Subnautica 2: release date, price, multiplayer, PC requirements - everything we know before the launch

May 14, 2026, 5:00 pm French time. That's the date to remember if you plan to dive into Subnautica 2 from the early access. Unknown Worlds took its time - the game was originally scheduled to be released in 2025 before being postponed after internal playtests - but this time, it's the right one.

And there's quite a lot to digest: new planet, native co-op multiplayer, modular vehicle system, completely redesigned base building from scratch... In short, it's not just a Subnautica with a "2" stuck on it. We're doing the full tour.

Early access opens its doors on the Wednesday, May 14, 2026 For France, it gives 5:00 PM (CEST) If you're elsewhere:

• Los Angeles (PDT) — 8:00
• New York (EDT) — 11:00
• London (BST) — 4:00 PM
• Paris (CEST) — 5:00 PM
• Tokyo / Seoul — May 15 at midnight
• Sydney (AEST) — May 15 at 1 am

Preloading is already available on Steam. So if your connection is not great, launch it now.

29.99€ on Steam. This is the price of early access, and the devs have been clear: the rate will increase at full checkout (scheduled in 2 to 3 years, around 2028). You obviously keep the game once the final version is released — it's not a subscription, you buy the game, period.

Little tip: the Subnautica Deep Ocean Bundle on Steam brings together the three games (Subnautica, Below Zero, and Subnautica 2) for around 40€. If you've never played the series, now is the time.

Another option: the game will be available from day 1 on the PC Game Pass (13.99€/month) and the Game Pass Ultimate (22.99€/month). Handy if you want to test without spending 30 bucks.

• PC — Steam, Epic Games Store, Windows Store
• Xbox Series X|S — with cross-play PC/Xbox
• PlayStation — no early access. Sony does not have an equivalent program, so you will have to wait for the full release

No micro-transactions, no season pass, no battle pass, no loot boxes. The devs hammered it home after the 2024 controversy when some were afraid of a live-service shift. It's a game, you buy it, you play it. Period.

Forget planet 4546B. Subnautica 2 takes place on Zezura , a world entirely covered in ocean. New biomes, new creatures, new vehicles — no return from the old games. The story is chronologically set after Below Zero, but it's a completely fresh start.

You embody a pioneer sent on a mission to this distant planet. Except that something has clearly gone wrong. The ship's AI warns you: "This world is too dangerous for humans to survive in... unless you change what it means to be human." Ambiance.

The big narrative twist is the genetic modification You can modify your own DNA to adapt to the environment — a concept that had been cut from the first Subnautica and that returns here as a central mechanic. Bioluminescence, resistance to pressure, that kind of thing. The slogan "changing what it means to be human" takes on its full meaning.

On the atmosphere side, we find massive underwater cliffs, colorful coral fields, and a new system of ocean currents that can take you from one area to another. The Zezura ecosystem is unbalanced — something catastrophic has happened, and it's up to you to figure out what.

It is probably the most interesting mechanic of Subnautica 2. Do you remember the Transfuser that had been cut from the first game? It's back, much more ambitious.

The principle: you use a Biosampler to collect genetic samples from creatures and local flora. You bring that back to your base, you process the samples in a Bio Lab (centrifuge, modification station), and you inject yourself with serums to modify your own DNA. Yes, you are literally transforming yourself.

What it actually looks like:

• Increased oxygen capacity — dive longer without equipment
• Pressure resistance — descends plus profond sans sous-marin
• Night vision — navigates in the abysses without a lamp
• Olfactory camouflage — Leviathans perceive you differently through the Stimulus AI system
• Visible mutations — your appearance changes, and your co-op teammates see the transformations

The clever thing is that your modifications influence the behavior of creature AI. An aggressive modification could attract predators instead of repelling them. There's a real risk/reward choice with each injection. And in co-op, it opens up team strategies: one player tanks with resistant DNA while the others explore lightly.

It was THE number one request from fans since the first game. Subnautica 2 offers online co-op for up to 4 players , with cross-play between all PC and Xbox platforms. You can play solo if you prefer — the game is designed to work perfectly in solo as well as in multiplayer.

Concretely, you can convert a solo backup into a multiplayer session at any time. Your friends join along the way to explore, build, or farm together. At the start, you choose from 4 pre-designed characters (others will arrive in updates, with more customization).

And no, there's no PvP. No competition. It's about exploration and cooperative survival, period. The kind of game where you scream into the microphone because a Leviathan just emerged out of nowhere while your buddy is trying to mine peacefully.

Small important detail: it's from complete cross-play between Steam, Epic, Game Pass, Xbox Series, and even the Steam Deck. An Xbox player can play with a Steam player without any problem.

If you were planning to scream into your microphone when you see a Leviathan and your buddy hears it louder and louder as he approaches... not right away. The proximity voice chat is not in the launch version . But the devs have confirmed that the feature is coming in a future update — they understand the potential and have put it on the roadmap. In the meantime, Discord will do the job.

No more Seamoth, no more Seatruck. The main vehicle in Subnautica 2 is called the Tadpole ("tadpole" in English), and it is a small submersible for 1-2 players with a completely modular system.

The principle: of hardpoints — physical attachment points on the hull — where you clip modules that change the capabilities, appearance, and behavior of the vehicle. No more invisible internal slots: everything is visible on the hull. A combat-oriented Tadpole will look nothing like a cargo Tadpole.

