Unknown Worlds released Subnautica 2 into early access, and the title sold two million copies within twelve hours of launch. The studio has maintained a strict pacifist design philosophy for the game. Players cannot use weapons or kill hostile wildlife in the underwater environment.
Developer Artyom O'Reily tells frustrated players to try Sons of the Forest instead
This core mechanic has generated significant frustration among the community. Some players expressed disappointment over the removal of combat options that existed in previous entries. Modder Jibotron released a modification called Killable Creatures to address this concern. The mod allows tools like the multitool hammer and sonic resonator to deal damage to creatures.
Developer Artyom O'Reily directly addressed the backlash by stating the studio does not want Subnautica 2 to be a killing game. He suggested that players seeking combat mechanics should play Sons of the Forest instead. Design lead Anthony Gallegos reinforced this approach, emphasizing adaptation over domination in the game's design.
The exact reasons behind the no-kill rule remain somewhat opaque despite these developer statements. The studio has doubled down on its pacifist agenda while facing continued resistance from a segment of the player base.
Source: NotebookCheck
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