Subnautica 2 bugs and fixes: crash on startup, DirectX 12, co-op desync, FPS and Tadpole issues

Update the NVIDIA driver

Severity: Medium

Some crashes can come from outdated NVIDIA drivers, especially after a game patch or a Windows update. Update to a recent stable Game Ready driver, restart the PC and test the game without overlays.

If the crash started right after a driver update, try a clean installation or roll back to the previous stable version.

Force the high-performance GPU

Severity: High

A DirectX 12 error can appear when Windows launches the game on an integrated GPU instead of the dedicated graphics card. Open Windows graphics settings and force Subnautica 2 to use the high-performance GPU.

Also update Windows, update the GPU driver and make sure your hardware supports DirectX 12.

Install Hotfix 1

Severity: Medium

Some players reported rare crashes linked to the Ping feature in multiplayer. If this happens, install the latest hotfix and restart the game.

If the problem continues, avoid spamming Ping during co-op sessions and test a clean session with no overlays.

Switch fullscreen and restart

Severity: Low

If 4K does not appear in the video options, switch display mode, apply fullscreen, restart the game and check Windows display scaling.

Also verify that the monitor is running at the correct native resolution in Windows before launching Subnautica 2.

Lower Epic settings to High and restart

Severity: Medium

If the game stutters or drops frames, lower the most demanding settings first: shadows, effects, view distance and post-processing. Going from Epic to High can make the game much smoother.

Close overlays, browser tabs, capture tools and background launchers. After major patches, also update the GPU driver.

Rejoin, then restart the host if needed

Severity: Medium

In co-op, inventory, lockers, doors or resources can sometimes desync between players. First have the affected player leave and rejoin.

If the issue remains, restart the host session. For important crafting, let the host handle key items and avoid multiple players interacting with the same container at the same time.

Remove plants from the growbed

Severity: Medium

Some desync reports mention growbeds and Macron Sponge. If the base behaves strangely, remove the plants from the growbed, save and reload the session.

Avoid stacking too many interactions in the same growbed during co-op until the issue is fixed.

Use a fresh invite and restart fully

Severity: Medium

If you see Session unavailable or get disconnected from the server, generate a fresh invite, restart the game for all players and make sure the host is online before others join.

Also check platform services, NAT/firewall rules, VPNs and background network tools.

Enter and exit a Tadpole

Severity: Medium

If the hotbar gets stuck after using the Tadpole, going out of bounds or a creature interaction, enter a Tadpole and exit it again. This can reset the player state.

If it fails, save, reload and avoid rapidly switching tools during vehicle transitions.

Inventory, vehicle, reconnect

Severity: Medium

If you cannot change tools, first open and close the inventory, then enter and exit a vehicle. In co-op, disconnect and reconnect to the session.

Keep at least one free inventory slot and avoid changing tools while opening containers or docking.

Check dock/base and reload

Severity: Medium

If the Tadpole appears to teleport to a dock or base, return to the base area and check nearby docking points. Save and reload if the vehicle marker behaves incorrectly.

Avoid parking the Tadpole inside tight geometry or too close to modular base parts.

Do not force it; exit and reload

Severity: Medium

If the Tadpole sticks to the floor, accelerates strangely or launches upward, stop forcing movement. Exit the vehicle if possible, save and reload.

Move it away from walls, wrecks and narrow base modules before using it again.

Remove nearby objects and isolate the room

Severity: Medium

The Has Attachments message means something is still connected to the module: lockers, wall objects, hatches, corridors, foundations, decorative objects or internal modules.

Remove nearby items first, then try again. If needed, isolate the room by deconstructing connected modules around it.

Keep one free slot

Severity: Low

If the hotbar overlaps with the inventory UI, keep at least one free slot, close the inventory and reopen it. A save and reload can also reset the interface.

Avoid filling the inventory completely before moving items between containers and tools.

Avoid portable lockers inside bases

Severity: Low

Portable lockers can sometimes clip into the floor or become hard to recover when placed inside a base. Use built-in lockers or wall lockers for base storage instead.

If one is already stuck, try different angles, reload the area or use it only as a temporary loss if recovery is impossible.

