There are a lot of survival games out there, and i?t can be difficult to figure out which ones are worth putting your time and money into. If you’ve got a PlayStation 5 and want a new challenge to dive into, we’ve got you covered. 

But what makes a survival game? Generally speaking, if you begin with very little and have to work your way up by gathering and crafting, then it can likely be included as part of?? the survival genre. If you can build your own base and customize it to your own tastes, then even better. 

Here are ten survival games available to play on PlayStation 5 right now, and each of them is definitely worth checking out if you’re a?? fan of the genre. 

Minecraft

As far as survival games go, Minecraft is a classic. You enter a pixelated world and have to work your way up from nothing but your fists. Gather resources to build a shelter and food to fill your stomach, and then you can go exploring in the cave systems under your blocky feet. One of the major plus points to Minecraft is Creative Mode, ??allowing you infinite resources to build glorious creations. 

The best thing about Minecraft is that it’s the perfect game to introduce a younger gen?eration to the joy of survival games, with children everywhere loving the blocky world and everything in it. 

Rust

After waking up naked on the beach with a rock, you’re tasked with surviving on servers filled with other players who are all onl??y looking out for themselves. You then need to gather (or steal, if you’re feeling brave) resources that will allow you to build shelters, all while avoiding the hostile wildlife such as bears and wolves who will attack you without a second thought. 

To top off the survival experience of Rust, all servers get reset on the final Thursday of each month. This means that all of your bases, and all of your progress, is removed, and once again, you find you?rse??lf naked on the sand with only a rock.  

Ark: Survival Evolved

Have you ever wanted to tame dinosaurs and don them in mecha suits that turn them into war machines to use in survival against other players? Wel?l, if that’s the case, then Ark: Survival Evolved might just be the survival game you’ve been looking for. You can play either single-player or ?multiplayer and form tribes with others on your server. 

It goes without saying that you begin your life in Ark: Survival Evolved with nothing, and you have to gath??er and craft your way up. Eventually, you can tame dinosaurs as mounts and take on mythical creatures. You can even build mobile bases on the backs of some of the larger prehistoric beasties, giving you the ultimate RV. 

Subnautica

Subnautica is unlike any other game on this list because you have no land to stand on. Well, aside from t??he giant ship that you get to explore as part of the story and two islands you’ll get to eventually. You’ll need to gather blueprints, resources, and food in order to survive in the middle of an alien sea, surrounded by absolutely giant and very hostile alien creatures. 

There are multiple modes that you can enable while playing Subnautica, with Creative Mode disabling all depletable characteristics like health and thirst. On the other end of the spectrum, Hardcore Mode removes warnings of low oxygen levels and includes a ?gamer's worst fear �Permadeath. If you die, your save file will be g??one forever. 

No Man’s Sky

No Man’s Sky got off to a rocky sta?rt when it was first released back in 2016, but it’s become a beloved title in the survival genre thanks to multiple game-changing updates. Now, it’s an example of everything a good survival game should be. 

As a humanoid exp??lorer of the planets, you wake up on a random planet with a crashed spaceship and only a multitool to help you navigate the strange world. On the plus side, the multitool not only allows you to scan and gather resources but also?? acts as your first weapon if you encounter any alien creatures out to kill you. 

Grounded

Grounded is my personal idea of hell, and seems as though it took heavy inspiration from Honey I Shrunk the Kids. Shrunk down to the size of an ant and suddenly needing t?o survive in a world filled with giant insects, you’ll gradually become more hungry and thirsty as time goes on, having to gather resources a??nd water to survive. 

What’s worse is that Spiders are considered an “apex predator�in the world of Grounded, and as an arachnophobe, having a giant spider chase you across the backyard while you’re starving and dying is not my idea of a fun time. With that said, Grounded does have ??an arachnophobia mode, and I guess your enjoyment of this will depe??nd on how much bugs give you the ick. 

The Forest

If surviving against insects isn’t your idea of a good time, then how about surviving in a world filled with cannibals who not only want to kill you but also rip the flesh from your bones? The Forest is the predecessor to Sons of the Forest, and if you play through The Forest and find it en??joyable, I strongly suggest that you pick up the sequel as well. 

The best survival method for The Forest is to focus on building and exploring during the day, as the mutants with nefa??rious intentions come out in the dark of night. There’s a huge level of fear and anxiety that you’ll feel when playing through this one, but it’s also hugely satisfying to survive and get through the story. 

Pacific Drive

If you’re looking for a survival game with a bit of a four-wheeled twist, then Pacific Drive is definitely the way to go. Using your trusty (if a little run-down) station wagon, you can drive across the map to scavenge and gather r??esources to improve both your own chances of survival and the car itself. 

Your car is fully customizable, and you’ll need to focus on repairs and upgrades so that you can explore further and survive for longer??. Anomalies around the map will affect you or the car in different ways, such as scrambling the controls for the car or inflicting damage, so be careful as you explore. 

This War of Mine

This War of Mine is the only survival game on this list that isn’t played through a first-person POV. Instead, you’re in control of a group of ?people who are hiding in a damaged house after fleeing from a war. They can’t venture outside in the daylight, as there are snipers waiting to take them out, and you’re low on resources. 

Each controllable character has i??ts own backstory, and you need to keep each of them alive as you wait for the ceasefire to come. However, there is no fixed timeframe ?for this event, so you’ll just need to keep going until it comes. This War of Mine is haunting and definitely something you should try if you’re into survival games. 

Green Hell

Green Hell can be played in either single-player or co-op multiplayer mode?? and is an open-world survival game set in the Amazon Rainforest. As you likely expect by now, you’ll need to gather resources, build shelter, and find food in order to survive. 

If you choose to follow the story, which is entirely optional, then you’ll go off in search of your wife, who we??nt missing after venturing out on a solo trip to a local tribal village. Unfortunately, your only contact with?? her is through the radio, and the local Yabahuaca tribe has not taken kindly to the presence of researchers in their jungle.

The post 10 Best PS5 Survival games appeared first on Destructoid.

Developer Unknown Worlds has taken a new approach to teasing the next Subnautica. Instead of sending out Subnautica 2 screenshots via the usual route, the studio has been teasing players with screenshots hidd??en in the original tame.

