How to play Subnautica multiplayer: Install mod & play with friends

The survival game Subnautica tasks you with getting out alive from hostile alien surroundings but if you’d rather survive with friends at your side there’s a multiplayer mod that lets you do just that. Here’s everything you need to know about it. 

Subnautica in an intense survival game where you’re stuck at the bottom of the ocean in a ship that’s been put into lockdown protocols, and while it’s designed to be an immersive single-player game, you may prefer to have friends by your side during your playthrough.

Thankfully, the fan-made Nitrox mod has given fans the oppertunity to enjoy Subnautica with other players on a single server. So, here’s everything you need to know about the mod and how to use it in the game.

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Contents

• Is Subnautica multiplayer?
• How to install Subnautica multiplayer mod
• How to use the Subnautica multiplayer mod

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Is Subnautica multiplayer?

No, Subnautica is not multiplayer.

The only way to access multiplayer in the game is by installing the fan-made mod. Only by installing this mod will Subnautica players be able to enjoy a co-op multiplayer experience.

How to install the Subnautica multiplayer mod

You can download and install the Subnautica multiplayer mod by following the instructions below:

1. Download Nitrox 
2. Unzip the file where you want the launcher to be located.
   • Do NOT launch it while it is zipped.
3. Run NitroxLauncher as Administrator
4. Click Options, then Change, then choose the folder you have Subnautica installed into.

Once installed, you’ll be invited to set up a server where other Nitrox users can join. This enables those wanting to play the game in co-op mode the opportunity to join other players. It also increases the chances of them finding each other.

How to use the Subnautica multiplayer mod

Players looking for a co-op partner would do well to join the Nitrox Discord channel, where the mod is openly discussed in order to tweak it further. As this isn’t an official update, the game doesn’t feature any kind of voice chat. The mod is still a work in progress and may be prone to the occasional bug, so having a way of communicating with other players could be helpful.

Despite still being refined by the community, the Nitrox mod offers a pretty seamless co-op experience. The game is still classic Subnautica, just with another player. The game world remains the same, although it’s interesting to watch the world react to another player from a distance. This is something single-player users will not have experienced before.

Both players can interact with the workstations, items, and the Cyclops independently without any hiccups. It’s also helpful to have someone watching your back, as the world of Subnautica can be a dangerous place. The game was designed for solo players, so having two survivors working together makes certain sections much easier.

The mod was created by Nexus Mods user Sunrunner37, who made sure the download was compatible with the Stream and Epic Games Store editions of Subnautica.

Can you use the mod on console?

Unfortunately, the Subnautica multiplayer mod isn’t available for console versions of the game, only PC. It’s also worth pointing out that the mod only works with the original game, not its sequel Subnautica: Below Zero.

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