Change angle or reload

Severity: Low

Some crates can be difficult to open because of placement or collision. Try a different angle, move slightly closer or farther away, then interact again.

If the crate stays locked, reload the area or continue exploring; not every stuck crate is worth wasting time on.

Check height/depth and reload

Severity: Low

The Scanner Room can sometimes display signals that seem empty because the resource is above, below, clipped into terrain or already collected.

Check the vertical position, search around the signal and reload the area if markers keep pointing to nothing.

Close UI and reload

Severity: Low

If the Fabricator refuses a recipe even though you have the materials, close the interface, move the items between inventory and storage, then try again.

If the problem continues, save and reload. In co-op, let the host craft the item.

Put the tool away and try again

Severity: Low

If battery swapping does not work correctly, put the tool away, equip it again and try the battery change more slowly.

Make sure the spare battery is in the player inventory and not inside a container or vehicle storage.

Change area or store them in a locker

Severity: Low

Some items cannot be dropped in certain contexts or may fail to drop because of collision. Move to an open area and try again.

If dropping remains impossible, store the item in a locker until a reload or patch fixes the behavior.

Wait, then reload if it loops

Severity: Low

If PDA or NOA dialogue repeats, wait until the current sequence finishes and avoid triggering several signals at once.

If the line loops endlessly, save and reload. Check your objectives afterward to make sure progression was recorded.

Update drivers and reduce effects

Severity: Low

Visual artifacts around bases can come from lighting, reflections or driver issues. Update GPU drivers, reduce effects and check if the issue disappears after a reload.

If it is only visual and does not block progression, continue playing and report it with a screenshot.

Unload and reload the area

Severity: Low

Creatures can sometimes get stuck in terrain or base geometry. Move far enough away to unload the area, then return.

If the creature remains stuck and blocks progress, save, reload and approach from another direction.

Change angle or abandon it

Severity: Low

Some resources or large deposits can clip into terrain. Try approaching from a different angle or using the proper tool if it is a mineable node.

If you cannot reach it, mark the area and move on. There are usually other resources nearby.

Unpin the recipes

Severity: Low

Pinned Biomod recipes can sometimes reveal information earlier than expected. If you want to avoid spoilers, unpin them from the interface.

Use pinned recipes only when you are actively gathering materials for a specific upgrade.

Check PDA then reload

Severity: Low

If a Survivors waypoint stays visible after completing its step, check the PDA, read the related entry and move away from the area.

If it remains, save and reload. This is usually a display issue rather than a hard progression block.

Clear hidden sites

Severity: Medium

If Angel Comb progression seems blocked, make sure you have cleared the hidden sites linked to that step and scanned the required elements.

Return with the correct tool, check nearby signals and inspect the area for Bloom Biofilm or other hidden blockers.

Use the Sonic Resonator

Severity: Medium

Bloom Biofilm is removed with the Sonic Resonator. Aim at the biofilm, charge the tool and release when the shot is ready.

If nothing happens, check that you are using the correct tool, that the target is actually removable biofilm and that you are close enough.

Vehicle, base, reload

Severity: Low

If oxygen behaves incorrectly after dying in or near the Tadpole, enter a vehicle or base, then reload the save if needed.

Avoid relying on the bug, because it can break normal survival logic or disappear after a patch.

Flares, caution and saves

Severity: Low

If creatures feel overly aggressive, slow down your route, use flares or defensive tools and keep a safe return path to the Tadpole.

Save before risky exploration and avoid building bases inside predator-heavy routes.

Install the hotfix and disable analytics if needed

Severity: Low

Hotfix 1 included backend and analytics-related changes. If you notice unusual behavior, install the hotfix first and restart the game.

If a setting allows analytics to be disabled and you suspect a backend issue, test with analytics disabled.

Verify Steam file integrity

Severity: Medium

After a crash, interrupted update or strange missing asset, verify the integrity of game files in Steam.

Open the game properties, go to Installed Files, run the verification and restart the PC if Steam replaces files.

Test a clean session

Severity: Medium

Overlays, capture tools, VPNs, mods and aggressive antivirus settings can cause crashes, input issues or multiplayer problems.

Test a clean session: no mods, overlays disabled, VPN off and antivirus in normal mode. If the issue disappears, re-enable tools one by one.