At least it's true according to a mod at the Subnautica subreddit. Two weeks ago, a player discovered a Time Capsule collectible with an image and a mysterious message. The image showcased some... odd-looking creature (a staple of Subnautica games, to be fair), along with the line: "Hey um, found this on my way to the rocket. Is this thin??g new? Never seen ?it before! :O"

Oh, and hashtag PEEPERSRULE. Because they do.

Subnautica team baits sequel interest with some secret screenshots

Players speculated that the image could be from the sequel, as the creature and environment didn't quite match the visuals of the prior Subnautica games. The moderator, Bumblebee_Tuna, swum on by to confirm that the image is real and that it's not the only one.

Two more Subnautica 2 screenshots have been discovered lurking in the deep dark of Subnautica. Last week, subreddit user JimRice18 shared the three images currently known to the community. From the looks of things, the first image was a pair of colorful fins. Surely, whatever nautical fauna th??is is must be something majestic and awe-inspiring and...

Truly one of god's perfect?? creatures. It could?? also be some kind of underwater Basilisk from a FromSoftware game, judging by those eyes.

Despite the recent teases, Subnautica 2 will still be baking in the oven for a while. Last November, the developer confirmed the sequel won't arrive until an unknown date in 2025. The team went dark for a few months before returning to squash any rumors that Subnautica 2 would be a ?"games-as-a-service" release. It won't be, by the way.

The post Subnautica 2 screenshots ar?e appearing in the original game appeared first on Destructoid.

Oh, look. It's been a picosecond since the last Steam sales event. No doubt many of you took advantage of the last one �the Endless Replayability Fest. Well, don't put your money away j?ust yet, as we're already onto the next one.

Beginning yesterday, the Steam Open World Su??rvival Crafting Fest (and breathe) offers discounts on a series of well-known and slightly less well-known games from, well, Open World Survival Crafting games. You've got until Monday, June 3 at 10 a.m. PT to choose from what I would say is a pretty good list o?f titles.

Take a quick look on the sales page to see for yourself. Want 30% off Sons of the Forest? Of course you do. How about 33% off Project Zomboid? An odd number, but sure! Or maybe you want to get Stranded Deep, Valheim, or Subnautica for 50% off each. Even Palworld is there, at 10% off the regular asking price.

Summer lovin'

These events seem to come around more often these days. However, we're not quite at the big Steam Summer Sale just yet. That begins in a few weeks. You can keep an eye on the SteamDB countdown if you ?really want to see exactly whe?n it's scheduled to begin.

Crafting and survival games feel like they shouldn't be as popular as they are. But as we can see here, there are? still so many offerings, largely from more independent studios. A lot of them are pretty decent as well, in my experience.

There are definitely more than a few in the sale that I'm keen to try out; Sons of the Forest, Project Zomboid, maybe even Enshrouded. Can I afford all these games? C?heck back with me later.

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There's been some concern among the Subnautica fan base that the next entry will be going for a more "Games-as-a-Service" model. It's a trend ?that's often met with negative response, but it turns out this is probably n??ot the case for the upcoming game.

According to a recent update on Unknown World's website �the developer behind the Subnautica seri??es �there are no plans to implement GaaS for the next installment. This is almost certainly a response to what publisher Krafton said in a recent earnings call.

Interestingly, while writing the original draft of this story, it looks like Krafton may have changed what it originally said. The screenshot of the financial report in question from PC Gamer shows "Games-as-a-Service" being touted as a selling point for Subnautica 2. However, in the latest updated earnings report which you can see here, it no longer says that. You'll note no use of GaaS when ??talking about the game, but it does mention it once in the "Scale-up Direction" part of the PDF, which is likely referring to company plans in general.

Curious-er and curious-er

However, the studio itself insis??ts the game will feature "no season passes. No battle passes. No subscription." The team is simply planning to keep updating the sequel "for many years to come," similar to the current games.

On? top of this, there is no plan to put emphasis on multiplayer. ??The statement does say that "co-op will be an entirely optional way to play the game," but you'll still be able to enjoy it single-player.

As for a release date, there isn't anything concrete yet. However, Unknown Worlds says we probably won't get?? an Early Acc?ess release in 2024, but there should be "a lot more information later this year."

I think a lot of fans can breathe a little easier now, knowing that Subnautica 2 isn't going to be subscription-based or have season passes. It's just going to be a good old-fashioned terrifying game about thalassophobia and isolation. Huzzah!

The post Subnautica 2 dev rebuffs concerns that it’s going games-as-a-service appeared first on Destructoid.

It appears the next Subnautica game is diving deep sometime in ea??rly 2025. It's been roughly two years since fans dove into the chilly waters of the series, and it feels like it's nearly? time to strap back into that diving suit once more. And then get eaten by a Reaper Leviathan.

As spotted by RPS, the game's potential launch window came out of a recent financial report by publisher Krafton. Details are sparse and will continue to be so until the company is ready to announce the game proper. It's currently unknown if the next Subnautica in 2025 is set to be a spin-off or sequel, but judging by the development time, it's likely going to be the latter. Of course, that's just speculation. But isn't it ?fun to imagine?

The next Subnautica game set to terrify in 2025

The next Subnautica has been in the works for some time now. We last heard of it back in April 2022 when developer Unknown Worlds advertised a Senior Narrative Designer position on Twitter. Since then, fans of its signature undersea horror themes have been waiting to know more. If the game is scheduled for a release in the first half of 2025, I wouldn't expect to see any reveal until Summer Game Fest next year at the very earliest??. It should at least make for a good addition to a prediction list.

As noted by RPS, the financial report covered some future Krafton projects. Project Gold Rush is an "Action-Adventure Sandbox" set to launch in the first half of 2025, much like the new Subnautica. The publisher also listed a Dark and Darker mobile game, Project inZOI, and Project Black Budget all under development for 2024.

The post The next Subnaut?ica game will apparently pull you under in 2025 appeared first on Destructoid.

Keep the Subnautica games flowing, please!

Unknown Worlds is working on a "new genre-defining game" that will launch into early access this year, but it also plans to expand Subnautica, its sci-fi oceanic survival series. The studio, which is now operating under Krafton, has posted a job listing for a senior narrative designer who will assist on "the next game in the Subnautica universe."

