clarification on what it meant when it referred to upcoming survival game Subnautica 2 as a live-service title. In a post on its official blog, the studio says that it simply plans to offer continuous post-launch updates to the game, and that there are no plans to offer other games-as-service trappings like battle passes, season passes or subscriptions in Subnautica 2.
“In reference to ‘Games-as-a-Service,’ we simply plan to continually update the game for many years to come, just like the previous two Subnautica games,” said the studio on its blog. “Think our Early Access update model, expanded. No season passes. No battle passes. No subscription.”
The studio also states that, while Subnautica 2 will offer players the ability to play with up to 3 other players in co-op, the game will not be multiplayer-focused. Co-op instead will simply be an optional way of playing the game.
“The game is not multiplayer-focused. Co-op will be an entirely optional way to play the game,” said the studio. “You’ll be able to enjoy the game as a single-player.”
The game’s title, Subnautica 2, was revealed recently through an earnings result reported by Unknown Worlds’ parent company Krafton. It is this report where the publisher referred to the game as using a Games-as-a-Service model, citing “enhanced replayability”.
Subnautica 2 is a follow-up to the original Subnautica and Subnautica: Below Zero, the latter having gotten its full release back in May 2021. It is currently unknown how Subnautica 2 will continue the story set forth by its predecessors. The game is slated to enter early access in 2025.