Subnautica 2
The Community Subnautica 2 Wiki

Subnautica 2 Wiki

Independent Subnautica 2 wiki tracking every confirmed creature, vehicle, biome, base part and dev log from Unknown Worlds. Early Access on PC, Xbox Series and Game Pass on May 14, 2026.

EA · MAY 14 2026

Field Manual

What's in the wiki

May 2026 · Latest News

The week Subnautica 2 went pre-purchase

Three drops from Unknown Worlds in the final stretch: the gameplay trailer, the First Dive Showcase, and a community thank you for hitting 5 million wishlists.

May 11, 2026Community Reward

5 million wishlists, one Reaper statue for everyone

Unknown Worlds confirmed the wishlist counter crossed five million across PC and Xbox. Every player on every platform unlocks the Reaper Leviathan Statue blueprint as a permanent in-game item, not a launch-week giveaway. Original announcement: a 12-second Subnautica community Short.

May 11, 2026Storefronts

Pre-purchase and pre-load are live

Subnautica 2 is now available for pre-purchase at 29,99€ on Steam, Epic and Xbox Series X|S. Steam users can pre-load the build, and a Subnautica Deep Ocean Bundle stacks Subnautica 1 and Below Zero with the new release at a 50% loyalty discount.

May 9, 2026First Dive Showcase

Gameplay trailer + 2-hour developer showcase

Unknown Worlds streamed a near three-hour First Dive Showcase featuring guest PointCrow. The session debuted the Early Access Gameplay Trailer, walked through new biomes and the Tadpole submersible, and confirmed Day One on Xbox Game Pass.

Unlock Times · May 14, 2026

What time does Subnautica 2 release in your timezone

Steam, Epic and Xbox all unlock at the same moment worldwide: 15:00 UTC on May 14, 2026. Steam Asia and Oceania regions wake up to a May 15 unlock.

RegionTimezoneUnlock timeLocal date
Los Angeles, VancouverPDT · UTC-708:00Thu, May 14 2026
Denver, PhoenixMDT · UTC-609:00Thu, May 14 2026
Chicago, Mexico CityCDT · UTC-510:00Thu, May 14 2026
New York, TorontoEDT · UTC-411:00Thu, May 14 2026
São Paulo, Buenos AiresBRT · UTC-312:00Thu, May 14 2026
London, Lisbon, DublinBST · UTC+116:00Thu, May 14 2026
Paris, Berlin, MadridCEST · UTC+217:00Thu, May 14 2026
Athens, Istanbul, KyivEEST · UTC+318:00Thu, May 14 2026
Dubai, Abu DhabiGST · UTC+419:00Thu, May 14 2026
Mumbai, New DelhiIST · UTC+5:3020:30Thu, May 14 2026
Bangkok, JakartaICT · UTC+722:00Thu, May 14 2026
Beijing, Singapore, ManilaCST · UTC+823:00Thu, May 14 2026
Tokyo, SeoulJST · UTC+900:00Fri, May 15 2026
Sydney, MelbourneAEST · UTC+1001:00Fri, May 15 2026
Auckland, WellingtonNZST · UTC+1203:00Fri, May 15 2026

Source: Unknown Worlds confirmed the global unlock window in the Subnautica 2 Cinematic Trailer description on April 30, 2026, then again in the First Dive Showcase on May 9, 2026. Steam region locks are tied to the same UTC moment. Xbox Game Pass unlocks alongside the standard edition at 15:00 UTC.

Featured Trailer

Early Access gameplay trailer

Premiered May 9, 2026 at the First Dive Showcase. The Tadpole submersible, multiplayer dives and the CICADA storyline in 1:38.

Sets up the premise on camera. Alterra ships the Pioneers off-world aboard the colony vessel CICADA, the on-board AI overrides the destination, and the survivors land on an alien ocean planet with one job: stay alive long enough to find out why.

Release Dossier

Source · Unknown Worlds + Steam

Early Access
May 14, 2026
Price
29,99€ pre-purchase (Steam, Epic, Xbox)
Developer
Unknown Worlds Entertainment
Publisher
Unknown Worlds Entertainment
Franchise
Subnautica · KRAFTON, Inc.
Engine
Unreal Engine 5
Genre
Action, Adventure, Early Access
Platforms
PC (Steam, Epic), Xbox Series X|S
Game Pass
Day One on Xbox Game Pass
Multiplayer
1 to 4 co-op, cross-platform, no PvP
Steam Deck
Verified
Languages
11 supported, English full audio
EA duration
2 to 3 years estimated

The Story

What Subnautica 2 actually is

A grounded summary of the sequel, sourced from Unknown Worlds' own blog posts, dev vlogs and the Steam product page.

