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11 The Tadpole is a modular one-pilot submersible in Subnautica 2. It was the central topic of Dev Vlog 4 ("Crafting the Tadpole"), released December 9, 2025, where the development team walked through the vehicle's complete design process from concept art to in-game implementation.
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33 Design and Appearance
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55 The Tadpole has a manta ray fin chassis design, with wing-like panels extending from the vehicle's body. This gives it an organic, hydrodynamic silhouette that fits naturally within Proteus's alien underwater environments rather than looking like an industrial Earth-built machine. A large glass cockpit window provides unobstructed forward visibility for the pilot.
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88 Visual Development Lead Cory Strader directed the visual design and worked alongside 3D Artist Ben Henry to translate the concept into a fully realized in-game model. The vlog showed multiple design iterations, balancing aesthetic appeal with practical gameplay needs like cockpit sightlines and animation readiness.
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1010 Chassis Variants
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1212 Dev Vlog 4 footage showed at least two distinct chassis configurations: a bare-bones variant with the core frame exposed, and a paneled variant with additional hull plating covering the chassis. Whether these represent upgrade tiers, crafting stages, or cosmetic customization options has not been confirmed. The visible socket and attachment points on the rear of the chassis suggest a modular system where components can be added or swapped.
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1414 Specifications
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1616 SpecificationValueCrew1 pilot (co-op passengers can ride the exterior)Base crush depth200 metersUpgraded crush depth250 meters (with depth module)CockpitLarge glass canopy with wide forward visibilityChassisModular with manta ray fin panelsDamageCan sustain hull damage; glass cockpit shows visible cracking beyond crush depthRepairRepairable with the Repair Tool
1717 The base crush depth of 200 meters and upgraded depth of 250 meters were observed in Dev Vlog 4 footage. Exceeding the crush depth causes visible cracks on the glass cockpit, and continued depth will eventually destroy the vehicle. The specific name of the depth upgrade module has not been confirmed.
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1919 Co-Op Exterior Riding
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2121 In multiplayer sessions, other players can ride on the exterior of the Tadpole while one player pilots it from the cockpit. The vehicle includes oxygen ports on the exterior so that passengers riding outside do not drown. The oxygen port system means a group of divers can travel together on a single Tadpole, with the pilot protected inside and passengers clinging to the hull while receiving air.
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2323 Design Philosophy
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2525 The development team described the Tadpole's design goal as combining modularity and utility with agile, responsive handling, drawing on lessons from prior franchise vehicles without recycling their designs. The Tadpole aims to split the difference: a single-hull vehicle with customizable chassis elements rather than detachable trailer modules.
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2828 The team also noted they "wanted to make sure that it wasn't so big that it would compete with the larger vehicles," confirming that additional, larger submersibles are planned for Subnautica 2 beyond the Tadpole.
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3030 Water Physics
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3232 Dev Vlog 4 highlighted the advanced water rendering that affects the Tadpole's visual presentation. Light refracts through the moving ocean surface and plays across the manta ray wing panels, creating dynamic lighting effects. Water turbidity and color degradation at depth are rendered more realistically, meaning the Tadpole's appearance changes as it descends. These visual details were made possible by Unreal Engine 5.
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3434 Development Team
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3636 Dev Vlog 4 featured detailed commentary from five team members:
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3838 Team MemberRoleContributionAnthony GallegosDesign LeadDefined the gameplay role, size class, and design requirements within the vehicle lineup.Cory StraderVisual Development LeadDirected the visual design, established the manta ray fin aesthetic, and oversaw the concept-to-model pipeline.Pedro PerezGameplay DesignerDesigned the vehicle's handling, interaction mechanics, and gameplay systems.Ben Henry3D ArtistCreated the 3D model from blockout to high-detail, handling geometry, texturing, and detail work.Andi UrwalekGameplay ProgrammerImplemented the vehicle's code, physics, controls, and integration with the game's vehicle systems.
3939 Role in the Vehicle Lineup
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4141 The Tadpole occupies a personal-submersible niche: a personal, maneuverable submersible for mid-depth exploration. It sits between the Wakemaker (wearable speed booster for unprotected swimming) and the Dive Elevator (platform for bulk vertical transport) in the vehicle hierarchy.
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4343 Anthony Gallegos stated that players would "be there when we first add new vehicles" during Early Access, confirming the Tadpole is part of an expanding vehicle roster. The leaked milestone documents reference a second, unnamed submersible in addition to the Tadpole.
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4545 Dev Vlog 4
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4747 The Tadpole was the central topic of Dev Vlog 4, released December 9, 2025. The vlog provided an unusually detailed look at the vehicle creation process at Unknown Worlds, covering:
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4949 Early concept art and silhouette explorationThe decision-making process for the manta ray fin aesthetic3D modeling workflow from blockout to high-detail modelMultiple chassis iterations (bare-bones vs. paneled)Gameplay programming and physics implementationIn-game footage showing the Tadpole in action across different biomes
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5151 The vlog was well received by the community for its transparency about the development process and the amount of iteration shown between early concepts and the final design.