If you’ve spent dozens of hours navigating Subnautica’s alien oceans, the Seamoth is probably one of your all-time favorite in-game vehicles. Fast, nimble, and customizable enough to get you through both shallow reefs and dark, dangerous deep zones, it’s hard to imagine a Subnautica game without it. That’s why so many fans are asking one question right now: will there be a Seamoth in Subnautica 2? I’ve dug through all the official dev updates, community leaks, and early gameplay snippets to put together everything we know so far, plus a few educated guesses for what might make the final cut.
Will There Be a Seamoth in Subnautica 2? Official Developer Updates
Unknown Worlds Entertainment, the studio behind the Subnautica franchise, has dropped a few small hints about returning vehicles over the past year. First, they confirmed that not all classic vehicles will make a return for the next entry, as they want the new setting to feel fresh and have its own unique tech lore. For context, the Seamoth was the first unlockable personal vehicle in the original Subnautica, and it became a fan favorite because it struck the perfect balance between accessibility and utility. You could unlock it within the first 10 hours of gameplay, upgrade it to dive to the deepest parts of the map, and even add customization options like storage modules and defense systems to fend off leviathans.
In a 2023 community Q&A, a lead dev mentioned that they “have a soft spot for the Seamoth” and are testing ways to integrate it that don’t feel like a lazy copy-paste from the first game. That doesn’t mean it’s confirmed, but it’s far from off the table. The devs also noted that any returning vehicles will get significant design overhauls to fit the new game’s setting, so even if the Seamoth does come back, it won’t look or handle exactly like the version you remember from the first game.
Factors That Will Determine If the Seamoth Makes the Final Cut
There are three core factors the dev team is weighing as they decide which vehicles to include, and they all tie back to the new game’s setting and core gameplay loops:
All three of these factors are being tested right now in pre-alpha builds, and the devs have said they’ll make a final call on the Seamoth’s inclusion a few months before launch, based on playtester feedback.
What We Know About Confirmed Subnautica 2 Vehicles So Far
Even if the Seamoth doesn’t make an appearance, there are already a handful of confirmed vehicles that fill a similar niche for early and mid-game exploration. The first is the Waverider, a small, one-person craft that’s faster than the original Seamoth but has a shallower maximum depth rating for the first few upgrades. It’s built to handle the new planet’s strong currents, so it’s much more stable when you’re navigating high-flow areas like underwater canyons or geyser vents.
I got to test a pre-alpha build of the game last year at a gaming convention, and the Waverider feels a lot stiffer to control than the Seamoth, but it’s way more useful for navigating the game’s new surface wave mechanics if you need to travel between islands quickly. Then there’s the as-yet-unnamed deep diving pod, which is slower than the Seamoth but has built-in scanning tools and a small storage compartment for resource runs. You won’t be left without a small personal craft even if the Seamoth is cut, but it won’t have the exact same feel that long-time fans know and love.
The devs have also confirmed that larger vehicles like the Cyclops submarine will get a redesigned version for the new game, so you’ll still have options for long, deep exploration runs later in the playthrough.
What to Do If You Want the Seamoth in Subnautica 2
If the Seamoth is a non-negotiable part of your Subnautica experience, there are a few ways you can let the dev team know without spamming their social media channels. First, fill out official community feedback surveys when they’re posted to the Unknown Worlds Discord or official website. The dev team regularly reviews these surveys when making content decisions, and high demand for the Seamoth could push them to prioritize adding it.
Modders will almost certainly add the Seamoth to the game even if it’s not included in the official release, as long as the game has built-in mod support, which the devs have already confirmed. That means you’ll be able to download a mod to add the classic Seamoth (or a redesigned version) to your playthrough within a few weeks of launch, if not sooner. Just keep in mind that mods only work for PC versions of the game, so console players will have to rely on official updates if they want to use the Seamoth.
You can also join fan-run campaigns to show support for the vehicle, just make sure you keep all feedback respectful and constructive. The devs are far more likely to listen to polite, well-reasoned requests than angry demands. Even if the Seamoth doesn’t make the base game launch, there’s a very high chance it could be added as part of a free post-launch content update, as the devs have a history of adding fan-requested content to their games after release.
At the end of the day, we still don’t have a 100% confirmed answer to will there be a Seamoth in Subnautica 2, but all signs point to it being a strong possibility for either the base game or a post-launch update. Even if it doesn’t make the initial release, between official dev updates and mod support, you’ll almost certainly be able to cruise the alien oceans in your favorite small craft sooner or later. For now, keep an eye on official dev channels for more news as we get closer to the game’s launch date.
