Wakemaker
The Wakemaker (also written as "Wake Makers") is a personal propulsion system in Subnautica 2. Described officially as "Subnautica's first wearable underwater boosters," it replaces the Seaglide, the handheld propulsion device from the original Subnautica and Below Zero. Rather than a device held in the player's hands, the Wakemaker is body-worn equipment that attaches directly to the player, keeping both hands free and the field of view unobstructed.
Design philosophy
The Wakemaker was designed to solve two long-standing problems with the Seaglide:
Screen obstruction. The original Seaglide was a torpedo-shaped device gripped in front of the player. While it provided a significant speed boost, it occupied a large portion of the first-person view, blocking visibility of the environment. For a game built around the wonder and terror of underwater exploration, having a propulsion device obstruct the scenery was a persistent community complaint. The Wakemaker was designed to be "invisible" or minimally intrusive on screen. By moving the booster system to the player's body rather than their hands, the full underwater vista remains visible while swimming at speed.
Hands-free operation. Because the Seaglide was handheld, players could not use other tools simultaneously. Switching between the Seaglide, Scanner, Flashlight, or other equipment required constant inventory swapping. The Wakemaker's wearable design means both hands remain available for other tasks. Players can scan creatures, operate the Biosampler, or use the Flashlight while still benefiting from the speed boost.
How it works
The Wakemaker is a set of underwater boosters worn on the player's body. The specific mounting point (back, legs, or suit integration) has not been officially detailed, but the key distinction from the Seaglide is clear: the propulsion system is attached to the diver rather than carried as a separate tool.
The Wakemaker appeared in official preview screenshots released by Unknown Worlds Entertainment. It is included in the confirmed equipment roster from leaked milestone documents (May 2025, confirmed authentic by KRAFTON), which listed 20 tools and equipment items in the Early Access build. Specific details about its crafting requirements, power source, and numerical speed boost have not been publicly disclosed.
Comparison to the Seaglide
Feature | Seaglide (Previous Games) | Wakemaker (Subnautica 2) |
|---|---|---|
Type | Handheld device | Wearable body-worn booster |
Screen impact | Blocked significant portion of the view | Designed to be invisible/non-intrusive |
Hands | Occupied both hands; no simultaneous tool use | Hands-free; other tools usable while boosting |
Built-in map | Holographic minimap on the Seaglide's front | Not confirmed |
Power | Battery (replaceable) | Not confirmed |
Crafting | Fabricated from scanned fragments | Not confirmed |
Role in the vehicle lineup
The Wakemaker occupies the lowest tier of Subnautica 2's vehicle and mobility hierarchy. It provides personal speed for quick traversal in relatively safe waters but offers no protection, storage, or depth rating. The full mobility progression from personal to vehicular:
Equipment | Type | Role |
|---|---|---|
Wakemaker | Wearable booster | Personal speed boost for swimming. Hands-free. No protection or storage. |
Submersible vehicle | Enclosed cockpit for exploration. Modular chassis. Base crush depth of 200 meters (upgradeable to 250 meters). | |
Platform vehicle | Vertical transport for depth expeditions and bulk resource hauling. Supports multiple riders in co-op. |
Multiplayer considerations
The Wakemaker's wearable design also fits Subnautica 2's co-op multiplayer. In multiplayer sessions, other players see your character's full body for the first time in the franchise. Dev Vlog 5 revealed that adding co-op required creating visible player movement animations from scratch. A body-worn booster system appears more natural when viewed in third person by other players than a character gripping a handheld propeller in front of their face. The wearable approach ensures the player character's silhouette remains clean and readable in group play.
What remains unknown
As of March 2026, the following details about the Wakemaker have not been officially disclosed:
Crafting recipe and material requirements
Power source (battery, power cell, or other system)
Numerical speed boost compared to baseline swimming
Exact mounting point on the player's body
Whether it has upgrade modules or tiers
Whether the Seaglide's built-in minimap feature carries over