//twitter.com/UnknownWorlds/status/15121?46852258459649

According to the job posting (via The Loadout and PC Gamer):

"This person will collaborate closely with the team to tell compelling, dramatic stories in the context of the game experience, while also defining the history and lore of a new science fiction world and i??ts alien inhabitants. This person has a unique opportunity to join the team early in development and help establish the narrative direction for a beloved franchise."

Subnautica: Below Zero ended in a way that leaves room �a lot of room! �for a third game. And even if it didn't, fans like me would still be craving another Subnautica.

The studio hopes to fill the narrative design role with someone who has "familiarity with open-world games and the process of developing narrative in the context of an open-ended, player-driven experience," which is what I dig about Subnautica �and what I want to see more of.?? Continue down that same path, and I'll keep showing up to play.

[caption id="attachment_316097" align="alignnone" width="1366"] _{[Image Credit: Sussy_Lad]}[/caption]

Where do we go from here?

No other survival-crafting adventures hit like this, and to be honest, few other games, period, clicked with me harder than the original Subnautica in ter??ms of fully-immersed explorat?ion. It's hard to imagine getting sick of that alien ocean-scouring setup.

Even though I'm invested in Robin's (likely ongoing) story in Below Zero, I'd also be fine with a side-step for this next outing as opposed to a direct continuation. The first Subnautica was?? so solitary, and I wonder if we'll see that approach again or if Unknown Worlds will lean more into encounters with NPCs. Lots of potential dire?ctions to take.

I'm probably in the minority in?? that I don't need some o??f these universe-spanning questions answered �I like the mystery �but where do you stand?

As for that concept art up top, reaching the Lost River for the first time is one of my favorite video game moments. Plummeting into the depths is cool and terrifying!

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There were some breakout indies on the Switch this year

The year is rapidly winding to a close, so it's a good time for some reflection. Today, Nintendo posted a video looking back on som?e of the best-selling indies on the Switch.

While Nintendo's been known for its superstar first-party franchises, the handheld-console hybrid Switch has become another haven for independent games. It feels like many times, when you see a cool new 2D Metroidvania-style game or unique puzzle experience, the que??stion is floated s?oon after: when's it coming to Switch?

And indeed, many indies found their way to the Nintendo Switch this year. This best-s??ellers list is a reflection of that, I think. Ranging from updated ports to br??and-new, even groundbreaking independent games, this was a good year in the indie space. And heck, there are games in this lineup I wasn't even paying attention to until now.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9TtTXK4KK0

I do recommend watching the video, because it'll give y?ou a chance to see all these games in motion and get a sense if they're up your alley. But if you're at work, or just have a mild curiosity, here's a text version of the Switch indies that Nintendo spot-lighted as best-selling indies for 2021 (with eShop links):

• Cyber Shadow
• Unpacking
• Tetris Effect: Connected
• Stick Fight: The Game
• Curse of the Dead Gods
• Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights
• Doki Doki Literature Club Plus!
• Spelunky 2
• Road 96
• Subnautica + Subnautica Below Zero
• Littlewood
• Islanders - Console Edition
• Slime Rancher Plortable Edition
• Eastward
• Axiom Verge 2

Some here are not surprising me at all. Games like Eastward and Axiom Verge 2 both seem very at home on the Nintendo Switch. Lots of popular games with fervent followings are here too, from Subnautica to Doki Doki. And I'll never be surprised to see a Tetris game doing well, either.

But a few jumped out at me as ones that have slipped well under my radar. Ender Lilies has been talked about a little bit this year, but seems worth checking out. Littlewood is completely new to me, and looks like a really interesting life-and-social-sim game. And wow, Road 96. I forgot that game came out this year.

Nintendo's indie list is a nice reminder of all the games that might have slipped by in the last year. And hey, with a little time left in the? holidays, maybe it's worth picking a few up and trying them out.

The post Nintendo showcases some of 2021’s best-selling indies on the Switch appeared first on Destructoid.

The studio will have a new early access game next year

The company currently behind PUBG: Battlegrounds has announced that a new studio will be joining its ranks. Krafton has confirmed it will be acquiring Subnautica and Natural Selection developer Unknown Worlds.

This adds another games studio to Krafton's lineup, which already includes PUBG Studios, Bluehole Studio, RisingWings, Dreamotion, an?d Striking Distance Studios. Unknown Worlds will continue to function as an independent studio, with its structure and leadership intact.

"It was immediately apparent how closely Unknown Worlds and Krafton are aligned in the way we think about games and game development," said Unknown Worlds CEO Charlie Cleveland in a press release. "Subnautica and PUBG both started humbly and evolved successfully through constant iteration and feedback. We want to bring new games to the world stage—and with Krafton, we’re a big step closer. We’re tru??ly looking forward to our future together."

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdix1XxaZyU

Unknown Worlds will continue working on updates for Subnautica and Subnautica: Below Zero. Today's announcement also confir??med the developer is currently working on a new "genre-defining" game, which is set to launch in e??arly access next year.

Krafton has been steadily acquiring new projects over the past few years. One very notable one is The Callisto Protocol, which is a sci-fi horror game set in the PUBG universe being developed by Striking Distance Studios by former Dead Space developers.

It also recently rebranded PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, often shorthanded into PUBG, to be PUBG: Battlegrounds.

There's no more information on what Unknown Worlds is working on, or whether it will have similar ties to the PUBG brand. That said, Subnautica is one of those games ?that really seems to inspire a lot of fervor in its fans. Their next project will likely be one to keep ?an eye on.

The post Krafton will acquire Subnautica develo??per?? Unknown Worlds appeared first on Destructoid.

Our controllers are sweatier than ever

With the unprecedented heat waves that are sweeping the country, it feels li??ke there isn't anything we can do to escape these triple-digit temperatures. Of course, we can always escape into another world entirely, and video games are the perfect conduit for doing just that. If you're feeling ?like you're about to melt into a puddle of goo, here's our guide to using cool summer games to help you beat the heat.

Seek out cool settings

[caption id="attachment_274814" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] [Image Credit: Gamepur][/caption]Sometimes, cooling off is as simple as just thinking cool. Thankfully, there are plenty of games that take place in freezing temperatures that can help us feel the cold, at least in our minds. After exploring some (virtual) snow-covered mountaintops, icy tundra, and frozen glaciers, you'll be amazed at how much some wishful thinking can help. Games that come to mind in this regard include Skyrim, Breath of the Wild, and Uncharted 2.

