Subnautica 2 Buddy System Update Adds Proximity Chat, Revives, Trading and Emotes

Unknown Worlds has released Subnautica 2's Early Access 1.2 update, Buddy System. The free automatic update centers on making the game's co-op experience more social and forgiving, while also adding new customization options and a broad set of fixes.

The headline addition is cross-platform proximity voice chat. Players can choose always-on, push-to-talk, or always-off communication, with voices becoming harder to hear as players move farther apart. The update also lets players revive one another before reprinting, preserving equipment and restoring a small amount of oxygen; downed players can instead choose to reprint and respawn at their assigned Biobed.

Buddy System adds direct inventory trading, a new Tracking Tag that can be placed in carryables as a short-range beacon and can increase black-box range when reprinted, and a radial emotes menu with Wave, Clap, Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down, and Frustrated options. Character customization gains Jegna and Grace as new options, along with two additional color schemes.

The patch also includes adjustments to creatures, base building, tools, equipment, menus, UI, voice and narrative, music, performance features, and numerous bug fixes. The update is available as a free automatic download; Unknown Worlds says players who do not see it may need to restart Steam, and can contact the support team if issues continue. Read the official Buddy System update and patch notes.