Quick answer
- Hotfix 1 changed analytics behavior so analytics is enabled only after accepting the Terms of Service, reduced backend data volume, and reminded players that analytics can be turned off in settings.
- Hotfix 2 changed parts of the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, added an in-game telemetry callout, and pointed players to an official policy FAQ and Fan Content Creation Guidelines.
- This page is not legal advice. If you stream, mod, publish videos, or have legal concerns, read the official policy pages directly and use community summaries only as context.
Short answer
Subnautica 2’s policy situation changed twice in the first week after Early Access launch. Hotfix 1 changed analytics behavior so telemetry is enabled only after accepting the Terms of Service, reduced the amount of backend data being sent, and reminded players that analytics can be turned off from the settings menu. Hotfix 2 then implemented Terms of Service and Privacy Policy changes, added an English telemetry callout, and linked players to an official policy FAQ and Fan Content Creation Guidelines.
Use Reddit comments, Steam arguments, and games-press summaries only to understand why people are concerned. For streaming, modding, videos, wiki work, or legal questions, read the official pages yourself.
Why this became a launch-week issue
The launch discussion was not only about bugs and creature balance. Players also started reading the Terms of Service and raising concerns about telemetry, fan videos, VPN wording, modding, Linux/Proton, and what the policy allowed the company to do with player-created content.
That concern spread beyond forum threads. PC Gamer criticized the original wording, and GamesRadar reported on developer comments reassuring players about streaming, Linux/Proton, background programs, and modding. Steam also continued to show active EULA, privacy, and regional-consumer-rights threads after Hotfix 2.
Most players do not need a legal breakdown. They need to know what changed, where the official policy lives, and what to check before playing, streaming, modding, or publishing videos.
What Hotfix 1 changed
Hotfix 1 is the first official correction point. Unknown Worlds said the update:
- updated crash-on-startup guidance for AMD graphics cards and DirectX 12 issues;
- fixed an infrequent Ping crash;
- enabled analytics only after accepting the Terms of Service;
- reduced the amount of data being sent to backend services;
- reminded players that analytics can be turned off from the settings menu;
- said Terms of Service adjustments and a FAQ addressing concerns would be rolled out later.
For a normal player, the key points are analytics consent and the settings toggle. Hotfix 1 did not settle every policy argument, but it did change telemetry behavior quickly after launch-week concerns.
What Hotfix 2 changed
Hotfix 2 goes further. Unknown Worlds said it implemented changes to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, and listed the revised sections at a high level. The hotfix also says players may be prompted to re-accept the Terms of Service because of the changes.
Hotfix 2 also adds an in-game callout telling players that telemetry can be turned off at any time from settings. One limitation matters: the callout is English-only at first and is planned for translation in the next patch.
The same Hotfix 2 note points players to official policy pages:
Those pages are the primary links to check if you want the current official wording.
What players should do in-game
If your concern is telemetry rather than the broader legal language, start with the in-game settings:
- Open the settings menu.
- Look for the analytics or telemetry option.
- Turn it off if you do not want analytics enabled.
- Recheck after major patches, especially if a patch asks you to re-accept terms.
- If you play in a non-English language, remember that Hotfix 2 says the telemetry callout translation is coming later.
That advice is based on official hotfix notes, not community speculation.
What creators, streamers, and video makers should check
If you publish videos, stream, run a wiki, post screenshots, or make guides, do not stop at a forum summary. Read the Fan Content Creation Guideline and the Terms of Service yourself.
For most creators, the practical checklist is:
- Check whether a disclaimer is required for your video or stream.
- Check whether your content is monetized, sponsored, paywalled, or using official logos.
- Avoid presenting your work as official Unknown Worlds or Krafton content.
- Link official sources when discussing policy changes.
- Recheck the guideline after updates, because Hotfix 2 already changed policy wording once.
This site is a fan-made reference, so the same caution applies here: explain the game, cite official pages, avoid implying official endorsement, and keep source trails visible.
What modders and Linux/Proton users should check
Community concern around modding and Linux/Proton came partly from broad interpretations of the original terms. GamesRadar reported developer reassurance that players can play on Linux with Proton, that the game is Steam Deck verified, that nothing runs outside the game executable, and that players are welcome to mod as long as they follow shared rules.
That is useful context, but the controlling source is still the official policy text and any official modding guidance. If you publish a mod, distribute assets, or monetize mod-related work, do not rely on a second-hand quote alone. Read the current Terms of Service and fan-content guideline.
What this page cannot answer
This FAQ is not legal advice. It cannot tell you whether a policy term is enforceable in your country, whether a specific YouTube channel is compliant, whether a paid mod is allowed, or whether a legal claim would succeed. It also cannot replace the official policy pages, because those can change.
What it can do is separate confirmed facts from discussion:
- Confirmed: Hotfix 1 changed analytics behavior and reduced backend data volume.
- Confirmed: analytics can be turned off in settings, according to Unknown Worlds.
- Confirmed: Hotfix 2 changed Terms of Service and Privacy Policy sections.
- Confirmed: Hotfix 2 points to a policy FAQ and Fan Content Creation Guidelines.
- Community signal: players and press were concerned about the original wording and kept discussing it after launch.
- Still requires direct reading: the exact current legal text and how it applies to your situation.
Sources and further reading
- Unknown Worlds: Subnautica 2 Early Access Hotfix 1
- Unknown Worlds: Subnautica 2 Early Access Hotfix 2
- Official policy FAQ
- Official Terms of Service
- Official Privacy Policy
- Official Fan Content Creation Guideline
- PC Gamer coverage of the EULA concern
- GamesRadar coverage of the developer response
- Reddit: Subnautica 2 terms of service discussion
- Steam discussion hub, where policy threads remain active
Version notes
Checked on May 23, 2026 against Hotfix 1, Hotfix 2, official policy-page URLs, Steam policy discussion, Reddit EULA discussion, and PC Gamer/GamesRadar reporting. Recheck this page whenever the official Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, policy FAQ, or Fan Content Creation Guidelines change.