The feelings of absolute loneliness and hopelessness which turns into comfort, calm, and understanding - which came from playing through the first Subnautica, do not appear to be in this game.
Why do developers think players want quirky characters of all varieties and cultures and yadda yadda?
Players want a character who never speaks (so they can be YOU).
The developers of this game decided a Black Woman would be a more relatable character than a silent individual. I disagree - it basically ruins everything that made the first game so tense, lonely, foreboding, and SCARY.
Subnautica devs, if you see this - please, make the next protagonist SILENT.