Move a bad first base
If you built too far from resources or blocked future Tadpole space, refunding the whole base can be faster than dragging materials across the map.
Base guide
Refund Bases in Subnautica 2
Refund Bases is the Early Access menu option for tearing down an entire base and getting the building materials back in a temporary container. Use it when you need to move a bad first base, recover from a construction bug, or rebuild after a major update.
Important: Refund Bases is not the same as normal deconstruction. It removes a whole base at once. Empty valuable lockers manually first, then use the menu only when you really want that base gone.
Launch-week Early Access guidance. Last updated .
Quick answer
Open the pause menu, choose Refund Bases, select the base, and confirm. The base is destroyed and returned materials are placed in a temporary container near you. If you only want to remove one module, use the Habitat Builder's deconstruct mode instead.
How to refund a base
- 1.Stand where you want the materials to appear.
The refund container appears near your character. If you are moving a base, swim to the new location before using Refund Bases.
- 2.Open the pause menu.
Press Escape in-game and look for the Refund Bases option. This is separate from Habitat Builder deconstruct mode.
- 3.Pick the base to refund.
The menu lists your bases by size. Use the Look At option if you are not sure which base you are about to remove.
- 4.Confirm the refund.
Refund destroys that base and places returned materials into a temporary container. Treat it as a full teardown, not an undo button.
- 5.Collect and rebuild.
Empty the returned-materials container before leaving the area, then rebuild with a smaller or better-positioned layout.
Recover from Early Access map changes
Public launch-week guides describe Refund Bases as an Early Access safety tool, useful if an update makes an old location awkward.
Work around stuck construction
If a base piece refuses to deconstruct because the game thinks something is still attached, a full-base refund may be the cleanest escape.
Refund Bases vs. deconstruct mode
| Action | Best for | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Refund Bases | Moving or deleting a whole base, especially after a patch or a stuck construction state. | High. The selected base disappears, so verify lockers, co-op position, and target location first. |
| Habitat Builder deconstruct mode | Removing one module, corridor, wall piece, locker, or machine during normal remodeling. | Lower. It is slower, but you keep control over individual pieces. |
Warnings before you press Refund
- Refund Bases is all-or-nothing for the chosen base. Use Habitat Builder deconstruct mode for one wall, hatch, locker, or corridor.
- Do not use it mid-session while a co-op partner is inside that base or relying on its oxygen and storage.
- Check lockers before refunding. Some community reports conflict on whether stored contents always return safely, so manually empty rare materials first.
- Treat this as an Early Access tool. The menu can change or disappear before 1.0.