Voices from Beyond is a short-form audio drama series set in the Subnautica universe, released as part of the promotional campaign for Subnautica 2. Set after both Subnautica and Subnautica: Below Zero, the series follows a Mongolian family of three—a father, mother, and their newborn daughter. As political tensions rise and a mysterious Kharaa outbreak threatens their way of life, the couple must decide if following their dreams is worth the risk.
The story is told primarily through diegetic audio, with both the audience and the characters learning key information from radio broadcasts. The series’ sole visual component is a largely static backdrop that changes between episodes to reflect the passage of time and story advancements.
Series Information
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Episodes | 5 |
| Director | Scott MacDonald |
| Writer | Seth Dickinson |
| Running Time | 3 - 4 min. per episode |
| Release Dates | November 25th, 2025 - March 26th, 2026 |
| Production Companies | Unknown Worlds, KRAFTON, Power Up Audio, Vox Point LLC, Dave & Dave Recording Studios, BOND Agency |
Episodes
Episode 1: Don't Fear
Release Date: November 25th, 2025
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"A young family begins their life as part of a Mongolian settlement on an alien planet. Uncertainty surrounds them as a not-so-distant threat creeps ever closer."
A Mongolian singer performs over the radio as the father enters the room and tunes into various stations. A news broadcast discusses Alterra’s recent surveying of the planet Zezura, noting desert-like conditions that clash with previous claims. The anchor mocks Alterra for its failure, recalling how the transgov previously called the Mongolian Independent States "crazy" for settling in the Ariadne Arm. The father then tunes into the Intergalactic Intellectual Radio Hour, where host introduces Ryley Robinson, sole survivor of the Aurora crash. Before Ryley can speak, the father is interrupted by his wife. After singing a lullaby to their child, he returns to the radio just as the news anchor reports on a mysterious bacterium.
Episode 2: Dreamers
Release Date: December 19th, 2025
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"The situation surrounding the Mongolian Settlement is beginning to look dire. People are fleeing. But with so much on the line, will this young family follow suit or hold tight to their dreams?"
As his daughter babbles in the background, the father tunes into three radio stations: a news anchor reporting on Alterra’s colonization efforts and the mass exodus of Mongolians amidst an outbreak; a speaker calling for unity among Mongolian settlers; and a public service announcement recommending the avoidance of anyone coughing, sneezing, or displaying cysts. Concerned by the worsening outbreak, the father suggests reconsidering their plans, but his wife disagrees, unwilling to abandon their dreams. Their argument is cut short by their daughter needing attention.
Visual Changes:
- A sippy cup replaces the baby bottle.
- Improvement in the child's art.
- Budding flowers appear.
- A poster for Alterra's pioneer program replaces the reef artwork.
- Outside the window, the settlement has gone dark, and several doors and windows have been boarded up.
Episode 3: Pioneer
Release Date: January 29th, 2026
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"Havoc is being wreaked across the Ariadne Arm. A difficult order is enacted, changing the trajectory for the Mongolian Independent States. Is Zezura the light at the end of the tunnel?"
Admiral Rathine Studaber reports that the Kharaa bacterium is spreading across the Ariadne Arm at an unprecedented pace, with "mutated xenomorphs" posing a threat. She mentions that the Frontiersmen are en route to help stop the spread. The station is abruptly changed to a fearmongering advertisement for Alterra's Pioneer Program, seeking volunteers for the starship Cicada to travel to Zezura. Admiral Studaber returns to declare martial law across the Mongolian Independent States. The father insists on signing up for the Pioneer Program. They make a deal: he will travel to Zezura to create a home, while she stays to make their dream ranch work; if she fails, she will join him. He comforts his tearful daughter, promising he will always be with her.
Visual Changes:
- Maps and calendars replace the child's art.
- Flowers are blooming.
- A poster advertising Zezura appears.
- A book on how to terraform new worlds and various notes are visible.
- Outside the window, the settlement has worsened, with homes put up for sale or stripped down to their frames.
Episode 4: Lost
Release Date: February 26th, 2026
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"Mom and daughter are enjoying a quiet moment together cooking at home when some breaking news shakes the foundations of their entire world."
Sometime after the Cicada’s launch, the mother and daughter bond over preparing food while music plays. The music dissolves into static as the radio adjusts to a news broadcast reporting that Alterra has declared the Cicada lost in space after multiple failed contact attempts. Startled, the mother and daughter break down in tears, fearing the father is lost forever.
Visual Changes:
- All lights are turned off.
- Child's art replaces the calendar.
- Various items show signs of wear.
- Flowers are dying.
- Outside the window, not a single building remains intact.
Episode 5: Mayday
Release Date: March 26th, 2026
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"A distress call from the Cicada repeats in the dark. But is it being received by anyone?"
In a derelict Alterran seabase, a radio repeats a distress call from the Cicada. The call states that the ship made an "unscheduled phasegate transit" to an unknown location after the ship's AI, NoA, detected a signal. Following the jump, the Cicada began to break up in the atmosphere of a gas giant's moon, risking the lives of all 40,000 personnel aboard. As the call repeats, sounds of creaking metal, breaking glass, and rushing water are heard, and an unknown creature swims past the window.
Voice Cast
- Dad / Mongolian Politician: Griffin Puatu
- Mom / Alterra Engineer: Hester Lee
- Daughter / Singer: Jessika Van
- Baby / Young Daughter: Nell Barnes
- Podcast Host / Ryley Robinson: Dan Gordon
- Radio News Host #1 / PSA Announcer / Admiral Rathine Studaber: Emily O’Brien
- Radio News Host #2 / Alterra Advertiser: Townsend Coleman
Gallery
- Don’t Fear (Episode #1)
- Dreamers (Episode #2)
- Pioneer (Episode #3)
- Lost (Episode #4)
- Mayday (Episode #5)
Trivia
- Episode #1 marks the first time that Ryley Robinson has spoken. Previously, various grunts for the character were recorded for Subnautica by Simon Chylinski, who has since been replaced as the voice of Ryley.
- One of the child's drawings in Episode #2 depicts a Spinner Fish.
- The Keep Calm Poster makes an appearance in the background of the first four episodes.
- Tracks from the Subnautica 2 Original Soundtrack are used for the series' themes:
- Opening: "Digital Reincarnation"
- Closing: "Subnautica 2"
- End Credits: "Seek Remedy in Strangeness"