One of the most refreshing games I can think of is Super Mario Sunshine, not just because of its innovative gameplay, but because having a magical sentient water jet on my back sounds like the dream right now. There are also games like Abzu, Subnautica, and Beyond Blue, which allow you to take on the role of a ??scuba diver. When it's just too damn hot, nothing feels better than plunging into a big body of water, and if you can't do it in real life, this is easily the next best thing.

Try going for flow state

[caption id="attachment_274815" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] [Image Credit: GamesRadar][/caption]Nothing is more distracting than entering a flow state, which is basically where you're so engaged wi??th what you're doing, the real world melts away, leavin??g you only to focus on the task at hand. When it's this hot, sometimes distracting ourselves is the best we can do.

Online multiplayer games can be great for this, especially twitchy FPS titles like Call of Duty, Overwatch, Apex Legends, Valorant, etc. It can feel pretty transcendent when you get into a groove, and I'm pressed to find any other genres that get me to an equally euphoric f??low state as quickly, but beware of the flip side of that coi??n �these types of games can have pretty high highs, but that opens the door to some low lows as well. At least you won't have to worry about your hands being warmed up enough, right?

Rhythm games are another great option if you're into that sort of thing. Got your old Guitar Hero or Rock Band instruments collecting dust? Maybe it's time to bust those out again! Or if roguelikes are more your thing, maybe try Tomb of the Necrodancer or its Zelda spinoff, Cadence of Hyrule.

I've also heard Tetris Effect is incredible for achieving flow state, but I've yet to give that one ?a try. Someone let me know how it is, yeah?

Chill out in a figurative sense first

[caption id="attachment_274816" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] [Image Credit: GamesRadar][/caption]Yes, it's hot out here, and my panicking about the impending climate crisis doesn't help anything. In cases where my anxiety is making me even hotter under the collar, I found that playing a game to relax can go a long way. These types of cool summer games can vary from person to person -- maybe you love a farming sim like Stardew Valley or Story of Seasons, or a puzzle game can help you calm down. 

There are also more artistic, poetic games that can be really soothing, especially because they don't have any sort of fail state. Journey or Flower are my favorites in that regard, but pretty much anything from thatgamecompany will do.

If you're more narratively inclined, I also recommend games like What Remains of Edith Finch or Gone Home. There's also Tellta??le's old catalog you could work your way through -- some of them can be a bit intense, but at least ??you don't have to strain yourself when it comes to gameplay.

Switch on that Switch for cool summer games

[caption id="attachment_274817" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] [Image Credit: USgamer][/caption]If you have a Nintendo Switch, that might be the way to go in terms of a cooler gaming experience?. For one thing, you're not tethered to one specific spot -- the console's handheld mode means you can game anywhere you damn well please, which includes directly in front of your air conditioner or fan. Or maybe even your open refrigerator. We won't judge.

Plu??s, large consoles like a PlayStation or Xbox, or a PC, often pump large amounts of hot air into your room. Sure, the Switch may not have the processing power to game in 4K, ?but what it lacks in graphical superiority, it makes up for in that it doesn't act as a mini-furnace.

We know times are tough out there, so in all seriousness, we hope you can find some of this helpful. Make sure to stay hydrated as ??best you can, take care of yourself, and we wish you happy, chill??ed-out gaming!

The post Ride the ?heat wave with these ice cold gaming tips appeared first on Destructoid.

As royalty no less!

It’s time once again for your bi-weekly fix of peaceful video game landscapes. That’s right, Digital Tourist is back, and this time we’re walking like an Egyptian in Assassin’s Creed Origins.

AC Origins has beauty enough to impress any long gone pharaoh. From the bustling city of Alexandria, to the Nile River, to the Pyramids of Giza; We’ll be hitting them all with the help of our handy, if a bit too vocal, tour guide Cleopatra??.

If you’re new to Digital Tourist, each episode we’ll be showcasing the beautiful worlds that game developers have crafted in painstaking polygonal detail. No? questing; no combat (usually); no UI. Just a (mostly) peaceful walk, stroll, glide, trot, or trek across some of the greatest places to never exist.

Now, this is usually the part where I give you the lowdown on what mods we’ve dug up to make our game look even better than normal, but honestly, Origins is beautiful all on its own. The only additions up our sleeves are a mod to turn off the HUD to give you a better view and the Rebirth reshade. Other than that, it is j??ust the base game rendered in breathtaking ?4k.

As always, let us know what you think and what games you’d like to see featured on upcoming installments. If you’ve missed it, we’ve already covered Breath of the Wild, Minecraft, and Subnautica, so be sure to give those a look.

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Embrace the beauty of the depths

A Jamaican crab once said “Everything’s better down where it’s wetter: Under the sea.” So with that spirit burning in our chest, this week Digital Tourist is taking a deep dive into the wonderful waters of Subnautica.

Subnautica offers up an alien landscape lovingly rendered with dozens of biomes providin??g distinct experiences. We’ll start this tour in the lovely and safe confines of the Shallows, but don’t get too comfortable there. Our tour is going to take us deep down under the surface to caves long forgotten to most of this world's resident fish. Along the way ? we’ll get to meet the local fauna, from the benign Bladderfish all the way up to the many Leviathans haunting these seas.

If you’re new to Digital Tour??ist, each episode we’ll be showcasing the beaut??iful worlds that game developers have crafted in painstaking polygonal detail. No questing; no combat (usually); no UI. Just a (mostly) peaceful walk, stroll, glide, trot, or trek across some of the greatest places to never exist.

This week has no mods at all. There are none really needed with a game as beautiful as Subnautica. So rest assured that if you want to brave these waters on your own like a? digital Jacques Cousteau, all you need is a copy of the game.

As always, let us know what you think and what games you’d like to see featured on upcoming installments. If you want more of this relaxing content make sure to check out the full playlist on Youtube.

The post Exploring t??he haunting abyss of Subnautica (video feature) appeared first on Destructoid.

There's no escaping the polar vortex, not even in video games

I'm still torn on when exactly I'll begin playing Subnautica: Below Zero, but for those of you who don't mind putting up with rough edges and an incomplete story, the frigid new standalone game has begun its early-??access run. ??It's out today for $20 on Steam, Discord, and the Epic?? Games Store.

