Everything we know about Precursors in Subnautica

The Architects in Subnautica are shrouded in mysteries, but here's everything we DO know about them, as well as some fun speculation about their society and life cycle!
Also, some fancy 3D animations as a bonus :)
The alien race from Subnautica and Below Zero known as Precursors or Architects has many secrets we can uncover, so that's exactly what we're doing today!
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Music:
- Subnautica - Into The Unknown.mp3
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Music by Epidemicsound (www.epidemicsound.com):
- Absent Cognition - Max Anson
- For Real Tho - Toby Tranter
- All Nighter - Falcon Dives
- Seven Series - Vanity Street
- Biting My Style - Hell Nasty
- Humor Us 2 - Gunnar Johnsén.mp3
- Firebreak - Rannar Sillard
- OUTRO: Let's Bounce - Gavin Luke
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You have a video idea? Leave a comment! :D
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:27 Anatomy
04:50 Architecture
06:27 Sanctuaries
07:31 Hive mind
08:53 Society

[@Aci_yt]

Join my Discord server

[@glennwantscream3135]

I believe AL-AN got the premium storage because he was leader of the research group. Definitely could be an explanation!

[@screamingcactus1753]

But then he mentions disobeying a superior, so who was he answering to?

[@_-bellissimo-_pl]

@@screamingcactus1753The Corporate

[@MrAppleSalad]

@@screamingcactus1753 It's entirely possible that there were multiple teams researching the Kharaa, and Al-An was simply the head of the 4546b team. That could also explain why he was so uncertain about if anyone survived, it's possible that Kharaa was something that originated back on their homeworld or some other planet which lead to them searching the universe for a cure.

[@Xeonomy]

I think that it is some kind of prison for AL-AN

[@lucasgeesey4719]

or was he a prisoner because of his actions

[@Marcello_16]

Can I just say this, I absolutely LOVE the design of alan and is probably my favorite design of any creature in below zero

[@randombastion]

A theory for why al-an was in the premium storage could be that the precursors found out that al-an released the karaa onto 4546b and punished him by placing him in the cube and separating him from the network and this could be seen as the worst punishment a precursor could receive

[@matyaskuczera3028]

al-an did not released karaa on 4546b since the lab was destroyed by sea dragon which resulted in to contaiment leak, from my theory al-an could be leader of reaserch on 4546b and thats why was in premium storage

[@Aci_yt]

@matyaskuczera3028 he was the one who stole the egg, prompting the parent to attack the facility. So yes, he did.

[@subjectc7505]

From what we know, they do seem like a very intelligent source of AI, since they store themselves and can randomly generate code.

[@kaloiangeorgiev1310]

Architects probably were biological creatures, but changed to be an AI of sorts.

[@jamiebare9970]

It’s possible Alan got the premium on mind storage because he was the lead researcher, if I remember correctly.

[@Onlywilberta]

Thats almost my name heheheh

[@EmeraldVA]

God, the animation for Al-An looks so good! It turned out amazingly.

[@Ohmega369]

Alan probably ran off to get the premium mind storage for himself when the bacteria got out lol

[@ryanchilton1252]

I mean if what I found in the game is to be correct, Alan was the head researcher on 4546B. meaning he probably was considered a VIP and got his own personal sanctuary if things went to shit (Which they did)

[@Atlas.23]

I absolutely love Alan's design, literally the best character design I have ever seen. The centaur inspiration is genius, and just the whole general design is pleasing to look at, with the glowing and the shapes and all the details big and small. I hope in subnautica 2 or maybe a spinoff/fan game we get to play as one and/or explore and understand the architects and their home. Kinda sad tho that they don't really expand on their personalities and stuff.

[@Lolxlol21_]

4:05 Architect in LEGO form! I can Imagine all the Stop-motion I could do! 😃

[@goldenbuster493]

Dude, the animation is sick, also, damn, I have never taken a good look at Al-An's design, I need to draw this

[@astrol0tl]

Aci fr got both a comedy and biology majors 💀

[@morgandpanda]

Its cool having all this in one video :P

[@SCOP_]

F

[@Cebbat_Games]

He was the main researcher who let the Karaa get out so maybe that’s why Alan got the big storage?

[@I_Dont_Believe_In_Salad]

If you thinking about it, Alan's body we created in the game made no sense since 4546B is a Ocean Planet, there's no reason for a being like him to be there let alone build their structures underwater. Except that his form is likely from his homeworld. My guess is they abandoned centaur-like form and adapted to mermen-like or fish-like forms to suit the planet's environments and build their structures and bases underwater. I don't really like the idea of centaur-like alien walking on the ocean floor from place to place like Prawn suits does.

