9999 Hours in Subnautica: A Deep Dive Into Time, Gameplay, and More
How Long is 9999 Hours in Subnautica?
Let’s get straight to the point. 9,999 hours in Subnautica is an enormous amount of time. To put this into perspective, let’s first break it down in real-world terms. 9,999 hours translates to approximately 416.625 days, or just over 1 year and 1 month and 20 days. Now, considering that the average playtime to complete Subnautica is around 30-53.5 hours, 9,999 hours represents a staggering number of playthroughs and countless hours spent exploring the alien underwater world. However, the real question is not about real-world time, but about what 9,999 hours means within the game. Considering a Subnautica in-game day is approximately 20 minutes long, 9,999 real-world hours is equivalent to 29,997 Subnautica in-game days. That’s about 82.2 years of in-game time! This means that even if you played Subnautica non-stop, just keeping the game running for that long would take you well over a year.
Clearly, spending 9,999 hours in Subnautica is not a typical player experience, but it highlights the replayability and depth the game offers. It’s unlikely anyone would actively play for that long on a single save file, but the idea of how long that in-game world would exist provides an insight into the scale of Subnautica.
Exploring Subnautica’s Time Dynamics
The In-Game Day/Night Cycle
Subnautica’s day/night cycle is a key aspect of its gameplay. A full day lasts for 20 real-world minutes, with 15 minutes of daylight and 5 minutes of night. This cycle impacts not only visibility but also the behavior of certain creatures, making exploration during the day and night two distinct experiences. You can even manipulate this cycle through the game’s console using the ‘daynightspeed’ command to adjust the speed of time.
What This Means for 9999 Hours
When you’re looking at 9,999 hours of Subnautica, this equates to a huge amount of in-game time passing. That’s a lot of day and night cycles. 29,997 in-game days means you would have seen a vast array of sunrises and sunsets, and the game’s dynamic lighting system would have transitioned countless times.
Understanding Subnautica’s Scale
Not Endless, But Vast
While Subnautica does have a conclusion, it isn’t an endless game. The main objective is to escape the alien planet after being cured of infection. Although the map has defined edges, it’s far from small. The playable area extends to a depth of 1120 meters, with some areas going down to 1920 meters. In older versions of the game the map extended to a depth of 3000 meters, which was later removed for performance improvements. The crater edge now reaches 8192 meters, where you are teleported back to the surface.
The Longevity
Even with defined edges, there are countless things to see, discover, build, and explore. The possibility of many playthroughs, each with different objectives and playstyles is what gives the game its potential for high playtimes like 9,999 hours. You can spend a lot of time in the game trying to build a perfect base, or try different challenge runs. That doesn’t even take into account the hours spent just taking in the atmosphere of Subnautica.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Subnautica
1. How long does it take to beat Subnautica?
The time to beat Subnautica depends on your playstyle. If you focus on the main objectives, it takes around 30 hours. To achieve 100% completion, including building all structures, finding all blueprints, and exploring every location, expect to spend about 53.5 hours.
2. Is Subnautica endless?
While Subnautica has an ending, it does not have a time limit. You can take your time exploring and completing the story. The game has a story with an actual ending, so it’s not endless in the traditional sense.
3. How long is one in-game day in Subnautica?
One in-game day in Subnautica lasts for 20 minutes of real time. It includes 15 minutes of daylight and 5 minutes of night.
4. Can you beat Subnautica without getting infected?
No, you cannot beat Subnautica without getting infected. The player becomes infected as soon as they hit the water, or at least after consuming anything.
5. What is the deepest part of the Subnautica map?
While older versions had a bottom at 3000 meters, it was removed for performance. Now, the crater edge is at 8192 meters, at which point you’ll be teleported back to the surface.
6. Is Subnautica scary?
Subnautica has elements of horror but isn’t a full-blown horror game. The leviathan encounters and the sense of isolation can be unnerving and even frightening.
7. How many endings are in Subnautica?
There is only one official ending – the escape. However, whether or not you leave after being cured is up to the player.
8. What’s the difference between Subnautica and Subnautica: Below Zero?
Subnautica: Below Zero is a sequel set two years after the original Subnautica and features new characters, creatures, and environments.
9. How big is the original Subnautica file size?
Subnautica requires 20 GB of available storage space.
10. How often do leviathans respawn?
Leviathans will respawn if killed or if you leave and return to an area.
11. Are resources finite in Subnautica?
Fish will respawn over time, making them an infinite resource. This prevents you from completely depleting wildlife. The same rules apply to other resources in the game, they may take some time but they will respawn.
12. What is the largest creature in Subnautica?
The Gargantuan Fossil Leviathan, which is not alive in the game, is the largest at 1100-1500 meters. The largest living creature is the Sea Emperor at 200 meters.
13. Can you change the speed of the day/night cycle?
Yes, you can use the in-game console command ‘daynightspeed [value]’ to change the speed of the day/night cycle. The default value is 1.
14. How long does it take to finish a 100% run of Subnautica?
A 100% completion run should take you about 53.5 hours.
15. How long between Subnautica 1 and 2?
The events of Subnautica: Below Zero are set two years after the original Subnautica.
Conclusion: The Value of Time in Subnautica
Spending 9,999 hours in Subnautica is far beyond the normal player experience, but it does speak to the richness and replayability the game offers. This deep dive into its time dynamics, vastness, and mechanics illustrates that Subnautica is more than just a survival game. It’s an experience with many secrets and wonders to be found. Whether you’re a first-time player or a seasoned veteran, understanding the scale of time and exploration is key to fully appreciating the depth of Subnautica.