Why We Crave Survival: A Developer's Perspective
Anthony Gallegos, a designer working on the upcoming Subnautica 2, believes that our enduring fascination with survival games is rooted deep in our evolutionary past. In a recent interview with Edge magazine, Gallegos suggested that the genre's appeal stems from our most basic human instincts.
"We're all little monkeys," Gallegos explained, "and every monkey's brain likes shelter and food." This simple yet profound statement highlights his conviction that the core mechanics of survival games—finding resources, building a safe haven, and fending off dangers—resonate with a primal part of our psyche. He argues that this fundamental connection is why the genre continues to thrive despite evolving design trends and stiff competition.
Gallegos recounted a memorable experience from his time at Marvel, where a colleague's child launched the game Astroneer. The child, without any formal tutorial, began playing. "I thought, 'good luck, kid,'" Gallegos recalled. "But a couple of hours later, he had built a base I could only dream of." This anecdote, for Gallegos, serves as proof that survival mechanics are so intuitive and natural they are easily understood by anyone, regardless of age or prior gaming experience.
The Evolving Landscape of Survival Games
According to Gallegos, this universally accessible gameplay is the main reason survival games maintain their audience. He isn't concerned when players complete all available content in games like Subnautica and then move on until the next update. "I know what they're doing: they're just jumping from one game to another – with friends or alone. But they play everything," he noted.
Gallegos also pointed out a shift in modern survival game design. Developers are increasingly moving away from harsh, pure "fight for life" scenarios towards more forgiving, social, or cooperative experiences. This change reflects how gamers often jump between different titles, rarely sticking with one for extended periods, and prefer shared adventures.
Subnautica 2's Future Amidst Challenges
This discussion about the nature of survival game popularity comes at a complex time for developer Unknown Worlds. Publisher Krafton recently dismissed the studio's leadership, pushed the game's release back to 2026, and is now facing a lawsuit from the studio's founders. Despite these internal challenges, development on Subnautica 2 continues.
Subnautica 2, which aims to tap into the very "monkeys" within us, is currently planned for early access on PC (Steam, Epic Games Store) and Xbox Series consoles in 2026. The game will also be available through Game Pass. While Russian language support won't be present at launch, there's a possibility it could be added as the project evolves, ensuring a wider audience can dive into its depths.
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