Earlier in the month, we took our first look at the recently released Subnautica Below Zero, but after seeing that Below Zero would be taking advantage of the new features of the PS5 controller, I couldn’t wait to jump in and see how that worked.
What's Different on The PS5 Version of Subnautica Below Zero?
When I first launched Subnautica Below Zero on the PS5, I must admit I was a bit confused, the changes to the game are all based around the controller and start off as very small, subtle features.
Battery Life:
The PS5 controller features an RGB strip around the center of the controller, which acts as a visual display for the battery life of the item you have equipped in Subnautica Below Zero.
While this is only a small change, and of course the information is available on-screen, I have been finding it very useful, considering I find the battery life text pretty small on my TV, making it easier to see with a quick glance at my controller.
Metal Detector
The metal detector is a handy tool, which allows you to find the relevant resources quicker and with less effort.
The device itself is simple to use, however, with the new features from the PS5 controller, it becomes even easier to find the correct resources in no time.
The controller now rumbles with varying speeds to help players identify how close they are to the tracked resource, not only does the controller vibrate, it does so with pinpoint directional accuracy to help you easily know which direction the tracked resource is.
Radio Transmissions
I often found radio transmissions hard to hear on my TV when playing the original Subnautica, but with Subnautica Below Zero, on the PS5, the sound of PDA recordings and radio transmissions now come through the speaker on your PS5 controller.
Again, this is just another small, subtle change to the PS5 version, but a cool one, which I have personally found made the game that much more immersive.
Summary
For me, it’s the little details that can make the difference between a mediocre game and something truly memorable.
As well as the features mentioned above, there are tons of subtle, but cool additional features added on the PS5 version of Subnautica Below Zero, which for me makes it a worthwhile addition to my PS5 library.
If you haven’t been lucky enough to get your hands on a PS5 yet, I highly recommend picking up the PS5 version anyway, it comes with both a PS4 and PS5 version of the game, meaning you can enjoy now on your PS4 and then use the PS5 copy at a later date.
