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Subnautica 2 is finally here and, after years of ifs and buts, the game is due to release into early access very soon. Subnautica 2 is the long-awaited sequel to the massively popular underwater survival game, you guessed it... Subnautica.
It's been nearly 12 years since Subnautica originally released on PC, but the game has been much beloved by many over those years, creating a huge amount of hype and excitement around the release of Subnautica 2.
From the release date and pricing to platforms & more, we'll cover everything you need to know ahead of release in this guide.
Quick Links
- Release Date & Early Access Window
- Platforms
- Price & Editions
- Story & Setting
- Gameplay & New Features
Subnautica 2 Release Date and Early Access
Subnautica 2 enters Early Access on May 14, 2026, at 8:00 AM PDT (15:00 UTC). The game missed its original 2025 Early Access target after a turbulent development period, but is now ready to launch.
Unknown Worlds Entertainment has made it clear to fans that they expect the Early Access period will last two to three years. This means we should see the 1.0 release somewhere between 2027 and 2028. The first Subnautica spent a long time in Early Access as well, so we can expect the same for the sequel.
Subnautica 2 Platforms
At the Early Access launch, Subnautica 2 will be available on PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store, and on Xbox Series X/S. ROG Ally handhelds and Steam Deck are both "good to go", according to the developers.
Sadly, this means that players on PlayStation platforms are not getting the game in Early Access. The same goes for the Switch 2, with players on those platforms having to wait some time before they can play the sequel.
Could Subnautica 2 come to PS5 later? Yes, we'd fully expect to see that at some point, though it may well take until the 1.0 release for the game to make it to PlayStation.
Subnautica 2 Price and Editions
Like the first game, Subnautica 2 will be a paid release, no free-to-play, no battle pass, etc. This has been confirmed by Unknown Worlds, who stated the game is a pay-once affair.
There is only one version of the game set to be released, with no special edition or extra bonuses at release.
Subnautica 2 Story and Setting
Note: this section is based on small snippets of information, Reddit posts, Twitter threads, a few fan theories and the game's podcast, so take it all with a pinch of salt!
The backdrop this time is a universe in crisis. The Khaara, the alien bacteria at the centre of the first game, has gone universal. People across the game's galaxy are getting sick, and some are mutating as a result. This backdrop sets up Subnautica 2, and our drive to expand the human race out into the wider galaxy.
Alterra, the corporation from the first game, has responded by launching a Pioneer Program. The pitch is simple enough: leave the infected galaxy behind and help colonise somewhere new. 50,000 pioneers board the ISV Cicada and go to sleep for the journey to Zezura, a desert planet seemingly outside Federation space. But... it doesn't go to plan, shocker!
The ship, the Cicada, crashes on the nearby moon of Zezura, where the game actually takes place. This new alien ocean world was not the planned destination, but the onboard AI wants us to push on anyway, pressing ahead with the colonisation mission whether they like it or not.
Unknown Worlds has been building out the lore further through a companion podcast series called Voices from Beyond which is worth a listen before launch if you want to go in with the full picture.
Subnautica 2 Gameplay and New Features
Subnautica 2 is not aiming to reinvent the wheel when it comes to the core gameplay loop of the series. You will survive, craft, explore, and explore some more.
The key change is multiplayer, which was missing from the first game and was one of the most requested features for a sequel. Four people can explore the game together, in drop-in, drop-out multiplayer, with cross-platform support between PC and Xbox. Crucially though, the game has still been designed with the solo explorer in mind.
The big gameplay change will come in the form of the DNA modification system. Acting as the games skill system, players will be able to adapt their gameplay around things they enjoy, or use skills to bridge gaps in their own gameplay.
The ocean is also a big part of the game, and that's gaining Ocean currents, which will add drag and change areas of the game in moments. The base-building system has also gotten a huge rework for the new game. Crucially, it will follow a more modular style as seen in recent survival titles, giving players way more freedom.