The vehicles in Subnautica 2 work a bit differently this time around.
They’ve adopted a modular design, though in the current Early Access build, there are only two buildable modules available.
I’m personally hoping future updates will give us a lot more configuration options to choose from.
A bit of a letdown, though, is that the massive submarine from the first game still hasn’t made a return. I absolutely loved that vehicle.
That said, it’s entirely possible we might be able to mix and match modules to build our own version of it down the line.
Used under fair use for commentary, criticism, and educational purposes.
Here is a detailed breakdown of the vehicle functions I’ve experienced so far:
The Tadpole
This is your most basic engine-powered vehicle.
In multiplayer mode, it can carry up to two teammates—one on each side. There are no actual seats; instead, players just hold onto handrails, which also feature dedicated oxygen ports they can use to replenish their tanks.
The top of the vehicle features a power cell slot to provide the energy needed to run it.
Right behind the power cell, there are four upgrade slots. Just like in the previous game, you can craft upgrade modules at the Modification Station and slot them in to gain extra stats.
There is also a storage rack positioned right in the middle of the tail section, which functions exactly like a Wall Rack for holding items.
While this might be useful during multiplayer sessions, I barely found any use for it in my solo playthrough.
Currently, this base vehicle does not come with a cargo hold, meaning you won’t be able to use it to haul extra resources around.
Scout Ray Chassis
This is one of the modular attachments currently available in the game.
Equipping it gives the Tadpole a nice boost to its acceleration, turning performance, and overall handling agility.
Beyond that, it doesn’t introduce any new standalone functions; all of its capabilities are inherited straight from the base Tadpole.
Tadpole Haul Chassis
This chassis is primarily designed to expand your cargo space.
Because of its larger size, its top speed is noticeably slower than the base model.
In multiplayer mode, it can carry up to three teammates. It features comfortable seats on both the left and right sides, along with a grab rail on top. Just like before, all of these passenger spots provide oxygen.
The rear section looks like it has two separate cargo bays, but opening them reveals they actually share a single, unified storage area. It comes with 30 inventory slots by default, which gives you plenty of room to haul resources.
All other functions are inherited straight from the Tadpole, including any stat boosts you get from equipping upgrade modules.
Module Combination
The assembly process is incredibly flexible. All you have to do is pilot the Tadpole close to any module, and they will automatically snap together.
If you are swimming in resources, you can craft multiple Tadpoles and keep them permanently paired with different modules for direct use.
On the other hand, if resources are tight early on, you can just craft a single Tadpole and swap out the different modules based on whatever task you’re heading out to do.
Detaching modules is even simpler—by default, you just press the Q key to break them apart.
I really hope the developers roll out a ton of new modules in future updates. It would be amazing to mix and match them to build a massive, high-tech rig that recaptures the cool vibe of the original game’s large submarine.
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