[@XBLUnlimitedPow3r]

Great video, very interesting. Actually something that has been rolling around in my mind recently, is that we have a fair bit of data regarding the lifecycle of most of the leviathans, with the exception being that of the Reaper. Im curious as to how they start their early years and why we know so little about their sociality and lifecycle despite being the signiture leviathan of the franchise. Im also curious if anyone has any theories as to what that could be or why, anyhow keep up the awesome work!

[@ythegameritaisthebest]

Plot twist:achi makes them

[@TheEventHorizon909]

Anatomy of an Aci when-

[@Aci_yt]

👀

[@Legalizeatomicbombs]

@@Aci_ytpluh

[@GamingwithOllieA]

🤨📸

[@sigma2586]

😏

[@shaden99]

Ummm, pause on that?

[@feralprocessor9853]

I would like to see subnautica Fan animations. It could either take place: When the Architects were here in 4546B. When the Mercury Crashed here in Sector Zero. When the Degasi Crashed in the crater. When the Auroa Crashed and its first few survivors were around before their unlucky/ignoramus follys. And When the Alterra "Frost Pack" research team arrived in Sector Zero.

[@legolegs87]

It just come to my mind that AL-AN might have gotten his special storage facility because he was technically a criminal because of his failure at containing the Kahara bacterium. As we were told, storing the architect personality in a regular "sanctuary" acts like a factory reset, but "resetting" your suspected criminal nullifies your ability to properly question him. Of course, the investigation of the case was never finished (wasn't even started). I am not saying AL-AN is a baddie, but the negligence leading to lives being lost is still a crime. Also, the accusation of negligence for AL-AN rhymes well with the Sam's story.

[@Loshko86]

hm i heard somewhere that there was a split between natural architects and the new, enhanced architects, and that the enhanced ones were sad when natural ones passed on.. so.. not quite AI there..

[@nikitakarkavin8384]

Aci, are you the editor, or someone helps you? the animations are amazing! I've never seen such a good animation in a long time!

[@Aci_yt]

I did those myself, glad you like them :)

[@Solidnight8406]

the sealed away organs wouldnt have the same shape as the ones in the body as there is nothing to support them, also they would probably be laid out flat for storage.

[@todeilfungo]

for the hive mind part: alan himself is a hive mind. he have part of all those entities, and i think that they could join another have mind or subdivide in multiple ones

[@kevintran2146]

10:50 was some of the funniest clips like put water on his kids they grow like how does this make sense and this is how it gets so funny

[@pug_lord7397]

Great video Can’t wait for subnautica 2

[@Goldenfoxy3016]

subnautica 2?

[@kacperrembielinski-gaazka1981]

U mean subnautica 3? (Below zero is subnautica 2)

[@ultraphoenix95]

@@kacperrembielinski-gaazka1981 Below Zero is more considered as a Standalone, like Marvel's Spiderman: Miles Morales

[@NunyaBizzniz-ev1qq]

Can’t wait for subnautica 2 I’m not counting below zero

[@lizflessert2427]

Why not?

[@NunyaBizzniz-ev1qq]

@@lizflessert2427 below zero kind of sucked in my opinion

[@lizflessert2427]

@@NunyaBizzniz-ev1qq I disagree, but I respect your opinion.

[@NunyaBizzniz-ev1qq]

@@lizflessert2427 it only sucked in my option because the story was thrown right in my face and told me where I had to go I enjoyed having to find out what I had to do next

[@lizflessert2427]

@@NunyaBizzniz-ev1qq I agree with you on that the story did feel too hand holdy, but I still think the game is great. But I completely understand if you think otherwise

[@lockskelington314]

I love the Precursors because AL-AN showed us they are a Race of Cyborgs that build their bodies out of both organic and non-organic parts. A completely unique concept that I've never seen before.

[@TheLoneWolfITA]

I think the AI idea is a bit extreme..... I mean, that would mean someone made them at first. What if instead they Have uploaded themselves into the network, losing their original form, and maybe even any memory of their original form, but doing so gained obviously the ability of adapting to anything. We do know that 4546B is NOT their Core Planet..... This means in other planets we could see other types of Architects bodies.

[@codelotus6500]

Wow. Now I wanna restart Below Zero and reach it's end

[@TaketheL200]

Cool video, didn't know there was so much to architects

[@CootKittehLily]

Interesting video. Thanks aci

[@create_expert]

Btw the cables are used to transfer power and other stuff from base to base all centered around the thermal plant

[@Gloozer_]

Alan has floating bones? We do too there is one in the neck that isn’t attached to anything look it up (ain’t trying to be rude)

[@ChristineDixonduffersdiary]

Also aci I think you are making a mod that makes the void in subnacitca more like a biome with new flora and fauna like new peepers and I like it.

