Publisher Krafton, in collaboration with developer Unknown Worlds Entertainment, is actively developing Subnautica 2, slated for release this year on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X.
The sequel was confirmed in a recent financial earnings report for 2023, which contained a slide about the publishers plans for 2024, and included a listing for Subnautica 2 with the following details.
Subnautica 2 Release Date - Updated with statement from Unknown Worlds
Subnautica 2 is being developed with Unreal Engine 5, adopting a Game as a Service model. Players will explore an “oceanic world in stunning stylized graphics.”.
The report indicates that the game will feature a single-player mode, or players can team up with friends for a 4-player co-op session to “uncover the mysteries on an entirely new alien planet.”
Subnautica 2 is scheduled for release in 2025. Currently, details are scarce, with no screenshots or gameplay footage available yet. Consequently, as you can see, we’re relying on screenshots from the first Subnautica for this report.
We should hopefully learn more soon, as we expect an official announcement with more details will be forthcoming.
Statement Issued to GameWatcher
Unknown Worlds Entertainment has contacted GameWatcher to clarify some of the information that was provided in Krafton’s financial earnings report for 2023.
Although the document we viewed placed Subnautica 2 in a 2024 release window, we’re told by Unknown Worlds that it does not intend to release it 2024, so we can assume that early access will come in 2025.
We think it’s probably best to quote Unknown Worlds on the GaaS model part of the statement, as that’s something the community isn’t responding well to, and we want to be as clear as possible.
“In reference to “Games-as-a-Service,” Unknown Worlds simply plans to continually update the game for many years to come, just like the previous two Subnautica games. Think their Early Access update model, expanded. No season passes. No battle passes. No subscription.”
The game is not primarily designed around multiplayer gameplay. It offers players the flexibility to enjoy the game solo or with friends through a co-op mode.
Since its launch in 2015, the original Subnautica has maintained a robust community, reaching a peak concurrent player base of 51,156 on Steam. Over the years, its popularity has grown, leading to the release of a new chapter in the franchise, Subnautica: Below Zero. This installment acts more as a DLC or expansion than a direct sequel.
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