Unknown Worlds Surprises Fans with New Bug Fix Patches for Subnautica and Below Zero After Years of Silence

In a move that has delighted the survival horror community, developer Unknown Worlds has released surprise updates for both the original Subnautica and its sequel, Subnautica: Below Zero. These patches, arriving years after the games’ initial launches, are not focused on new content but instead deliver a significant number of long-requested bug fixes and quality-of-life improvements. The updates are a welcome sign of continued support for the franchise’s older titles, especially as the studio navigates a period of significant change and controversy surrounding the development of Subnautica 2.

The patches, which were rolled out to PC and consoles on August 12, 2025, are a direct result of development work done for the recently launched mobile versions of the games. By porting these fixes back to the main PC and console builds, Unknown Worlds has addressed a host of technical issues that have plagued players for years. The updates are a testament to the developers’ commitment to polishing their classic titles and ensuring they remain a stable and enjoyable experience for both new and returning players.

Subnautica: The Prawn Suit Gets a Much-Needed Fix

The original Subnautica patch, which is identified as version 1.022.394 on consoles, focuses heavily on resolving some of the most notorious and game-breaking bugs. A significant number of fixes revolve around the PRAWN Suit, a player-favorite vehicle that was also a frequent source of glitches. Key fixes include:

• Portal Bugs: The patch addresses a long-standing issue where players’ stats, such as oxygen and hunger, would freeze after passing through Alien Arch portals while inside the PRAWN Suit.
• Falling Through the Map: The developers have fixed a critical bug that could cause the PRAWN Suit to fall through the world or become stuck when returning from a portal. This was a particularly frustrating bug for Hardcore mode players, as it could result in an unrecoverable run.
• Cyclops and Repulsion Cannon Issues: A bug that caused the Repulsion Cannon to displace objects inside the Cyclops, making them fall through the floor, has been resolved. The game now properly recognizes base pieces constructed inside the Cyclops as obstacles, preventing a crash.
• Leviathan Interactions: The update also fixes a hilarious but disruptive bug where Leviathans would sometimes grab a player’s vehicle and send it flying above the ocean’s surface.

In addition to these fixes, the PC version (excluding Windows Store) has received a complete overhaul of its input system to improve controller support. The game now natively supports a wide range of modern controllers, including the Xbox Series, PS5, and Nintendo Switch Pro controllers, both wired and wirelessly. This change, which was a backport from Below Zero, provides a much more seamless and modern control experience.

Below Zero: The Snowfox is Now Actually Usable

The patch for Subnautica: Below Zero primarily focuses on addressing a major pain point for players: the Snowfox hoverbike. The vehicle was widely criticized for being clunky, difficult to control, and easily destroyed. Unknown Worlds has made a number of changes to make the Snowfox a far more viable mode of transportation on land:

• Ice Worm Encounters: The chance of an Ice Worm knocking a player off the Snowfox has been reduced from 100% to 25%, making these encounters significantly less frustrating.
• Improved Handling: The Snowfox’s collider has been changed to prevent it from getting stuck on obstacles and props. Its orientation upon deployment has also been adjusted to face the same direction as the player, making it easier to mount in a hurry.
• Damage Reduction: The damage the Snowfox takes from terrain impacts has been reduced from 100% to 12%, meaning players won’t have to constantly repair the vehicle after every bump.

These changes are a huge win for players who avoided using the Snowfox altogether due to its issues. The developers have also fixed a rare bug that could make the game unresponsive when attempting to save in certain situations, addressing a serious concern for players who were losing progress.

Community Reaction and the Larger Context of Unknown Worlds

The community’s response to these patches has been overwhelmingly positive, with players expressing surprise and gratitude for the unexpected updates. Many have noted that these bug fixes address issues they thought would never be resolved. However, the patches arrive at a tumultuous time for Unknown Worlds.

The studio and its parent company, Krafton, are currently embroiled in a public legal dispute with the co-founders of Unknown Worlds, who were recently removed from the company. The founders claim they were terminated to prevent them from receiving a substantial performance-based bonus for the successful launch of Subnautica 2, which they allege was ready for an early access release. Krafton, in turn, has accused the founders of neglecting their duties and attempting to push out a product that was not ready, which they claim could have caused “irreversible harm to the entire franchise.” This high-stakes corporate drama has left many fans concerned about the future of the series.

Despite the off-screen controversy, these surprise updates serve as a reminder of the quality and care that went into the original games. They provide a much-needed morale boost to a community that has been anxiously following the drama. By continuing to support their older titles, Unknown Worlds is sending a clear message to their fans: the legacy of Subnautica is a priority, and the experience on Planet 4546B is still worth preserving.