Unknown Worlds Entertainment, the development team behind the popular underwater survival videogame Subnautica, have announced that they are hard at work on a new, stand-alone expansion that will expand the titles gameplay and systems into a new ‘ice-bound region’. This means the players will travel to the polar region of the games world and get to experience many new adventures and mystery as they deal with massive glaciers and icebergs.
Originally released into Steam Early Access back in 2014, Subnautica has quickly become a hugely popular title that came out of the program and released in full earlier this year. The title supports virtual reality (VR) play as well by means of the HTC Vive or Oculus Rift head-mounted displays (HMDs) which offer a more immersive way for players to experience the underwater world of the mystery planet they find themselves stuck on.
In the new expansion, entitled Subnautica: Below Zero, players will continue their adventure after the events of the original game and experience a new chapter that will build on the titles current gameplay systems and stories. Much like the base videogame, the new expansion will release into Early Access as well later this year and be getting consistent content updates where players will be able to help space the experience by providing feedback during its development.
“The concept of Below Zero is still developing.” The team right on the announcement website: “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 dialogue 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.”
Much like the original title, it is expected that this new stand-alone expansion will also support VR giving players the chance to immersive themselves within the new cold region. Those who are interested in keep track of the development of the new expansion, along with getting a peek at some of the features, can do so by checking out the studios Trello board.
VRFocus will be sure to bring you all the latest on Subnautica: Below Zero in the future, so stay tuned for more.