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Subnautica 2
Subnautica 2 is an underwater survival adventure developed by Unknown Worlds Entertainment, published by KRAFTON, and built in Unreal Engine 5. The game takes place on Planet Zezura, an alien ocean world separate from the Planet 4546B setting of the first two games. It supports 1-4 player optional online co-op and is headed to Early Access in May 2026 on PC (Steam, Epic Games Store, Microsoft Store) and Xbox Series X|S, with day-one Xbox Game Pass availability.
The game was officially revealed on October 17, 2024 during the Xbox Partner Preview with a cinematic trailer showing two divers attacked by a massive glowing leviathan on a new alien planet. The trailer accumulated millions of views and pushed Subnautica 2 to the top of Steam's wishlist charts. Early Access was originally planned for 2025 but was delayed following a leadership shakeup at Unknown Worlds in July 2025.
Core features
Players take on the role of pioneers who have been asleep for 14 years during the journey to Zezura. Their ship's AI guides them to continue the mission while surviving the planet's hostile ocean environment. The game retains open-world exploration, base building, crafting, and survival mechanics from its predecessors, but introduces several new systems.
Feature | Description |
|---|---|
Genetic modification | The Biosampler tool lets players take DNA samples from alien creatures and modify their own genetics. Adaptations include improved diving abilities, night vision, cold resistance, and enhanced swimming speed. This mechanic was originally designed for the first Subnautica as the "Transfuser tool" but was cut before release. |
New vehicles | The Tadpole submersible (a modular one-pilot vessel that can dock with other vehicles), the Dive Elevator (a platform for vertical transport and hauling resources), and the Wakemaker (wearable underwater boosters replacing the Seaglide). The Cyclops, Seamoth, and Seatruck from previous games do not return. |
No weapons | Design Lead Anthony Gallegos confirmed that Subnautica 2 has "no weapons, only collection tools." Leviathans cannot be killed. The knife from previous games has been replaced by a cutting tool classified as a collection item. |
Optional co-op -- Up to four players can explore together online, with cross-play between PC and Xbox (including handheld devices like Steam Deck and ROG Ally). No content is locked behind multiplayer. | -- |
New creature AI | Creatures like the Collector Leviathan use UE5 behavior trees and a stimulus system that makes them react dynamically to player behavior, light, and sound. |
Opening sequence
According to leaked playtest information, Subnautica 2's opening differs dramatically from the first game. Rather than starting in shallow water near a crashed lifepod, the player's ship crashes into Zezura's ocean depths. Trapped in the flooding vessel, the ship's onboard AI directs the pioneer to use an experimental gene-altering machine to withstand deep-ocean pressure. After surviving the crash, the player is propelled back toward the surface, getting a terrifying glimpse of the deep-sea creatures before the main gameplay loop begins.
Setting and story
Subnautica 2 takes place after the events of both Subnautica and Below Zero. Zezura features both underwater and surface environments with "harsh, desert-like conditions." A bacterium is spreading on the planet, though its connection to the Kharaa bacterium from previous games is unknown.
The narrative is being written by Seth Dickinson, who joined Unknown Worlds in May 2022. Gallegos described the story as approximately 15 hours long, separate from crafting and exploration time.
An audio drama called Voices from Beyond has been releasing as a promotional series bridging the previous games and Subnautica 2. Three episodes were released between November 2025 and January 2026.
Development
Unknown Worlds was acquired by KRAFTON for $500 million in late 2021, with up to $250 million in additional performance-based earnout. The game switched from Unity to Unreal Engine 5. Five dev vlogs were released between April 2025 and February 2026.
Development hit turbulence in July 2025 when KRAFTON replaced co-founders Charlie Cleveland and Max McGuire, along with CEO Ted Gill, installing Steve Papoutsis as the new CEO. The founders filed a lawsuit. See KRAFTON acquisition and controversy for full details.
Early Access scope and cut content
Leaked milestone documents (confirmed authentic by KRAFTON in October 2025) revealed the Early Access scope was scaled back. See cut content for full details. The current plan includes one chapter with 8-10 hours of gameplay, down from two chapters with 13-16 hours. Two biomes, one leviathan, one vehicle (the Trident), character customization, and custom game modes were all removed. An ecosystem restoration mechanic was replaced by a new system called "Blight." Multiplayer shifted from dedicated servers to peer-to-peer. The developers plan 2-3 years of Early Access updates.
Monetization
Subnautica 2 uses a paid Early Access model with no subscriptions, loot boxes, battle passes, or microtransactions. It will be available on Xbox Game Pass from day one.
Switch 2 editions
On February 11, 2026, Unknown Worlds announced Subnautica: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition and Subnautica: Below Zero Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, released February 17, 2026. Both run at 1440p/60fps docked and 1080p/60fps in handheld mode, with support for Joy-Con 2 mouse controls. Owners of the original Switch versions receive a free upgrade. Subnautica 2 itself has not been announced for Switch 2.
System requirements
Minimum: Windows 10/11 64-bit, Intel i5-8400 or AMD Ryzen 5 2600, 8 GB RAM, GTX 1660 or RX 5500 XT (6 GB VRAM), 50 GB storage. Recommended: i7-13700 or Ryzen 7 7700X, 16 GB RAM, RTX 3070 or RX 6700 XT.
Community reception
Subnautica 2 is the #1 most wishlisted game on Steam with an estimated 3.8 million wishlists. The r/subnautica community has approximately 794,000 members, and the official Discord server has around 199,000 members.
Despite boycott calls on Reddit following the founders' firing, wishlist numbers continued climbing. Community concerns center on UE5 performance, content cuts, and the ongoing lawsuit.