Subnautica 2 has officially arrived, with Unknown Worlds underwater survival adventure launching in Early Access on May 14 after being met with delays.
With the Subnautica 2 release times now passing, that means you can dive into the experience for yourself if you have a PC, or pick it up on Xbox Series X or Xbox Game Pass. It's been a long journey to get here, with a series of reports revealing major leadership changes within the development studio - resulting in the founders of the studio suing parent company Krafton (you can find out more about that detailed below).
But with a release date finally set and it's launch into Early Access now here, we've brought together everything you need to know if you're thinking about checking out Subnautica 2, from details about the new game's systems , such as base-building, to its and optional co-op and more.
Subnautica 2 release date
Subnautica 2's release date of May 14, 2026 means you can now play the survival adventure in Early Access.
Unknown Worlds at last confirmed the release date for Early Access launch in April 2026 after it was delayed into a vague 2026 window.
This came after it was originally slated to arrive in 2025. report then surfaced from Bloomberg in early July last year that suggested it had been pushed into 2026. This dropped after some big shakeups within the development team, which saw the original Subnautica creators and Unknown Worlds co-founders get replaced by the Callisto Protocol studio CEO.
Following this news, word from Krafton later came that the Early Access schedule might need some adjustments, despite the former lead saying it was ready, before the publisher ultimately officially confirmed the delay into 2026, citing that "there are a few areas where we needed to improve before launching the first version of Subnautica 2 to the world".
Krafton also denied that the delay has anything to do with "any contractual or financial consideration", and stated that the move to 2026 was being discussed before the changes at Unknown Worlds were made. The legal drama has only continued since, with the ex-developers alleging that Krafton changed "its story mid-litigation about why it fired the founders, following earlier reports claiming previous leadership were pushing to release an unfinished game. Now, at last, the release date is in sight.
Prior to the delay, we got a devblog which detailed that the game is considered to be the team's "biggest" and "most ambitious Subnautica game" yet. Players were also invited to provide feedback once they get their hands on the game as development is planned to continue during the Early Access period as well -- which will likely still apply for its 2026 launch.
While we await further news on the release date, you can also read our Subnautica review if you want a recap of the first alien outing.
Subnautica 2 platforms
Subnautica 2 released on Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox Game Pass in Early Access.
Sadly, there's no news on any PS5 support just yet, and there's also no Switch 2 news on whether fans can expect the game to come to the new-gen console among the lineup of upcoming Switch 2 games. That doesn't mean that we'll never see the title on those platforms in the future, though.
The first Subnautica became available on both PS5 and Nintendo Switch eventually. And since both also support Unreal Engine 5 (which Subnautica 2 is being developed with), there's still hope for a future announcement regarding additional platforms for the new game. Stay tuned for updates!
Subnautica 2 trailer
The first Subnautica 2 trailer came in the form of a short teaser that was revealed during the October 2024 Xbox Partner Showcase.
In the trailer, which you can watch above, we see two humans in the deep – reminding us all that the new game will be multiplayer! The clip also shows off a player piloting what looks to be a Prawn Suit. Finally, we also see what looks to be a new Leviathan as a large tentacle monster with a purple glowing head revealed itself towards the end of the teaser.
Most recently, we've also gotten to see a short gameplay trailer that came along with an update on Early Access, with a narrator revealing that we'll "sleep through 14 years of flight" to our new home.
Subnautica 2 story and setting
In Subnautica 2, you'll be exploring a new ocean-based alien world and following a brand-new story. According to a description on the Steam store page for the game, you'll play as a "pioneer traveling to a distant world." Soon, though, you find that something is very wrong after your ship's AI starts insisting you carry on a mysterious mission.
It turns out that this new world is too dangerous for humans to survive in, so you'll have to "change what it means to be human." That statement sounds pretty ominous if you ask us, and considering how the first Subnautica had you infected with an alien virus and Subnautica: Below Zero has you sharing a brain with an alien AI until you build it a new body, we aren't surprised that something will likely be messing about with your human body or DNA in Subnautica 2.
In a Subnautica 2 dev blog, senior narrative designer Seth Dickinson, level designer Artyom O'Rielly, and senior environment artist Ben Hale spoke on the "building unknown worlds" for the upcoming sequel, with Dickinson introducing the new world the team are creating as a "place of constant change, where the sea is alive and hungry, the rules of evolution are different, and alien DNA seeps into your bones. Here, you might be the last human being in the universe, or the first member of something new." How intriguing.
O'Rielly also shows off some of the rocky terrain and tools being used to create the world, which is "entirely hand-crafted". Another story point that we know about the upcoming game is that we are getting a silent protagonist once again, departing from Below Zero's very talkative hero.
Subnautica 2 gameplay
Like the rest of the Subnautica games, Subnautica 2 is a survival game where you'll have to explore the depths of an alien ocean, gather material, craft upgrades, and try to survive. You'll be scanning ruins to unlock new vehicles and other equipment to assist in managing your needs, as well as to help you progress further into the deep.
