So a thing I think is interesting is how clearly Subnautica has a early/mid/late/endgame structure, considering it's an open world game and you don't have to do the plot "in order". Discovering new tech opens up areas of the game that were strictly inaccessible before.

Early game is everything before you get the Seamoth. At the very first you're figuring out basic survival, then once that's down and you get an air tank or two you can start actually exploring. You're still tethered to the surface though, and anything below 250ish meters is basically inaccessible for all but the shortest of visits.

@starkatt (pst that last one was unspoiler'd)

@Doephin fff, thanks.

@starkatt Actual response: you got it fairly well, visiting and clearing the Auroa is fairly significant too.

I'm curious how many players actually use the air pipes. They're useful but only in very small niches (you can't get somewhere with the Seamoth or don't have it yet) and they're resource intensive.