Cheats & Secrets

Developer Console Commands (PC Only)

Subnautica includes a built-in console for debugging and testing. You can access it on PC using the following methods:

Enabling the Console

• Method 1: Press F3 to open the debug menu overlay. A small text input box appears near the top of the screen. Type commands directly into it.


• Method 2: Press Enter (or Return) to open the chat/console line. Type `console` and press Enter to enable the full console mode. Then press `~` (tilde) to toggle the console window open/closed.

Note: Achievements are disabled while console commands are active. Save your game before using cheats, as some commands may cause unpredictable behavior.

Useful Console Commands

Full Command Reference

For a complete list of all console commands and techType IDs, visit the Subnautica wiki or search online databases (e.g., `techtype list` can be typed in console to output IDs).

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Secret Items & Hidden Content

Time Capsules

• What they are: Floating capsules left by other players (or developer-placed ones) that contain messages, items, or blueprints. They appear randomly during gameplay.


• How to find: Explore the ocean; they emit a faint blue glow and a hum. Often found near wrecks or on the seabed.


• Contents: Can include advanced tools, resources, or personal notes. The most famous capsules were placed by developers and contain rare items like the Cuddlefish egg.




Cuddlefish



• What it is: A cute, glowing aquatic creature that can be hatched from an egg and kept as a pet. It is purely cosmetic and has high sentimental value.


• Where to find the egg: In the Deep Grand Reef, under the Giant Cove Tree (a large pink glowing tree in a cave). The egg is nestled among the roots.


• How to hatch: Place the egg in an Alien Containment unit (built in a base). It takes about 24 real-time hours to hatch (or use console `item cuddlefishegg` to spawn immediately).


• Behavior: The Cuddlefish follows you, emits pleasant sounds, and occasionally gives you a small amount of health/sanity (though not mechanically needed). It can be named.




Sea Emperor Leviathan & The Emperor’s Eggs



• Story spoiler: This is the final boss-like creature in the game. You must retrieve its eggs and hatch them to create Enzyme 42, which cures the Kharaa bacterium.


• Location: The Primary Containment Facility (the giant alien base in the Lava Lakes biome). The Sea Emperor is a friendly leviathan that communicates telepathically.


• Secret: The eggs can be collected and incubated in an Alien Containment unit to hatch miniature sea emperors (non-interactive).




Precursor Bases (Hidden Alien Structures)



• Several hidden alien bases exist on the map, each containing lore tablets and data logs. The most notable:

- Quarantine Enforcement Platform (On the island – part of the story)
- Disease Research Facility (In the Lost River biome)
- Thermal Plant (In the Inactive Lava Zone)
- Primary Containment Facility (In the Lava Lakes)

• These are not true “secrets” since the story leads you there, but many players miss them on their first playthrough.




The Gargantuan Leviathan Skeleton



• Location: In the Inactive Lava Zone (the green brine-filled caverns before the Lava Lakes). A massive skeleton of a creature larger than a Reaper Leviathan rests on the seafloor. It is non-interactive but serves as a chilling Easter egg.


• Lore: Unknown. Possibly a precursor creature or an extinct species.




Developer Easter Eggs



• Jumpy (Jellyray) Behavior: If you scan a Jellyray, the PDA will mention it is “surprisingly buoyant” and “seems to enjoy playing.” No further reward.


• The Stalker’s Tooth Collection: Stalkers sometimes collect metal salvage and drop teeth. This is normal gameplay, but new players may not know you can use the teeth to craft enameled glass.


• The Abandoned Seabase: In the Deep Grand Reef, there is a small, partially destroyed base with a single room. It contains a data entry about a lonely researcher. No special items, but a nice narrative Easter egg.


• The Cuddlefish Egg in the Captain’s Office: On the Aurora, in the captain’s quarters (requires a Propulsion Cannon to access), there is a Cuddlefish egg in a fish tank. This is the only guaranteed egg in the game besides the Deep Grand Reef one.


• The “Welcome Aboard” Screen: The main menu shows a rotating view of the lifepod. If you wait long enough, a Reaper Leviathan may swim past in the background – a subtle nod to the dangers ahead.


• The “Ghost” Leviathan: In the Void (the edge of the map), three Ghost Leviathan juveniles spawn infinitely. They can be killed but respawn. This is more of a gameplay boundary than a secret.




Other Hidden Content



• The “Still Alive” Achievements: Some achievements are hidden until unlocked (e.g., “Seamoth Speed” for building a Seamoth). Not a cheat, but a secret goal for completionists.


• The “Restore Power” Ending: If you complete the main story, you can leave the planet. The ending credits show a montage of your journey. No secret ending, but the entire story is one giant mystery.


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Exploits & Safe Secrets (Not Cheats, But Intended)





Hatched Cuddlefish Feeding



• Feeding a Cuddlefish a piece of fish (any small fish) will cause it to perform a “thank you” animation. No gameplay benefit, but adorable.




Instant Base Building



• While not a cheat, you can build base components quickly by holding down the left mouse button and tapping the “Place” key repeatedly. This is an exploit of the placement system, but it works.




Vehicle Storage Glitch



• Rarely, items placed inside a vehicle’s storage will duplicate if you save and reload. This is considered a bug, not a secret.




Warp to Surface



• If you get stuck in a cave, you can use the console to warp to coordinates (0,0,0) to return to the safe shallows. This is a legitimate use of the debug tools.


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Important Notes



• Console commands on consoles (PS4/5, Xbox One/Series X|S) are not natively supported. However, some players have reported that connecting a keyboard and pressing F3 or Enter can work on the console versions – this is unofficial and may crash the game.


• Using console commands will disable achievements for that save file. To re-enable achievements, you must load a previous unmodified save.


• Some commands like `reset` can corrupt your save. Always backup your save files before experimenting.

This guide covers the most prominent cheats, secrets, and Easter eggs in Subnautica. The game rewards exploration and curiosity – keep scanning everything and reading PDA entries for hidden lore.