Architect

The Precursors were an advanced, ancient space-faring race who arrived on Planet 4546B 1000 years prior to the events of Subnautica in search of a solution to cure the infamous Kharaa virus. Precursors are almost 100% mystery, however a Data Bank entry claims that ninety-six years old is seen as young for a Precursor. It was also mentioned that Precursor young were grown from seeds, implying plantoid or fungoid biology. Precursors are/were (presumably) much larger creatures than humans due to the sheer size of the rooms in their bases, and most objects within. It is possible that the Precursors were biomechanical entities, however, due to the fact that a (possibly) ordinary bacterium could affect them may disprove this theory.

The Precursors on Planet 4546B were most probably wiped out by Kharaa, a bacterium which is dangerously common in Planet 4546B. In an attempt to prevent their impending demise, the Precursors created a synthetic race, known in Subnautica as "Warpers" or Self-Warping "Quarantine Enforcer Units". These self-teleporting bio-mechanical creatures were advanced enough to track and kill all fauna in advanced stages of Kharaa. This may suggest that Kharaa is contagious.

The Precursors were clearly an extremely advanced race; Much more than humans. They had the capability to travel across galaxies, implying incredibly advanced spacecraft and propulsion technologies. They had the technology to create robotic drones that could survive in severely heated areas, teleporters and a weapon capable of destroying huge ships (such as the Aurora). They also had the capability to produce biomechanical lifeforms, presumably through advanced gene engineering. Precursor technology requires "keys" or "artifacts" to open certain forcefield gateways via an Artifact Terminal. This is first introduced at the Quarantine Enforcement Platform (QEP); a colossal Precursor superweapon designed to destroy any unauthorized spacecraft from entering Planet 4546B's atmosphere. The QEP is seen in action in the Sunbeam story event when the Sunbeam is seen entering Planet 4546B's atmosphere. Just after noticing the player the QEP immediately blows up the Sunbeam with a devastating green laser. It is later found out in a Data Terminal inside the QEP that the Precursors considered Planet 4546B under quarantine, hence the name of the gun.

Other Precursor structures include the Disease Research Facility (DRF), a structure built on the intent of researching Kharaa in an attempt to cure it, by examining species that were infected with Kharaa, the Precursor Thermal Power Generator (PTPG), A base situated in the Active Lava Zone, which draws power from the nearby lava to power Precursor structures, and the Primary Containment Facility (PCF), the Precursors' aquarium on Planet 4546B. It contains teleporters and an aquarium where the Precursors stored the Sea Emperor, a creature which was immune to Kharaa, prior to its escape. This may have been part of the cause of the Precursors' extinction.