NOVASMC

GAME DECISION MAP

Subnautica 2

Survival · Cross-platform · 2026

Current analysisBaseline 2026-07-19Open Decision Analysis →

Explore a new underwater planet → scan fragments and blueprints and gather resources → craft gear and survival equipment → build a seabase and apply Biomod upgrades → expand depth and range with vehicles → optionally share the world and base in up to four-player co-op → use acquired knowledge and assets to enter deeper biomes and continue exploration.

Recurring Structures

Detailed Repeating Structures

What repeats and keeps the system moving?

CORE CLASSIFICATION

Compounding Growth

Explore a new underwater planet → scan fragments and blueprints and gather resources → craft gear and survival equipment → build a seabase and apply Biomod upgrades → expand depth and range with vehicles → optionally share the world and base in up to four-player co-op → use acquired knowledge and assets to enter deeper biomes and continue exploration.

Outputs strengthen assets, capabilities, or access and open a stronger next cycle.

View pattern definition →
  1. Core

    Core Exploration Loop

    Explore → scan/collect → craft/build → expand base/vehicle → descend deeper → unlock story/biomes.

Bottlenecks

Bottleneck Patterns

Where do decisions and flow break?

CORE CLASSIFICATION

Transition and Handoff Break

The affected flow runs through result → goal → action → outcome → return; its limiting point is the exploration crafting growth result handoff.

The result of one step does not connect to the next action, return, or reinvestment decision.

View pattern definition →
  1. Core

    scan

    The affected flow runs through result → goal → action → outcome → return; its limiting point is the exploration crafting growth result handoff.

  2. Supporting

    Allocation and Coordination Failure · Cooperation

    The affected flow runs through Host flag → right → action/result → rejoin; its limiting point is the cooperation entry handoff.

  3. Supporting

    Transition and Handoff Break · Vehicle Growth Exploration

    The affected flow runs through ID → condition → upgrade/depth → continue; its limiting point is the vehicle growth exploration handoff.

  4. Supporting

    Transition and Handoff Break · Roadmap Liveops

    The affected flow runs through exposed/unexposed → patch return; its limiting point is the roadmap liveops return handoff.

  5. Supporting

    update–save

    The affected flow runs through affected version cohort → outcome; its limiting point is the version save return handoff.

  6. Supporting

    Transition and Handoff Break · Content Exploration

    The affected flow runs through intent → activity/hibernate/return; its limiting point is the content exploration return handoff.

Contradictions

Contradiction Patterns

What must improve, and what must remain protected?

CORE CLASSIFICATION

Action and Return Continuity vs System Depth and Throughput

Across feedback, improve Complexity Vs Convenience while preserving Freedom Vs Control.

Continuity to the next action, return, or reinvestment must improve while route diversity, strategic depth, and throughput remain protected.

View pattern definition →
  1. Core

    Core Contradiction

    Across feedback, improve Complexity Vs Convenience while preserving Freedom Vs Control.

  2. Supporting

    Freedom Vs Control / Speed Vs Integrity

    Across Host/non-host → save/rejoin, improve Freedom Vs Control while preserving Speed Vs Integrity.

  3. Supporting

    Complexity Vs Convenience / Freedom Vs Control

    Across canonical vehicle identity material → unlock → depth → dock → completion chain, improve Complexity Vs Convenience while preserving Freedom Vs Control.

  4. Supporting

    Stability Vs Volatility / Speed Vs Integrity

    Across Roadmap → build → Hotfix → patch contact → return, improve Stability Vs Volatility while preserving Speed Vs Integrity.

  5. Supporting

    Stability Vs Volatility / Speed Vs Integrity

    Across update load → recovery → continuation, improve Stability Vs Volatility while preserving Speed Vs Integrity.

  6. Supporting

    Freedom Vs Control / Stability Vs Volatility

    Across completion durable next-goal/purpose save continuity, improve Freedom Vs Control while preserving Stability Vs Volatility.

Solution Mechanisms

Solution Mechanisms

Which intervention mechanism changes the condition?

CORE CLASSIFICATION

Layered and Progressive Disclosure

Apply Layered and Progressive Disclosure across feedback while preserving the protected value.

Separate complex meaning, rules, and strategy into layers and reveal only the depth needed at each moment.

View pattern definition →
  1. Core

    Layered and Progressive Disclosure · Core

    Apply Layered and Progressive Disclosure across feedback while preserving the protected value.

  2. Supporting

    Context Asset and Authority Isolation · Attachment

    Apply Context Asset and Authority Isolation across canonical vehicle while preserving the protected value.

  3. Supporting

    canonical role–right contract

    Apply Context Asset and Authority Isolation across canonical role right contract while preserving the protected value.

  4. Supporting

    layered current-state digest

    Apply Layered and Progressive Disclosure across layered current-state digest while preserving the protected value.

  5. Supporting

    canonical compatibility–recovery contract

    Apply Loss Trust and Entitlement Buffer across canonical compatibility recovery contract while preserving the protected value.

  6. Supporting

    chosen-stop-valid return cue

    Apply Route and Return Handoff across chosen-stop-valid return cue while preserving the protected value.

Solution Compositions

Solution Compositions

How should interventions be combined and sequenced?

CORE CLASSIFICATION

Single-Track Localized Bundle

Connect 1 source-declared mechanism across feedback as Single-Track Localized Bundle.

Combine a core intervention with stabilizing or accelerating support within one problem track and keep its impact localized.

View pattern definition →
  1. Core

    Layered and Progressive Disclosure · Core Composition

    Connect 1 source-declared mechanism across feedback as Single-Track Localized Bundle.

  2. Supporting

    Context Asset and Authority Isolation · Attachment Composition

    Connect 1 source-declared mechanism across canonical vehicle as Single-Track Localized Bundle.

  3. Supporting

    canonical role–right contract Composition

    Connect 1 source-declared mechanism across canonical role right contract as Single-Track Localized Bundle.

  4. Supporting

    layered current-state digest Composition

    Connect 1 source-declared mechanism across layered current-state digest as Single-Track Localized Bundle.

  5. Supporting

    canonical compatibility–recovery contract Composition

    Connect 1 source-declared mechanism across canonical compatibility recovery contract as Single-Track Localized Bundle.

  6. Supporting

    chosen-stop-valid return cue Composition

    Connect 1 source-declared mechanism across chosen-stop-valid return cue as Single-Track Localized Bundle.

  7. Supporting

    Parallel Solution-Mechanism Composition

    Connect 6 source-declared mechanisms across feedback as Core-First Branch-Sequential Portfolio.

  8. Supporting

    Parallel Solution-Mechanism Composition

    Connect 6 source-declared mechanisms across feedback as Parallel Local Contracts with Independent Rollback.