I will do everything in my power to pr??otect the Pe??ngwings, even if I have to dismantle the food chain.

The game's setup sh??ould sound familiar?? to experienced alien-ocean divers.

Dive into a freezing underwater adventure. Below Zero is set in an arctic region of planet 4546B. As a? scientist posted to a research station o?n the planet's surface, you are tasked with studying alien artefacts...

The Vesper space station orbits high a??bove you, sending supplies, instructions, and receiving samples you launch from the surface.When disaster strike?s the research station, you must improvise to survive: Construct habitats, scavenge for resources, hunt for food, and craft equipment.

One of the best parts of Subnautica was scouring all the biomes, learning about their inhabitants, and giving yourself the?? tools needed to physically (and psychologically) dive into the foreboding depths. It's the kind of electrifying game that makes you want to erase your memory and ??start anew.

It won't be easy for Unknown Worlds to surprise and delight players to the same extent with Below Zero, but I'm feeling hopeful. The developers navigated Steam Early Access really well last time. The real challenge will be reminding ourselves that it took time for Subnautica to get where it is today.

For the time being, Below Zero is PC-only, but it'll even??tually come to PS4 and Xbox One.

The post Subnautica: Below Zero is all bundled up and? ready for e??arly access appeared first on Destructoid.

January 30 on Steam, Epic, and Discord

Unknown Worlds isn't done exploring the Subnautica universe, and I couldn't be happier. The studio is following up its oceanic sci-fi survival adventure with a standalone expansion, Below Zero, which will get underway on January 30, 2019. The original had a hugely successful Early Access run. With any luck, we're?? about to set off on a lon??g and winding journey that'll ultimately end in another stellar game.

Below Zero is set on Planet 4546B, just like Subnautica, but in an unfamiliar area. I fully expect more scavenging?? for resour??ces and tech, base building, and freaky sea creatures in the snowy new locale.

As the team candidly puts it, Subnautica: Below Zero "is not finished. It is full of bugs. It lacks polish, runs poorly, and is missing features. We are offering Early ??Access not because we want your money, but because we want your feedback. We make better games when we make them with you."

If I could, I'd prefer to hibernate and play Below Zero when it's finished in "approximately one year,??" but I know myself too well (and it kind of comes with this gig). There's currently a couple hours of story with a starting zone and nearby biomes. "Future updates will add new vehicles (like the Hover Bike), new biomes, and new story areas. Bugs will be steadily reduced and performance steadily incre??ased."

As for the console versions, Unknown Worlds wants Subnautica: Below Zero on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One "as soon as possible." In the case of Xbox One, it might appear in Game Preview, the platform's Early Access equivalent. The team hop?es to pull off a simultaneous 1.0 launch on PC and consoles. "We don't know if we can do it, but that is our target, and we'll keep you updated on our?? progress."

I want to pal around with the Pe??ngwings as soon as possible.

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Until December 25

Subnautica was released very early this year on PC and just recently made a splash on PS4 and Xbox One. People kind of slept on it for a while but the console versions have given it a rene??wed sense of vigor, on top of a pretty killer new promotion on the Epic Games Store.

Right now you can head over to the newly minted store (either in the launcher or on your browser) to grab the game for free until December 25. It's normally $24.99 but you can just click the store page now and pay nothing so long as you have an Epic account and redeem it before the offer expires (at which point Super Meat Boy will tag in).

Pretty much everyone I know who's played it, our own reviewer Jordan included, loves it. Mak??e time to press the "free" button at some point in the next week.

Subnautica [Epic Games Store]

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Stock up on batteries and snacks

Exploration fans shouldn't miss Subnautica. The underwater alien adventure game does a masterful job of stoking curiosity and fear. It's best on PC, but there's also an Xbox One version if that's where you're looking play. Next month, Subnautica will ditch the co??nsole's Game Preview? program at long last.

The full 1.0 launch for Subnautica on Xbox One is set for December 4, 2018.

Digital copies will upd??ate automatically for free, while a physical copy will be available through Gearbox Publishing on the same day in the Unit??ed States and beginning December 7 in Europe.

"We extend our most heartfelt thanks," developer Unknown Worlds told Game Preview players. "You have waited for months, enduring awful bugs and tanking frame rates. Your feedback has been invaluable in helping us to craft the upcoming 1.0 release. On launch day you will be able to download the 1.0 update, and enj??oy a big increase in performance, smashed bugs, and new content."

Looking ahead, Subnautica is also planned for PlayStation 4 and it's getting a snow-capped expansion.

Subnautica Xbox Release Date [Unknown Worlds]

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Below Zero is headed to Early Access in the 'coming months'

Just last week, I was searching for an excuse to cover something, anything, about the upcoming Subnautica expansion. The ??survival game has been on my mind a lot lately, and while I'm too preoccupied with other stuff to want to replay it, I'd love to explore another ?underwater landscape.

Unknown Worlds has been posting work-in-progress odds and ends in recent months as part of its open development model, but nothing too substantial. Today, the studio spoke more about Subnautica: Below Zero, which will release as a standalo??ne. It's set on an ??icy new region of the same planet.

"The concept of Below Zero is still developing," said the team. "We are keeping the core gameplay mechanics, such as base building and open-ended exploration. We are also exploring new ones, such as thermal management, and more voiced di??alogue at the  core of the plot. We're still in early stages and nothing is set in ice. These features may change prior to, and during, Early Access."

It's worth pointing out that Subnautica is still coming to PlayStation 4 as previously announced. In fact, a different team is handling the console ports, so they'll be unaffected by Below Zero.

If you've ever seen that "Frozen Seas" episode of Blue Planet, you know how eerie this will be.

Subnautica: Below Zero [Unknown Worlds]

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You just need to build up courage

Unknown Worlds' Subnautica is a sublime exploration-focused survival experience. I think it's among the best in its class, and I'd recommend the game to just about anyone who isn't deathly afraid of the ocean. Subnautica's alien scenery is beautiful and soothing at times, but it?'s also full of unspeakable horrors as you work up the courage to push further out from the safety of the sunny ??shallows.

If you missed it on PC and Xbox One, maybe you'll be able to catch Subnautica on PlayStation 4. Unknown Worlds has tapped Panic Button (Doom, Rocket League) to port the game to PS4.

