The 2018 release of Subnautica catapulted Unknown Worlds Entertainment from relative obscurity to international recognition almost overnight. As development wraps up on Subnautica: Below Zero, Unknown Worlds may be setting its sights on another sequel.
In an interview with PCGamesN, Art Director Cory Strader dropped hints about the studio’s plans. Among them is the possibility of a third Subnautica, this time with multiplayer.
As Strader explains, Unknown Worlds initially planned for Below Zero to be a DLC for Subnautica rather than a standalone game. As a result, it’s quite similar to the 2018 original. The primary gameplay difference is the addition of a temperature mechanic. The player must stave off hypothermia in the harsh environment. Below Zero offers noticeably more exploration above the surface and new vehicles to explore it with. Still, the core experience is mostly the same.
And because Unknown Worlds intended Below Zero to be DLC, the developers omitted potential new features like multiplayer and VR. There are mods for both, of course, but no official support. However, Strader indicated that the studio was “rethinking” their attitude on multiplayer. While he does not make any specific promises, Strader says that multiplayer isn’t off the table if and when a new Subnautica comes around. To quote him directly, “I would imagine we would be rethinking those things, at least the multiplayer side of things if we do future a Subnautica game.”
This indicates that a potential Subnautica 3 is a long way off but is still something the studio is thinking about. Of course, before it can do that, Unknown Worlds needs to wrap up work on Subnautica: Below Zero. The game is still in early access, and the studio has plenty of work to do before the 1.0 release this Spring.
According to the developers that PCGamesN spoke to, Unknown Worlds also has at least one new project in the works already. However, the studio was unwilling to say more. One possibility is that the Unknown Worlds could be returning to work on Future Perfect. Announced in 2014, Future Perfect is, or at least was, intended as a tool for gamers to create custom multiplayer first-person shooters. However, it’s languished in development hell for some time, lacking either a full release or official cancelation.
Another possibility is that Unknown Worlds is working on Natural Selection 3. A unique science fiction tactical shooter, Kotaku once described Natural Selection 2 as a combination of Counter-Strike and StarCraft. Despite releasing all the way back in 2012, Unknown Worlds continues to provide the game with updates and patches. Given its continued support and cult popularity, a sequel might not be out of the question.
Ultimately though, only Unknown Worlds knows what it plans to do after Subnautica: Below Zero. However, it’s good to know that Subnautica’s developers are already thinking about where the franchise might be heading next.
Subnautica: Below Zero is in early access on PC and releases for Nintendo Switch, PS4, and Xbox One in Spring.
Source: PCGamesN