Subnautica 2 devs say it's 'an exploration game first,' expanding on the first game's 'masterclass' in player-driven discovery

If you check the Steam listings for the Subnautica games, you'll find the "Survival" tag prominently featured—mostly on account of the gathering, and the crafting, and the risk of drowning in an overtly hostile biosphere. In an interview with PC Gamer ahead of its upcoming early access launch, however, Subnautica 2's developers say that's something of a misnomer.

"We often talk about Subnautica being a survival game when we're speaking publicly," said Subnautica 2 lead gameplay designer Anthony Gallegos. "But internally, we often focus on the fact that it's really...