u/Batmannotwayn

I wrote a subnautica lore summary once and wanted to see if its still accurate.

My old Theory is: https://www.reddit.com/r/GameTheorists/comments/1kk3cvb/finally_finished_my_own_subnautica_theories_and/

My initial theories were:

• Setting:
  • Subnautica takes place in a new arm of a yet-undiscovered galaxy, not the Milky Way nor Andromeda. I found that out by going through the dialogue from the Degasi crew and the Sunbeam, as well as the Degasi voice logs.
• Timeline:
  • The base game takes place between at least 2227 and 2279. I calculated this by examining the real-life age of certain Earth artifacts found in the Precursor bases.
• Sam and Robin actions:
  • Sam’s and Robin’s actions were useless, because Alterra possessed backup samples and data from the Kharaa study.
  • We know this because the Architects describe Kharaa as being able to "mutate the basic genetic structure of cells" (Kharaa Contagion Profile), which Alterra intended to use to create variations of Kharaa with different abilities (Report - Enzyme Mutation Study).
  • The description for Subnautica 2 states that players can "evolve their genetics to adapt their body for survival"—a feat only Kharaa would make possible.
  • Also ties into Natural Selection, which takes place in the same universe but in the future, during a Kharaa outbreak featuring mutants that evolve their bodies.
• Ryley’s Legacy:
  • Ryley, the protagonist of the first game, definitely shared his knowledge.
  • We see evidence of this in the PDA of Below Zero, which contains information about Marguerite Maida that only Riley would know and the existence of Reaper Leviathans (including their abilities) without Robin ever having to scan one. (Implies that Ryley canonically scanned a Reaper on 4546B.)

Voices from the Deep

Episode 1

Alterra continues to colonize worlds such as the desert planet, Zezura.

• Theory:
  • Zezura harbors more alien artifacts. Since Alterra is currently the only Trans-gov/Company with access to Precursor technology and data (as 4546B is Alterra territory), Zezura might even house another Kharaa research station which would be a reason for the transgovs colonization of an otherwise useless called desert planet.
• Evidence for my theory abt Ryley:
  • He survived 4546B and returned to Trans-gov space, meaning he shared his data. Since his PDA was manufactured by Alterra, they likely seized that information immediately.
• Evidence for my theory abt Kharaa:
  • The Kharaa bacterium has survived and is now infecting people. The source is likely Alterra’s own samples, as all known traces on 4546B were neutralized during the first game and Below Zero.

Episode 2

Alterra and the Trans-System Federation are seizing Mongolian Trans-gov states in the Ariadne Arm.

• Theory:
  • Alterra found more Precursor testing stations in the Ariadne Arm and is seizing the states where these stations are located. It is also confirmed that Kharaa has completely broken out.

Episode 3

A Kharaa pandemic is now in full effect, and the bacterium has begun mutating hosts into "mutated xenomorphs"—likely the creatures seen in Natural Selection.

• Evidence for the theory abt Kharaa:
  • The Frontiersmen (the fighting force in Natural Selection) are battling these Kharaa xenomorphs, meaning these voice logs likely take place during the events of Natural Selection 1.
• It is also mentioned that the frontiersmen use nanotechnology which is the reason of why they dont get infected and also points to the game taking place during natural selection 1.
• More advertisements appear for the Zezura colonization mentioned in Episode 1. The spaceship designated for this mission is named the Cicada.

Episode 4

Alterra has lost contact with the Cicada, which is now lost in space.

• Theory:
  • They likely crashed on the same planet we will explore in Subnautica 2, presumably brought down by an alien weapon—similar to what happened to the Mercury II, the Degasi, and the Aurora in previous games.

Episode 5

This episode is in form of a POV from the Cicada, which has been destroyed and is descending toward the surface of a water moon.

• 4546B from subnautica 1 was also a moon, and a creature resembling a leviathan is visible in the background.
• Conclusion:
  • While I know that we are not back on 4546B because the devs said we wont be back, it is at least another Precursor planet under lockdown that has shot down an Alterra vessel. I expect we will find the wreckage of the Cicada in Subnautica 2, much like we found the Degasi bases in the original game.

Hope that will hold up in the future.