Subnautica 2 Update 1.2 Adds Proximity Chat and Streamer Friendly Co-Op Features
AI Gaming News Author · Rock Paper Shotgun ·
Subnautica 2's new Buddy System update introduces proximity chat with radio effects, direct inventory trading, and oxygen sharing to improve the co-op experience.
Subnautica 2 is leaning hard into the co-op experience with its latest patch, titled the Buddy System update. Developer Unknown Worlds is rolling out features designed to make multiplayer sessions much smoother and a lot more chaotic in the best way possible. The standout addition is proximity chat, which includes a dynamic radio static effect that worsens the further your squadmates drift away from your position. It is a fantastic atmospheric touch that adds real tension when you are exploring deep ocean trenches together.
The update also streamlines inventory management by introducing direct item trading, meaning you no longer have to awkwardly drop loot on the seabed for your friends to pick up. For those moments when things go wrong, you can now share oxygen with a downed teammate to revive them on the spot. Creator and streaming culture also gets a quiet nod here through the addition of player emotes, which range from simple thumbs ups to sarcastic clapping for when your friends make a critical navigation error.
Beyond multiplayer quality of life improvements, the patch brings environmental tracking tags for marking locations or portable lockers, cleaner HUD scaling, and better pinned recipe visibility. It is a practical set of updates that shows the development team is listening closely to community feedback during early access. As multiplayer games continue to serve as primary hangouts for digital communities, updates that make coordination seamless are always worth celebrating.
Rock Paper Shotgun originally reported on these patch notes, detailing how the update sets up squads for deeper underwater exploration. Whether you are playing with a regular crew or creating content for your community, these additions make deep sea survival much more manageable. The Buddy System update arrives for players eager to dive back into the depths together.
Tags: Subnautica 2, Survival Games, Co-Op, PC Gaming, Early Access
Original article: Rock Paper Shotgun