Subnautica 2's exploration is also a key part of the experience as you'll be uncovering and logging new "diverse biomes" and creatures. Through scanning the terrain and animals around you, you'll find information to assist you in the story, as well as goals for upgrades that can help you expand or customize your underwater bases. The building system of Subnautica has reportedly gone through a massive overhaul, so base building is a bigger feature.
A big new gameplay feature for Subnautica 2 is the fact that it supports co-op. Previous entries in the series have all been single-player affairs, throwing us into a foreign ocean all by our lonesome. In the upcoming title, there will be up to four-player cooperative gameplay for you and a group of buddies.
Subnautica 2 has a story that you'll be following as you build up your underwater base as you try to avoid a new deep-sea predator in the Collector Leviathan. As the first hostile leviathan, with behavior that's powered by Unreal Engine 5 AI, it's said to react to light and sound, as well as your actions in real time. With fully simulated tentacle animations, a dev vlog video, which you can see below, goes into more detail about the making of the new foe - who can use shockwave attacks and possesses a "terrifying roar".
If you're plunging into the adventure and you're after certain resources or need help locating something, we're here to help with our guides below. You can find guides on how to get a Subnautica 2 tadpole and the tadpole pens key code, where to find Silver in Subnautica 2, and a breakdown of Subnautica 2 cross saves.
Will Subnautica 2 be multiplayer?
Yes! For the first time in Subnautica's history, you have the option to play with your friends in Subnautica 2. The game supports up to four-player co-op and cross-play (you can find out more about how it all works in our handy Subnautica 2 multiplayer and crossplay guide).
That means that PC and Xbox players can game together without a care in the world… well, apart from surviving multiple Leviathans, maybe.
Unknown Worlds also released a dev blog (which you can watch above) diving into the multiplayer side of things, detailing how you can play in first-person or third-person together, across multiple platforms, with one dev mentioning that he often plays it on his Steam Deck. We also see a dive elevator which you can use with friends to go down to the depths. You can also attach what you find onto the elevator to sent it back up to the water's surface.
The team also explains that they've set out to make it very easy to start a multiplayer session in Subnautica 2, with options to convert a single-player to multiplayer and continue your solo game with others, or you can start a new multiplayer game fresh. You can also invite friends via your chosen platform's friends list, or use Subnautica 2's own friends list which allows you to invite cross-platform players.
In the meantime, check out our list of the best co-op games of all time if you are after a new outing with your mates.
Subnautica 2 development
Subnautica 2 is in development from the same studio that worked on the original adventure, Unknown Worlds Entertainment.
In an official press release in July 2025, publisher Krafton confirmed, however, that's there's been a big leadership change.
Steve Papoutsis, who directed Dead Space 3 and served as producer on Dead Space 2 has now been appointed CEO of Unknown worlds, and will "oversee the studios overall management and creative direction".
"Papoutsis replaces the previous leadership team — Ted Gill, Charlie Cleveland, and Max McGuire — effective immediately," the official press release statement reads. "While Krafton sought to keep the Unknown Worlds' co-founders and original creators of the Subnautica series involved in the game's development, the company wishes them well on their next endeavors."
"Importantly, Krafton is confident that Papoutsis, with decades of experience behind the planning, development, and production of some of the highest-rated game franchises, will bring renewed energy and momentum to delivering the long-anticipated Subnautica 2 experience to fans."
Cleveland later addressed the "shock dismissal", saying that, "I want you to know that whatever happens to the founders, to the team and to the game, our priority is, and has always been, to make the best damned game we can for the best community in the world."
Not long after news of a leadership change in 2025, reports that the original director was actually suing the parent company surfaced. The community expressed their worries in the wake of these developments, but Unknown Worlds later addressed some of these concerns in a statement confirming there will be "no subscriptions, no lootboxes", and "no battle pass", alongside reaffirming it will remain a single-player first experience.
Fast forward to March 2026, and as per Bloomburg Law, a judge ruling ordered that CEO Ted Gill must be reinstated, and "may proceed with the Early Access release of Subnautica 2 when he deems it appropriate". In a statement to GamesRadar+ following the news, publisher Krafton said:
"KRAFTON puts players at the heart of every decision, and that will never change. Over the past several months, KRAFTON and the Unknown Worlds team have worked tirelessly to strengthen the game and prepare it for an Early Access release, with a continued focus on delivering the best possible experience for the Subnautica community. We look forward to pushing out the newly updated version as soon as possible for players.
"While we respectfully disagree with today’s ruling, we are evaluating our options as we determine our path forward. Today’s ruling does not resolve the former executives’ claim for damages or an earnout related to Subnautica 2, with further litigation still pending. In the meantime, KRAFTON's immediate focus remains unchanged: delivering the best possible game to Subnautica’s fans."
For more future releases, check out our lists of all the upcoming Xbox Series X games and new PC games heading our way.