The PlayStation 4 version is scheduled for a holiday 2018 release and there will also be a physical edition available through Gearbox Publishing. As for potential PlayStation VR support, Panic Button studio GM Adam Creighton has said "We really appreci??ate t??he feedback and interest in PS VR."

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'These fish were my only friends on this planet'

Subnautica is a lonesome and oftentimes harrowing underwater survival game, so the rare moments of levity you might come ??across on the game's hostile alien planet are worth cherishing while they last. Here's one ??such unexpected moment that also doubles as a chance to talk up a neat mechanic.

While Subnautica is a solo adventure through and through, players do get the opportunity to prepare and drop a time capsule for others to discover in their game world. You can place several items inside the ca??psule along with a personalized note and a screenshot. That's the setup. Now, here's the tragedy.

One player, Indoor?? Snowman, found a time capsule full of fish and ate them without hesitation. It's a survi?val game -- food is food! Except when it isn't. It turns out they weren't just any fish.

in subnautica, when players leave the planet, they can leave a time capsule of items for other players. i found one full of fish and i just thought "lame" and ate them all. going through my pda i realized the capsules come with messages and i discovered this. pic.twitter.com/PGQxFDNJYQ

— Indoor Snowman (@indoorsnowman) February 4, 2018

Funnily enough, the creator of the pet-filled capsule found this Twitter threa??d and responded.

"IT'S ABSOLUTELY OKAY," said Tikara (R.C). "I'm actually loving all these reacti??ons and seeing what people do with the??se fish, accidental or not lmao. You're good."

"That's such a relief," replied Indoor Snowman. "I felt so guilty knowing I accidentally ate someone's beloved pets lmao. If I come across the capsule in another playthrough I will definite??ly take good care of them and redeem myself."

Lesson learned. Read before you eat!

Indoor Snowman [Twitter via PCGamesN]

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A league of its own

Subnautica is an explorer's dream.

In the distant future, you're seemingly the sole survivor of a disastrous crash l??anding on a vibrant ocean planet. Stranded with little more than a lifepod and a rather magical fabricator that can turn resources plucked from the ecosystem into sophisticated equipment, it's up to you to figure out what happened to your ship, the crew, and how to get back to a home that's far, far away.

Unknown Worlds has fully launched Subnautica following a long but successful stint on Steam Early Access. The wait was worth it. ?This might be ??the best underwater game ever made.

Subnautica (Mac, PC [reviewed], Xbox One)
Developer: Unknown Worlds Entertainment
Publisher: Unknown Worlds Entertainment
Released: January 23, 2018
MSRP: $24.99

Like many survival games, Subnautica won't hold your hand. It doesn't need to.

While your current lost-in-space predicament is far from ideal, on the bri?ght side, Planet 4546B is brimming with possibilities. It sows the seeds of curiosity with lush environments that feel fantastic yet believable, hand-crafted, and rich with detail. The place is just begging to be scoured, and you're actively rewarded for doing so. In fact, that's the true point of the game — to explore.

There deliberately isn't a mini-map, much less a map screen, and Subnautica is better off for it. The onus is on you to figure out which biomes are located where and what materials they produce. It can be overwhelming to get a lay of the land at first, but mentally charting ever??ything out is so rewarding in the end. The different zones have their own identities, from the cheery picturesque shallows to the green-tin??ted kelp forests to the glowing Bulb Zone. I constantly felt like I was making genuine discoveries.

If you're tired of navigating procedural landscapes, look no further. And if you're burned out on the survival genre, don't write this off yet. From moment one to hour twenty, I was hooked. The last time I was this absorbed in an alien world, I had just set foot on Tallon IV in Metroid Prime. The two games share a similar atmosphere and the e??ndlessly satisfying ability to scan flora and fauna.

While you can kill and cook small fish, combat is by no means a focal point. That's true in the beginning when you only have a knife to defend with and it remains true even once you've built a submarine, multiple bases, and a deep-sea mech further in. Subnautica is home to nightmarish creatures, but than??kfully you aren't really meant to face them head on. Fleeing is a val?id option.

There are a few different modes, one of which can help allay fears if you have a phobia of the ocean. Creative Mode lets you freely explore and build bases to your heart's content. You aren't in danger and everything's unlocked. Survival Mode has you managing food and water needs. Hardcore Mode gives you one life, which, good luck. Lastly, Freedom Mode falls in the middle — you don't have to worry about hunger or thirst, but you do have to track your oxygen? and health. That??'s a nice balance. It's still a satisfying challenge, but you won't get bogged down by inventory-hogging sustenance items.

It's worth explicitly mentioning that Subnautica has a proper story — you? aren't just poking around for materials to craft b??igger and better toys to aid in your exploration, though that is a large part of your progression. As you search wreckage and other not-so-lucky lifepods for new blueprints, you'll fill in text and voice logs on your PDA. Gradually, it becomes clear that the crash was no accident and the planet has been ravaged by an infection. The story isn't in-your-face, which I appreciated. You can get the gist without ever digging into files, but doing so will give you a fuller picture.

Other humans have come before you, and there are some a??wfully suspicious abandoned alien bases out there. It's not just a matter of surviving long enough to send a distress signal; your journey has complications. The answers you seek are lurking in deep caverns where extreme pressures and boiling temperatures are of grave concern. Also, monsters. Horrible??, no-good monsters.

My first halfway promising expedition down there came seconds away from catastrophe. I got utterly lost with a massive creature on my tail and an exosuit that would explode if it took one more dent. Making matters worse, the thing was almost out of energy — and I forgot to bring backup power cells or? extra health kits. By some miracle, I stumbled across what I was looking for at the last moment. I made it safely inside, smashed the save button, and cursed in relief. It's a trek I won't soon forget.

Even after beating Subnautica, these sorts of excursions haven't become any less thrilling. It feels like I've only scratched the surface of what's out there. I always liked what I played of the game during Early Access, but now that it's a complete whole, Subnautica is so much more fulfilling.

If I ha??ve any complaints, it's that some base-building mechanics could be clearer and certain parts of the story progression could be better signposted. Even when I was on the right track, it didn't always feel like it. There's also pot??ential for minor graphical weirdness from time to time, as well as pop-in.

