subROV : Underwater Discoveries on Steam

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subROV : Underwater Discoveries

Pilot a remotely operated submarine and explore the oceans! Defy the darkness and crushing pressure of the deeps as you chart unknown regions and study new species of ocean life.

All Reviews:

Very Positive (54) - 92% of the 54 user reviews for this game are positive.

Release Date:

Dec 2, 2022

Developer:

sqr3lab

Publisher:

sqr3lab

	Interface	Full Audio	Subtitles
English	✔

Early Access Game

Get instant access and start playing; get involved with this game as it develops.

Note: Games in Early Access are not complete and may or may not change further. If you are not excited to play this game in its current state, then you should wait to see if the game progresses further in development. Learn more

What the developers have to say:

Why Early Access?

“subROV's development has reached a point where its defining features are established, it is stable, and has content enough for players to enjoy it. During Early Access we are growing and shaping it further with active engagement from the community.”

Approximately how long will this game be in Early Access?

“Update, May 2025: it's taking longer than we initially thought 😅, but we remain fully commited to the game and hope to release it this year. If you want to know more details, head to the forum and read the DEV UPDATES post.”

How is the full version planned to differ from the Early Access version?

“During Early Access, we are adding the following features and content:

New dive sites
New creatures/variations of existing creatures (corals)
More wrecks/finds to explore
Improvements to creatures’ behaviors and interactions
New activities involving the ROV and external devices, e.g. sampling methane seeps, or finding and retrieving lost buoys in the water column
Interface improvements during the dives (ROV camera orientation indicators, ROV camera zoom, more information on scannable items)
Achievements and Cloud Saves

We also would like to try several other features, such as

Retrieving and deploying objects from the ship using a crane
Completely detaching the ROV from the tether to explore freely in short range (caves, wrecks)
Adding a home base with a huge pool to test the ROV and take on challenges
ROV Damage model

”

What is the current state of the Early Access version?

“subROV releases into Early access with a series of tutorials and 5 dive locations. You can complete the dives’ objectives and explore the sites to see what creatures and features you find.
Please keep in mind that work in the game is still in progress, and therefore subject to change. We’ve worked very hard to make sure the game is stable and free of bugs, but if you experience any issues please send us feedback so we can look into them. We think subROV is already enjoyable and we’re excited for you to play it!”

Will the game be priced differently during and after Early Access?

“The game's price will remain the same after Early Access. ”

How are you planning on involving the Community in your development process?

“We have been involved with the community for a long time now. We organized a playtest and kept a demo active for months before starting the Early Access, which helped us get valuable feedback and organize communication channels: you can reach out to us through the Forums here on Steam, our Discord Server, email (info@sqr3lab.com), and several socials (Bluesky, Xtwitter, Mastodon, Instagram, Fbook) -please do get in touch! :D”

Buy subROV

$19.99

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Buy subROV + Soundtrack

Includes 2 items: Includes 2 items: subROV, subROV Soundtrack

Bundle info

-10%

$26.98

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About This Game

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QUICK DEV UPDATE (05/25) - Working on the Titanic.

(For more detailed info, please visit the game's Discussions forum!)

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Dive. Pilot. Explore.

subROV: Underwater Discoveries is an underwater exploration game where you operate a full-ocean-depth ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle).

Embark on dives all over the world, map unknown regions, explore shipwrecks, study aquatic species, and sample hydrothermal vents with an array of scientific tools.

Take complete control of every dive as you navigate an oceanic Research Vessel to different dive sites. Deploy your ROV and use its tools and sensors to study the depths of the ocean and the creatures dwelling within it.

Go from trainee to fully-fledged pilot as you explore the mysteries of the ocean.

Choose from various dive sites as you complete objectives such as charting the seafloor or carrying out scientific studies.
Navigate an oceanic research vessel to the exact location of your dive.
Download scientific data and information on new points of interest from ocean buoys.
Deploy your full ocean-depth rated ROV and complete scientific goals using the AI-assisted scanner, articulated arm, sensors, lander, and sediment corers.
Explore trenches, survey wrecks, and study some of the ocean's most fascinating and unusual creatures.
Keep track of your discoveries in the Gallery.
Complete objectives to progress from trainee to Dive Master.

subROV: Underwater Discoveries is being developed in collaboration with the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences and the Schmidt Ocean Institute, with funding from the European Union and partial funding from a National Science Foundation BIO-OCE grant.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR STEAM DECK OWNERS

subROV has been certified for the Steam Deck, so it is fully playable and complies with several requirements set by Steam for the device. The frame rate while exploring the seafloor often dips and stays in the 20s, though, and cloud saves have not been implemented yet.

If you are thinking of buying subROV for the Deck exclusively, and generally can't stand low fps, we advise that you wishlist it for the time being.