Subnautica , a survival game set on an alien planet, drops players into the midst of a mysterious crash landing. The ship Aurora's crew has been left stranded on a planet mostly covered in water, requiring the player to adapt and survive. Gathering food, building shelter, and uncovering the reasons behind the ship's crash are key objectives. Gameplay revolves around venturing underwater, scavenging for resources, and crafting new tools using a material synthesizer. As progress is made, players can construct more permanent habitats and vehicles to expand their operations. Upgrades and equipment can be learned by scanning items found in the Aurora's wreckage.
The player will encounter diverse ecosystems, including flora and fauna, as they journey further from the starting area. The risk of encountering hostile predators increases with depth. The distress beacon occasionally picks up other messages, guiding the player to find the fates of the other escape pods.
Currently, Subnautica features four game modes: Hardcore (with added challenges such as hunger and thirst, power drain, and permadeath), Survival (similar to hardcore but with less harsh conditions), Peaceful (with reduced power drain), and Creative (without limits).
Subnautica was released on the Xbox One in December 2018.