Otherwise, it looks and plays beautifully. There's no denying that cooperative multiplayer would've been a fun bonus, but I don't miss its absence too much. Subnautica works brilliantly as a serene, l??onely, contemplative adventure. It's one of those rare games I'd take to a desert island.

_{[This r?eview is based on a retail copy of the game provided by the publisher.]}

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I know some of you have been waiting

The end is in sight for Subnautica's run on Steam Early Access.

The aquatic alien survival game appeared on Steam in December 2014, and the team at Unknown Worlds has been making steady progress ever since. It's rare that I get all that into Early Access titles these days, but Subnautica has been handled really well. Its production had a?? nice mo?mentum to it.

The 1.0 launch on PC is set for Tuesday, January 23 and the festivities will also entail a live-streamed event at the wonderful Monterey Bay Aquarium. The team plans to debut the game's cinematic trailer, chat with developers, show real se??a creatures, and push the "Big Red Lau??nch Button."

I hope they show off the flamboyant cuttlefish. Always loved those little guys.

Subnautica PC 1.0 Launch Livestream [Unknown Worlds]

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Be on the lookout for more story elements

With a name like "Precursors," you should know not to trifle with them. But this is Subnautica, a game about poking around an alien ocean and generally not minding your own business. If there's dormant deep-sea technology to disturb and wild mysterie?s to uncover, rest assured, you're on the cas??e.

Unknown Worlds' latest update for the game, available now on Steam, is "chock full of new secrets to unravel. Previously, you may have noticed strange, high-tech cubes – or bases – placed throughout the world. Now, these unusual objects come to life as someone (or something) flips the switch. Dive deep into the story of Subnautica and discover more answers and more questions."

That's all well and good, and represents another step forward for the game. The t????hing I'm most keen on, though? "It's now possible to use the PDA while driving vehicles, a highly requested addition."

Oh me oh my.

Subnautica Precursor Update Released [Unknown Worlds]

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Especially the one that can TELEPORT

Yikes! I prefer to play Subnautica as a serene underwater exploration type of experience, but sometimes, the Early Access game has other ideas in mind for my lone survivor. Sometimes, there are horrible nightmare beasts, and you ??don't have to journ??ey far from home to brush into them.

Aside from another abandoned base to seek out, this week's update is centered on "dangerous creatures," including the intimidating Sea Dragon Leviathan, EMP-launching Crab Squids, and the Warper, a stabby alien that oh dear god can teleport "out of nowhe?r??e" in "almost any biome."

Thankfully, a recent update introduced a torpedo-firing??, drill-arm-wielding bipedal mech.

Dangerous Creatures Update [Steam]

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That's not a joke

[Update: The Xbox One Preview Program launch of Subnautica has been pushed back, according to the developers. "We're sti??ll working on it. Probably a?nother month."]

The last I heard about Unknown Worlds bringing its underwater survival adventure game Subnautica to Xbox One was that it may or may not happen, and if it di?d, we'd probably see the port arrive in March. Close estimate! It's comi?ng to the console's Preview Program on April 1, 2016.

The basic idea of swimming in an exotic ocean speaks to me, even if I'm not so into open-world survival these days, and I'd love the developers to support the game for years to come. What's playable already on Steam Early Access is pretty good. It's not hard to imagine it eventually becoming?? great.

One of us will have to let you know what the performance is like on Xbox One (which is just a polite way of saying "I hope we aren't looking at another Ark situation here").

Subnautica Xbox One Release Date [Unknown Worlds -- Thanks, Shaun]

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Less nightmare beasts, more grow beds

Despite survival-game fatigue, I ended up getting Subnautica a few weeks back. The recent H2.0 update (hah) introduced a tool for scanning creatures and plants, and unsurprisingly,?? that did the trick. I couldn't hold out any longer for the Steam Early Access phase to wrap up.

Today's update also seems keenly aware of my weird gaming interests. It adds underwater farming, something I must take part in, and the option to build a big 'ol aquarium. "It can be built within standard room modules, stacked for greater capacit?y, and entered via side-mounted hatches (built separately). Alien lifeforms of varying sizes can be captured and stored, or grown from eggs in controlled conditions designed to match their optimal environment."

That's the sort of t??hing I could get lost in for a few hours, definitely. Other additions include abandoned bases with precious salvageable tech and more ways to fend off darkness, including a neat little LED light stick that looks like an energy sword when you hold it.

Farming Update [Subnautica]

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The H2.0 update is live

Welp, I think they've done it. I think I need to get Subnautica and spend the weekend?? scouring th?e depths for weird alien creatures. It was a good run while it lasted!

My original plan for this underwater exploration title was to wait for Unknown Worlds to exit Steam Early Access, but the new H2.0 update adds a tool for scanning the?? flora and fauna -- a feature I find irresistible in video games. That's a big addition, bu?t there are others, too.

Work has gone into improving the way the ocean looks near the surface and deep below where, presumably, the ?Bad Things roam. "Daylight and artificial light sources are now affected realistically by depth and surrounding geology," reads the update summary.

"Caves will often be in total darkness, illuminated only by thin shafts of light. Moving into deeper biomes will change the mood substantially -- you'll have to rely on natural bioluminescence and your own jerry-rigged sources of light to chart Subnautica's true depths."

You can see the before-and-after in this video:

Existing players should also be pleased to know that the Fabricator now produces "proper 3D mo?dels" for a "wide variety of items" instead of just placeholder-y cubes.

Lastly, get a load of this skybox. Holy hell!

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Somewhere beyond the sea...

I love Subnautica, the fantastic underwater survival simulator currently being developed by Unknown Worlds Entertainment. I will never shut up about how good it is, and I will never stop demanding that everybody with a decent enough PC play it. Now that game has been announced to be coming to Xb?ox One, the number of people I can badger i??nto playing just shot up.

A few days ago, Unknown Worlds developer Charlie Cleveland tweeted out a photo of an Xbox One development kit, stating that it’s going to be used for Subnautica:

Un-boxing Xbox One dev kit for @Subnautica. I've dreamed of having console dev hardware for years! pic.twitter.com/0ULvApkJS0

— Charlie Cleveland (@Flayra) December 21, 2015

In further emails sent to XBLA Fans, Cleveland said that while they are indeed working on an Xbox One port of Subnautica, i?t’s still at the stage where it can be cancelled if things go wrong. If all goes to plan, Unknown Worlds is aiming for a March release on the Xbox Games Preview Program:

I?'m not sure if I should 'confirm' this or not, but we're working on it. We always reserve the right to cancel it if it doesn't work… But yes, we're working on it! We've been accepted into the Microsoft Preview Program… Exciting stuff.

