Unknown Worlds has released Subnautica 2 update 1.2, titled Buddy System, focused on co-op improvements alongside a wide range of other changes.
Gameplay
Proximity voice chat is now available — audio quality degrades with distance. Three modes: always on, push to talk, and always off. Players can now revive downed teammates before respawn, with survivors keeping their gear and receiving a small oxygen supply. A tracking tag can be placed in portable objects to use as short-range beacons, and also increases black box detection range when held during respawn.
Five emotes have been added — Wave, Applause, Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down, and Disapproval — accessible via a new radial menu both underwater and on land. Direct inventory item trading between players is now supported. Two new characters, Jena and Grace, plus two new color schemes have been added to the character editor.
Creatures
Flinch animations added for the Boneshark, Rammerfish, Biter, Spikefish, Gulperfish, and Double Sitar. Bullet Squid now deals more damage but its attacks can be dodged. New animations for the Coral Crab. Updated model and animations for the Plague Parasite. Improved Ring Jellyfish tentacles.
Base Building
Improved placement UI with alignment guides. Object move mode improved for clients in online sessions. Full room demolition via compression now works correctly. The trash can now properly destroys items one at a time with a five-second delay. Bases can no longer be built inside a Gulper Leviathan. A list of blocking objects now displays when placement fails.
Tools and Equipment
The Reflected Wave Resonator now stuns creatures instead of repelling them, with stun duration extended to 10 seconds. Acid sources now appear as green dots on the scanner. Repair tool now unlocks after two scans. If the Tadpole is destroyed outside the early access area, it automatically returns inside.
UI and Menus
Signal display reworked — icons scale with proximity, text appears on hover for distant signals. Build menu now remembers scroll position. Pinned recipes highlight when required resources are obtained. Audio log playback now shows elapsed and remaining time.
Full patch notes including bug fixes are available on Steam. Subnautica 2 is available in Early Access on PC (Steam, Epic Games Store) and Xbox Series, including Game Pass.
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