• Scout Ray — fast, agile, with wings. It's the spiritual Seamoth: perfect for exploration and dodging predators
• Haul Rig — bigger, cargo-oriented. More storage, can carry additional resources. In multiplayer, you can have up to 3 players navigating together

And the cool thing: you can change chassis without leaving the cockpit . You detach, you reattach, and off you go. The devs have teased other chassis in development, and they want the Tadpole to "evolve" over updates — the name "tadpole" turning into a frog, you see the concept.

Unknown Worlds has confirmed that other vehicles will arrive during early access: a large mobile submarine type Cyclops (with hardpoints as well) and a mechanical exoskeleton type PRAWN. But at launch, it's the Tadpole and its two chassis.

The construction system has been completely redesigned. No more prefabricated modules that stick together. Unknown Worlds talks about a system procedural and sculptural who uses techniques "never seen in a game in this way". Basically, you are no longer limited to imposed forms.

What we know so far:

• Custom windows — you choose the shape and size of your portholes, no predefined windows
• Base paint — color your base in the colors you want (but possibly not available at launch)
• Customizable lighting — change the color of the lights, turn on/off by zone
• Cosmetic decorations — customize the interior of your base

In multiplayer, your friends can help you build. You can also share your base — but be careful who you invite, because visitors can access your resources.

If you buy the game during the first week (from May 14th to 21st), you receive a Reaper Leviathan decoration exclusive for your base. It's a cosmetic — it doesn't change the gameplay — but it's the kind of collector's item that's nice. It was announced during the devs' Q&A Discord.

After this week, it's over. No further sale, no microtransaction to get it later. You have it or you don't.

The game runs on Unreal Engine 5 , which explains the higher specs than the first Subnautica (which ran on Unity). Good news on the upscaling side: the NVIDIA's DLSS is confirmed at launch. For AMD's FSR, it's "in development" — not available on day one, but it's coming.

No VR planned. Devs haven't announced anything and given the heaviness of UE5, it seems compromised for the moment.

No Mac version. Too many technical constraints, the game simply won't be released on macOS.

No native Linux version either. But — and this is a big "but" — the devs say the game works perfectly under Proton . It's not just an empty statement: several developers at Unknown Worlds use Linux as their main OS and have tested the game on it, including on the Steam Deck So if you're using Linux or planning to play on Deck, it should work via Proton.

Two points that deserve to be mentioned because they often come up in discussions.

First, the player character is a silent protagonist . You choose from several models (4 at launch, others to come), but none is the "canonical" character. It's like Riley in the first game: technically everyone embodies the same person, just with a different look. The voice actors hired are for the PDA and NPCs, not for your character.

Then, no generative AI is used in the game . Neither for the voices, nor for the art, nor for the 3D models. Unknown Worlds has been categorical about this. They hired real actors, real artists. Even their publisher Krafton cannot force them to use AI. In the current climate, this is worth highlighting.

The table above summarizes the essentials. If you have a PC with a recent dedicated graphics card, it should work. If you have a laptop without a dedicated GPU... it's dead. The devs are clear: the requirements are significantly higher than the first Subnautica The game runs on Unreal Engine 5, which explains the increase in power.

On the bright side, the team is actively working on optimization. Some devs are dedicated solely to this to make the game more accessible as early access progresses. And 90% of Steam players already have 12 GB of RAM or more, so the minimum configuration is not as exclusive as that.

For proper 4K, you should aim for at least an RTX 4070. Ultra in 4K? That's when we're talking about RTX 5070 Ti or RX 7900 XTX. Let's just say it's for high-end setups.

Early access is a deal: you pay less now, and in exchange you play an unfinished game. Unknown Worlds wants feedback to shape development—not just bug reports, but opinions on gameplay, mechanics, game direction.

If you're the kind of player who wants a complete and polished experience, wait until 2028 for the final version. But if exploring a game in development excites you — and you want to influence what it will become — now is the time. The price will increase, and you will keep the game no matter what happens.

Free alternative: the Game Pass gives access to the game from day one. If you're already subscribed, there's literally no reason not to try.

Yes, 100%. Multiplayer is optional. You can do the whole adventure alone without any compromise on the content or difficulty.

Not in early access. Sony does not have an early access program, so PS players will have to wait for the full release (2027-2028). No confirmed date at the moment.

No. Zero microtransactions, zero battle pass, zero subscription. You buy the game, you play it. Content updates are free during early access.

No. No vehicle from previous games is coming back. The Tadpole is the new main vehicle, with a Cyclops-type submarine and an exoskeleton planned for later during early access.

Between 2 and 3 years according to the devs. The full release is estimated between 2027 and 2028. During this period, the game will receive regular updates with new biomes, creatures, vehicles, and narrative content.

No, no VR planned. The game runs on Unreal Engine 5, and Unknown Worlds has not announced VR support.

No. The game will not be released on macOS. On Linux, there is no native version either, but it runs very well under Proton - the devs tested it themselves, including on Steam Deck.

DLSS is confirmed at launch. FSR is currently in development and will arrive in a later update.

Not at launch, but it's confirmed for a future update. The devs understand the potential of this feature in co-op.

No. Unknown Worlds has confirmed that no generative AI is used — neither for voices, nor for art, nor for models. All voice actors are real humans, and the publisher Krafton cannot force them to change that.

Yes. You buy the game, you keep it forever. The price will increase after early access, but your initial purchase gives you access to the full version at no additional cost.