Following its massive early access launch, Subnautica 2 has ignited a heated debate among the community: to kill or not to kill the fish? While players can gather certain small fish as resources back at their base, there is currently no way to actively kill wildlife while exploring the depths.

This lack of direct combat tools has become the game's first major "hot topic," leaving many players feeling vulnerable against aggressive predators that can damage them without any way to fight back.

The Debate Over Killing Fish in Subnautica 2

In the original Subnautica, players had more agency to slay creatures. However, Unknown Worlds has taken a different philosophical approach with this sequel. The developers have expressed a desire to avoid a gameplay loop centered on "conquering" or dominating the environment through sheer slaughter.

The current state of the game presents several mechanical hurdles for survival:

  • No direct weaponry: There are currently no tools designed to slay wildlife in the wild.
  • Ineffective deterrence: While players can use flares to attempt to ward off creatures, they occupy valuable inventory space, making them a luxury many players won't carry.
  • Immortal predators: Because there is no way to kill most creatures, players effectively "bounce" off large fish rather than engaging them.

Despite these limitations, environmental artist “uly” has confirmed that the developers are listening to the community. “The conversation around the ways fish die isn’t over,” uly stated, noting that it is a "HOT topic" within the studio.

Developer Insights and Future Updates

While the team is discussing how to handle hostile wildlife, players shouldn't expect an immediate solution. Implementing a system to kill fish requires significant development investment, including adjustments to game balance, AI behavior, animations, and sound design.

According to uly, the goal isn't necessarily to turn the game into a combat simulator, but rather to provide better tools for interaction:

  • Improved deterrence: The team wants players to feel they have options when encountering predators.
  • Size-based limitations: While "shark-sized" creatures might remain untouchable, smaller fish may eventually be killable.
  • Better toolkits: Instead of just "knifing" everything, the devs want to provide ways to deter or pacify wildlife.

What to Expect from the Subnautica 2 Roadmap

While a "fish-killing" mechanic isn't explicitly listed on the current early access roadmap, Unknown Worlds is preparing for a major content expansion. This upcoming "big drop" is expected to include:

  • New biomes and creatures
  • Additional resources and tools
  • New vehicles
  • The next chapter of the story

The immediate focus remains on quality-of-life fixes and improving the co-op experience. With Subnautica 2 already moving 2 million copies in its first 12 hours, the developers are clearly balancing a massive player base with the technical demands of evolving an early access title.