What is the Subnautica 2 release date? Publisher Krafton, in collaboration with developer Unknown Worlds Entertainment, is actively developing Subnautica 2, slated for release later this year on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X.
The sequel was confirmed in a financial earnings report from 2023, which contained a slide about the publisher’s plans for 2024, and included a listing for Subnautica 2 with a series of key details, including the fact that it is developed using Unreal Engine 5.
Subnautica 2 Release Date
Subnautica 2 does not yet have a set release date, although it is currently aiming for a 2026 early access launch. Previously intended to go live in 2025, the title was caught at the center of a clash between publisher Krafton and developer Unknown Worlds’ leadership, which resulted in the latter being fired.
- Subnautica 2 release date: 2026 (early access)
This and the subsequent lawsuit obviously affected the sequel’s development timeline, pushing its launch to 2026 at the earliest. In March 2026, a judge order forced Krafton to reinstate Edward Gill as CEO of Unknown Worlds, and we’ll have to see how things progress from there for the sequel’s launch.
Subnautica 2 Gameplay
Subnautica 2 promises a familiar take on the underwater survival adventure gameplay that earned the series its popularity while setting us loose on a different alien ocean world than its predecessors.
Although solo play is still possible, the most notable difference comes in the shape of multiplayer support, which allows us to team up with up to three friends while “exploring mysterious ruins, building custom bases, or adventuring deeper into the world.”
If basic items like the scanner and flashlight help us chart our surroundings, we’ll also have access to a variety of advanced tools and equipment, including submersibles. Furthermore, the sequel overhauls the building system.
As we swim past “towering underwater cliffs to lush coral fields,” exploring a variety of biomes, we’ll encounter different lifeforms ranging “from the smallest fish to the largest Leviathans,” which we can scan and study. Knowledge then allows us to “evolve our genetics to adapt our body for survival.”
Subnautica 2 Story
Subnautica 2’s story revolves around exploring its new planet and discovering what causes it to be out of balance. As “a pioneer traveling to a distant world,” it quickly becomes clear that something isn’t right.
The world poses a major threat to humans, yet our ship’s AI insists that we have to carry on with our mission. Doing so involves taking adaptation further than just crafting new tools, to the point where our genetics come into play.
Subnautica 2 Price & Platforms
- Subnautica 2 will release on PC (Steam and Epic Games Store) and Xbox Series X/S.
Subnautica 2’s price has yet to be confirmed by its publisher.
Subnautica 2 System Requirements
Unknown Worlds has now shared the PC specs and system requirements for Subnautica 2 ahead of its early access release. Keep in mind that these might change as development progresses.
Minimum:
- OS: Windows 10/11
- Processor: Intel Core i5-8400 / AMD Ryzen 5 2600
- Memory: 12 GB RAM
- Graphics: GeForce GTX 1660 6GB / RX 5500 XT 6GB
- DirectX: Version 12
- Network: Broadband Internet connection
- Storage: 50 GB available space
- Additional Notes: Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
Recommended:
- OS: Windows 11
- Processor: Intel Core i7-13700 / AMD Ryzen 7 7700X
- Memory: 16 GB RAM
- Graphics: Geforce RTX 3070 8GB / RX 6700 XT 8GB
- DirectX: Version 12
- Network: Broadband Internet connection
- Storage: 50 GB available space
- Additional Notes: Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
Subnautica 2 Trailers
Past Subnautica 2 coverage
Our Subnautica 2 coverage will continue beyond its early access launch, with guides, evergreens, and more. Until that happens, you can check out our past coverage of the sequel below:
| News/Coverage | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| Subnautica 2 Developer Admits it “won’t be able to predict” how Multiplayer will Impact the “feelings of isolation and terror” of Its Predecessors | 4 June, 2025 |
| Subnautica 2 Crossplay | 4 June, 2025 |
| Subnautica 2 Developer Describes His Removal From Unknown Worlds As “quite a shock” | 8 July, 2025 |
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