Subnautica 2: Release, Multiplayer, Price, Early Access, and Crossplay

Subnautica-2-Titelbild

Subnautica 2 is the sequel to the popular survival game, where you can once again explore the depths of the underwater world. Many are eagerly waiting for the release, and thanks to Early Access, it won’t be long now.

What kind of game is Subnautica 2? Subnautica 2 is, like its predecessor, a survival adventure where you must explore an underwater world and survive either alone or with three other players. Your home has been plagued by conflicts, and to escape this, you are on a journey aboard a colony ship seeking a new paradise where humanity can thrive.

Unfortunately, there were technical difficulties that caused you to crash land on an unknown planet. Your task now is to collect resources, build your base, and survive. With polished graphics, you are diving into the adventure of the sequel.

Update, May 13, 2026: The article has been reviewed and is up to date.

In our overview, you will find all the important information you need to know about the upcoming release in a concise and informative manner. With our directory, you can also quickly jump to the individual topics that interest you:

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Subnautica 2: The first gameplay trailer for the survival hit on Steam

Subnautica 2: Release, Early Access & Preload

When does the release start? The release will start on May 14, 2026, at 5:00 PM German time, initially in Early Access. The game is still not fully developed, so don’t expect extensive features – these will be introduced over the course of development with new updates. Depending on where you are located on Earth, the release times may vary:

Subnautica-Release-Zeiten
This is the release map for Subnautica 2

Is there a preload? Yes, there is. This will be available 72 hours prior to the release, but only for players on Steam. Fans on Xbox and the Epic Games Store will have to wait.

Subnautica 2: Prices and Editions

How much will Subnautica 2 cost? In the official blog post (source: www.unknownworlds.com) regarding the release, the developers from Unknown Worlds have already announced the price. Depending on the region, there will be small differences, but generally, the game will cost $29.99, which is approximately €29.99 in Germany.

Additionally, those who purchase Subnautica 2 during Early Access will receive future updates until the release of the 1.0 version for free.

Will there be different editions? Currently, there is no information on whether there will be special editions at the release of the 1.0 version.

Will Subnautica 2 be available in Game Pass? Those who have Game Pass Ultimate will be able to play Subnautica 2 “for free” – that’s €21 per month. So if you’re already a subscriber, you can casually check out Early Access.

Subnautica 2: Multiplayer, Crossplay, and Platforms

Will there be crossplay at release? According to the developers, there will be cross-platform multiplayer at release. Players on Xbox will be able to connect with fans on Steam to explore the depths of the seas together.

On which platforms will Subnautica 2 be released? Currently, the release is only planned for PC (Steam & Epic Games) and Xbox during Early Access. PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2 will be left out for now. There are no details on whether access for the other platforms will be activated during Early Access. However, it is possible that you may have to wait until the release of the 1.0 version.

Subnautica 2: System Requirements

Are the system requirements known? Yes, they are. With the following hardware, you can play the game on your computer:

HardwareMinimumRecommendedUltraUltra++
Graphics Card (GPU)NVIDIA GTX 1660

or

AMD RX 5500XT
NVIDIA RTX 3070

or

AMD RX 6700XT
NVIDIA RTX 4070

or

AMD RX 6900XT
NVIDIA RTX 5070TI

or

AMD RX 7900XTX
Processor (CPU)INTEL i5-8400

or

AMD RYZEN 5 2600
INTEL i7-13700

or

AMD RYZEN 7 7700X
INTEL i7-13700

or

AMD RYZEN 7 7700X
INTEL i9-14900K

or

AMD RYZEN 9 7900X3D
Operating System (OS)WINDOWS 10 or 11WINDOWS 11WINDOWS 11WINDOWS 11
Memory (RAM)12 GB16 GB32 GB32 GB
Graphics Memory (VRAM)6 GB8 GB12 GB16 GB
Resolution1080p1440p1440p4K
Frame Rate (FPS)30 FPS60 FPS60 FPS60 FPS

That was all the important information currently available regarding Subnautica 2 and its release. Should more information become available during the Early Access period, we will update the article accordingly. Until then, you can read more about Subnautica 2 here: The most requested survival game on Steam foregoes an important feature, which could confuse players

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.