[@xxx_charles_xxx2162]

hold on let me water my alan and his kids to grow , forgot to water them for the past 2 weeks thx for remembering me

[@jadedstonedmonkey]

3:50, cats and other species have floating bones? Most cats dont have collarbones, so their clavicle area is free floating, same with raccoons and other mammals. Fish are also highly seen with floating bones using cartilage like a net around it

[@patrlim]

I guarantee the hive mind idea was inspired by the vortessence from half-life

[@InnocentAstroStation-gx2mm]

1:38 what if we play as Al-an In the next Subnautica, but then again, how in the actual heck would Alan swim? It’s very confusing.

[@Lolxlol21_]

2:48 That being said…is it possible to have an argument with your own arms, similar to the example give about homework and Netflix, and how sentient are these arms? I’m genuinely curious.

[@DocktorDanger]

I need me that Alan Lego mini fig

[@corbinmccutcheon1782]

But hey it's just a theory, A GAME THEORY

[@ilannghost6306]

the change of theme is like a player ready to fight. Al-an joined the game. i'm probebly the only one that thinks that

[@feralprocessor9853]

8:30 Actually I'm more concerned with feeling what my peers were suffering through the Karhaa outbreak.

[@kieferholster4900]

AL-AN got the vip treatment.

[@matopgaming8858]

OpenAI will soon announce that AL-AN is using chat-GPT4

[@SkibidiBuddies]

hi Aci

[@damirdanko9859]

I wonder if they are a silicon based life form

[@betabesta3514]

i would imagine all architects have the same tissue colour but different emissive (light colours) fpr each different architect, maybe the emissive is used to display their form of gender, but I like to think each different architect has different light colours (like yellow, or green) and colours become more vibrant the higher the social status

[@ayushmaannarayankvdumka6599]

can you make a video on . How to intall dlc in subnautica.

[@Pneumonological]

hi aci

[@butter8006]

They definitely built the pyramids

[@danilonakazone386]

I find interesting how shallow subnautica Architect lore is... I dived deep into the lore because it is fascinating, but I came to the conclusion the lore has many, way too many flaws... Too many plot holes and plot armor... in Subnautica 1 we learn how powerful those beings were/are, they can pretty build anything they want in any part of the crater on the planet, without breaking sweat! They had advanced biological research, but something went wrong real faat, causing their downfall... In subnautica 2, we learn nothing that would make sense with the notion we got form the previous game... Why only Al-An was "alive" in a store media? we learn they had/have a collective mind, sharing knowledge with their whole species, so why only one got stored? Their body, or Al-An body: Why it is shaped like that? It makes no sense they would be like that on a mostly water planet...I love subnautica, it is in my top 5 favorite games but alot does not make sense about the Archtetcts... Other than plot devices and Deus Ex machina moments... I hope subnautica 3 explains alot, otherwise it will be a major flaw in my opinion

[@dawipeach8948]

The architects aren’t native to 4546b and it was never their home. Why would they change bodies?

[@InnocentAstroStation-gx2mm]

Wait, if architects basically create their own bodies does that mean ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

[@RazanaArcclaw]

"I don't know how the bones are floating" wut?

[@BuzzlesTheBee]

Bro made a reaper leviathan fursona 💀

[@Opnaoras]

1:06 i don't think thats a normal rock slide

[@FelidaeEnjoyer]

Zche shociety intro shequence ssstarts before zche hivemind chapter ends 🤓

[@theweakgamer]

How is Alan even able to be stored in are heads?

[@dawipeach8948]

He says at one point that they exist as data I think. And they are 10x more advanced than us

[@OliverFigueroa-tq6ur]

Imagine If The Portal At The End Of The Game Sent You And AL-AN Into The Backrooms😂😂😂😂

[@Th3BigBoy]

What's the backrooms?

[@WetbackNoSetback]

I always thought they were AI, they at some point in their ancient past were all biological but im sure they are now overwhelmingly mechanical

[@marbulOfficial]

I want Al-An in a Bionicle-type lego format... Edit: ok Precursors > humans so maybe Elon isn't as bad as we think?

[@ATeaGod]

HEY THERE IM ACI

[@MATEITHEBOY]

Meowmeowmeowmeowmeowmeowmeowmeowmeowmeowmeowmeow

[@herobrinesbestminion6766]

I can't tell if half of this is just to make fun of them but that does matter it's still about the pros and cons of AI XD

[@positivebiscuit2348]

i thought everyone knew they were ai's

[@urbexingTss]

they are not tho

[@raghav1026]

That would imply some other species created them.

[@urbexingTss]

@raghav1026 exactly we don't know enough yet to make assumptions it's all theory's right now

[@Kaquix]

Hi

[@Hand-to-handWombatCombat]

I have killed 3 reapers lol

[@Legalizeatomicbombs]

Pluh

[@Microwave_Gaming2502]

alan is sus vote for him