Subnautica is launching soon in Early Access. We’ve got all the details on price, co-op mode, platforms, and more at a glance.
Subnautica 2 has already weathered some turbulent times even before its release. Now that the legal dispute between the publisher and developer has been resolved, nothing stands in the way of its Early Access launch.We’ve summarized everything you need to know about the release.
Quick Navigation:
- Release:When is Subnautica 2 coming out?
- Platforms:Where is Subnautica 2 coming out?
- Price:How much does Subnautica 2 cost?
- Game Pass: Will Subnautica 2 be available on Xbox Game Pass?
- System Requirements: What specs do I need for Subnautica 2?
- Story:What is Subnautica 2 about?
- Gameplay:How does Subnautica 2 play?
- Multiplayer:What is the multiplayer mode in Subnautica 2 like?
Release and Early Access: When is Subnautica 2 coming out?
Subnautica 2 will be released onMay 14, 2026, in Early Access, at 5:00 PM German time.

Anyone who purchases Early Access to the underwater adventure will receive all future updates for free, even beyond the 1.0 launch. However, the exact date of the 1.0 launch has not yet been determined and depends heavily on how Early Access progresses.
Platforms: Where is Subnautica 2 coming out?
At the start of Early Access, Subnautica 2 will initially be released for thePC (Epic Games) and theXbox Series X/S.
It is not yet known whether the game will be released for PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch or Switch 2. However, a release on these platforms is not expected until the 1.0 launch at the earliest.
Price: How much does Subnautica 2 cost?
Developer Unknown Worlds has also already commented on the price. In theannouncement of the release date, they mentioned a price tag of$30. In Germany, the price is therefore expected to bebetween 28 and 30 euros.
Game Pass: Will Subnautica 2 be available on Xbox Game Pass?
Subnautica 2 will also be available onXbox Game Passas well. However, to play the survival game via the subscription, you must be a subscriber to theUltimate Passfor 21 euros per month; the Premium Pass is not sufficient.
System Requirements: What specs do I need for Subnautica 2?
The hardware requirements for Subnautica 2 have been known since early May 2026. Due to the switch to Unreal Engine 5, these are significantly higher than for the previous game. More information is available in our article on the topic.
| PC Specifications | Minimum | Recommended | Ultra | Ultra++ |
| Graphics Card (GPU) | NVIDIA GTX 1660
AMD RX 5500XT |
NVIDIA RTX 3070
AMD RX 6700XT |
NVIDIA RTX 4070
AMD RX 6900XT |
NVIDIA RTX 5070TI
AMD RX 7900XTX |
| Processor (CPU) | INTEL i5-8400
AMD RYZEN 5 2600 |
INTEL i7-13700
AMD RYZEN 7 7700X |
INTEL i7-13700
AMD RYZEN 7 7700X |
INTEL i9-14900K
AMD RYZEN 9 7900X3D |
| Operating System (OS) | WINDOWS 10/11 | WINDOWS 11 | WINDOWS 11 | WINDOWS 11 |
| RAM | 12 GB | 16 GB | 32 GB | 32 GB |
| Graphics Memory (VRAM) | 6 GB | 8 GB | 12 GB | 16 GB |
| Resolution / Preset | 1080p / Low | 1440p / Medium | 1440p / High | 4K / High |
| Frame Rate (FPS) | 30 FPS | 60 FPS | 60 FPS | 60 FPS |
Story: What is Subnautica 2 about?
In Subnautica 2, your homeworld is ravaged by conflict, which is why humanity is now searching for a new habitat in space. You are part of the crew of the colony ship CICADA, but instead of new hope, you find only another catastrophe.
After a crash landing, you find yourself adrift in the waters of an alien planet. Although the environment seems anything but habitable, your ship’s onboard AI insists on continuing the mission. So you have no choice but to fight for survival in the unknown depths.
Gameplay: How does Subnautica 2 play?
To survive in the deep blue, you’ll need a watertight strategy. Your diving suit, with the cute name “Tadpole,” will become your best friend here. With it, you’ll explore various biomes, gather resources, and build bases that offer protection from drowning and, more importantly, from unknown creatures.
Little by little, you’ll expand your technological arsenal, study alien lifeforms, and discover new materials. Somewhere on the seafloor, there might even be a solution to the mysterious behavior of your ship’s AI. Unknown Worlds has already given us a few insights in several dev updates:
Over the course of Early Access, your selection of tools, equipment, and vehicles will continue to expand. New biomes, creatures, and crafting recipes will also be added gradually.
Multiplayer: What does Subnautica 2’s multiplayer mode look like?
Probably the biggest new feature is Subnautica 2’s co-op mode. While you can tackle the survival game solo, those who don’t dare to venture into the cold, wet depths alone can bring up to three friends along. Multiplayer is also expected to work cross-platform.
Players can initially choose from four pre-made characters. More options are expected to be added during Early Access. Together, you’ll then do exactly what you try to do in single-player: avoid dying as much as possible.
Now you’re fully prepared for the launch of Subnautica 2. After all the buzz surrounding the most-wished-for title on Steam, it’s about time things finally get underway.
If you want to learn more about the legal dispute between Krafton and Unknown Worlds, take a look at the link box above. We’ve carefully documented the events and organized them for you.
