Overview
- The Buddy System update, released Wednesday, August 19, 2026, adds proximity voice chat that grows faint and switches to a radio-style breakup as players move apart and offers always-on, push-to-talk, or off settings.
- A new downed state and revive system lets teammates share oxygen to bring players back within a limited window while revived players keep their equipment.
- The patch adds an emote wheel and direct inventory trading and introduces a Tracking Tag item that works as a short-range beacon and increases black box range if carried at death.
- Unknown Worlds paired the update with a $100,000 donation to The Ocean Cleanup and reiterated that work continues on a larger EA2 release that will add a new region, story, progression, and vehicles.
- Beyond co-op features the update includes HUD and base-building refinements to reduce clutter, clearer placement and crafting cues, and a broad set of bug fixes and gameplay tweaks to smooth exploration.