Subnautica already holds up as a massively fun game, even in its current early access state. It seems to me like it’s the perfect candidate to follow in the footsteps of Ark: Survival Evolved, which was also recently got a console release through the Xbox Games Preview Program.

More than anything, I’m looking forward to a whole new wave of people encountering the Reaper Leviathan for the first time. That’s going to be fun.

Subnautica is now in development for Xbox One [XBLA Fans]

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Time to re-enact The Poseidon Adventure

Unknown Worlds' early access make-Joe-wee-a-little-by-having-eels simulator Subnautica received an update which massively builds on the base-building sections of the game as well as adding a new biome?.

The ??page showing the update is incredibly fancy and interactive, and there is also a video up at the top should you want to see them in ac??t??ion.

The biggest changes are to the base flooding system – should your base take damage and be breached, water can flood in and eventually drown you. It’s always been a source of utter terror for me, but now the deeper you are and the smaller the base, the faster it will flood. To help combat that, hermetically sealed bulkhead doors will allow you to completely close off sections of the base unt?il you’re able to fix them.

Alongside that, new modules to expand underwater bases have been included. The one Unknown Worlds seems most excited about is the moon? pool, which will let you park your submarines right inside the base. Power generators to help power the modules have also been added.

It looks like one of the biggest updates Subnautica has had. The lack of real base-building up to now has been a constant problem for me, as it&rsqu??o;s meant there is little reason to keep playing after a certain point. With this new expansion, I’m more likely to keep a save for more than 20 minutes, which ?is nice.

It’s still got those bastard eels from the pits of hell though. Seriou?sly kill those things with the rage of a thousand fucking sun?s.

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Just do Help! I'm A Fish!: The Game

Despite a little bit of wee coming out whenever I get too deep, I really do like Unknown Worlds’ early access survival game Subnautica. Until now, the development team have been debating over how exactly they'll handle the game's story. They were unsure whether to have an actual scripted story campaign, or just make a sandbox and allow for players t??o do their own thing.

Well with the hiring of game narrative writer Tom Jubert, that decision may have finally been made.

You may not have heard of him, but he’s helped shape some of the best stories in games: Binary Domain, The Talos Principle, The Swapper, Driver: San Francisco, the Penumbra series, even FTL: Faster Than Light. He’s done quite a lot of really good work up to now, and it’s been confirmed Subnautica is next on his list.

In a blog post written by Jubert, what he’s actually going to be doing with Subnautica is explained. Most of it is currently ?figuring out how he’ll fit into the development of the game and hammer out some more lore for the world.

However, he also confirmed we’ll be seeing at least the firs?t 40 minutes of the game get a proper script too:

“I am developing in parallel a practical in-game script for the first 40 minutes or so of gameplay, potentially to include in a future game update as a way to test the water for the direction we're taking, and share some of our work with the players.”

I’m interested to see where they? go with this. The game’s development has been very open to suggestions from the community ?so far, so seeing how that works with someone writing the game’s story will certainly be interesting.

Project Announcement: Subnautica [Plot is Gameplay's Bitch]

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Eels up inside 'ya, findin' an entrance where they can

Fun fact: when I was a kid, I drifted too far out to sea on a rubber dinghy and couldn’t get back until an adult was able to swim out and very slowly drag me to?? shore. I’m not entirely sure how long I was out there, but ever since I’ve always had anxieties about the sea. And eels for some reason… I never saw any ee?ls on the dingy, but I’m now convinced they’re going to murder me.

Well Natural Selection 2 developers Unknown Worlds shamelessly plays to that fear with their current early access project Subnautica. Being se??t on a planet almost entirely covered with deep water, it’s a survival sim where you have to find scraps to build vehicles, hunt alien fish, and build yourself a base.

Well, now they’ve gone and made it just a little bit more horrifying. Firstly a new innocent whickle fishie that's also named like an '80s death metal album: the Reaper Leviathan. It grabs on to your submarine, makes ?a lot of scary? faces, and probably causes a lot of pain.

But the biggest new addition to Subnautica is the ability to explore the massive written off starship that’s been looming in the horizon since the very first build of the game. Before now it’s been inaccessible thanks to radiation (gee that’s convenient), but now once you’ve crafted a handy-dandy radiation suit you can go and have a gander. Oh and you might be killed by alien s?pider-thingies too, so have fun! 

There’s also been some changes to the technical aspects too. It’s been updated to Unity 5, and with that come some major framerate improvements. They’ve also added Oculus Rift VR support for all two of you who have a Ri??ft. Here's a trailer showing these updates for you:

God I hate eels.

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Note to self: rewatch The Abyss soon

Underwater games. I need more underwater games.

Natural Selection 2 maker Unknown Worlds is doing its part with Subnautica, an open-ended exploration title that's been in development for around a year. It's now playable through Steam Early Access ($17.99; Windows only), though with the current build's prom??ise of "at least one hour of adventure content available for play," it won't be far enough along for most of us.

Still, I'll be following development. Subnautica is set in an "alien ocean world" in which you can gather resources, build submarines, and fight creepy fish monsters. It's a place I want to explore, event??ually. Unknown Worlds expects the game to remain in Early Access for most of 2015.

"Over time the world will grow larger, deeper and more striking, creatures more diverse and intelligent, loot, crafting and vehicle construction more comprehensive, the story more fleshed out, and ecosystems richer and more vibrant. Large submarines, new unique life forms, and fantastic environments are all in production and will be introduced to Subnautica Early Access in updates."

The gameplay-less?? Early Ac?cess launch trailer offers a glimpse at the setting:

More on the design here. "We're not making a sandbox game, nor a building game, nor a survival game, although at times we thought we were," says designer Charlie Cleveland. "We're building a game where you feel like a scientist who has crash-landed on an aquatic alien world and is learning how it (and its strange inhabitants) wo??rk. It’s a gam??e of exploration, discovery and theme."

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