Premise: stranded on an alien moon

Conflict pushes humanity off-world. Alterra answers with a new offer: passage on the colony ship CICADA to a fresh start on an uncharted ocean moon. Mid-voyage the ship's AI overrides its handlers and insists the mission must continue at any cost. The Pioneers wake up stranded on a world that may not want them there.

The setting is brand new. Subnautica 2 takes place after both Subnautica: Below Zero and the Natural Selection chapter of the studio's broader timeline. No characters, locations, creatures or vehicles return from the previous games. Unknown Worlds has been explicit that the cast, ecosystem and tone are all built from scratch.

Long-forgotten ruins on the seabed hint that the Pioneers are not the first arrivals here. Decoding why the AI is so determined to keep going is the spine of the Early Access narrative.

Gameplay loop: dive, scan, build, return

Subnautica 2 keeps the survival rhythm that defined the franchise. Surface for oxygen, dive for resources, scan everything alive (and most things that are not), then carry it back to a base you customise on the seabed. The Tadpole submersible is the starter craft for venturing past the shallows. More vehicles and modules unlock through Early Access updates.

Co-op is optional. Up to four players share one ocean with drop-in, drop-out joining and cross-platform play between PC and Xbox Series. There is no PvP, no battle pass, no microtransactions, no subscription, no generative AI involved in development, and there are no plans for VR support.

Pick from four pre-designed Pioneer characters at Early Access launch, with more character options and customisation rolling in over the next two to three years of updates.

Game Data

Subnautica 2 at-a-glance data sheet

Steam page intel: tags, accessibility, Steam Deck rating, cross-platform support, language coverage.

Steam tags

  • Multiplayer
  • Underwater
  • Survival
  • Horror
  • Exploration

Platform features

  • Single-player
  • Online Co-op
  • Cross-Platform Multiplayer
  • Steam Cloud
  • Family Sharing
  • Full Controller Support

Accessibility (11 features)

  • Steam Deck Verified
  • Full controller remapping
  • Subtitle support for every language
  • Adjustable UI and HUD
  • Detailed by Unknown Worlds at EA launch

Languages with full audio

  • English

Languages with subtitles

  • German
  • Korean
  • Brazilian Portuguese
  • Latin American Spanish
  • Plus six more confirmed at EA

Confirmed bundle

  • Subnautica Deep Ocean Bundle
  • 3-game pack: Subnautica + Below Zero + Subnautica 2
  • Up to 50% loyalty discount
  • 40,47€ if you own no prior entries

Lineage

Subnautica 1's lineup

42 fully-rendered creatures shipped in the original. Sub 2 inherits this design DNA on a new planet.

Hardware

PC system requirements

Posted by Unknown Worlds on Steam alongside the release date.

Spec
Minimum
Recommended
OS
Windows 10 / 11 (64-bit)
Windows 11 (64-bit)
CPU
Intel Core i5-8400 / AMD Ryzen 5 2600
Intel Core i7-13700 / AMD Ryzen 7 7700X
RAM
12 GB
16 GB
GPU
GTX 1660 6GB / RX 5500 XT 6GB
RTX 3070 8GB / RX 6700 XT 8GB
DirectX
Version 12
Version 12
Storage
50 GB
50 GB SSD
Source: Steam · 1962700Subject to change before EA

Answers

Quick FAQ

01

When does Subnautica 2 release?

Subnautica 2 enters Early Access on May 14, 2026 at 08:00 PDT / 15:00 UTC. Unknown Worlds locked the date in the Cinematic Trailer published April 30, 2026, after first announcing the 2026 window alongside the Take a Deep Breath gameplay reveal in July 2025.

02

What time does Subnautica 2 release in my timezone?

All platforms unlock at the same UTC moment, 15:00 on May 14, 2026. That works out to 08:00 PDT in Los Angeles, 11:00 EDT in New York, 16:00 BST in London, 17:00 CEST in Berlin, 18:00 EEST in Athens, 20:30 IST in New Delhi and 23:00 in Singapore. Tokyo, Seoul, Sydney and Auckland tick over to May 15 at 00:00 JST, 01:00 AEST and 03:00 NZST.

03

How much does Subnautica 2 cost?

Pre-purchase is 29,99€ on Steam, Epic Games Store and Xbox. Steam users can already pre-load the build. Unknown Worlds has confirmed the price will go up after Early Access ends, so the pre-purchase price is effectively the lowest the game will ever be.

04

Is Subnautica 2 on Xbox Game Pass?

Yes. Subnautica 2 launches Day One on Xbox Game Pass, confirmed in the First Dive Showcase on May 9, 2026. The Game Pass version is the full Early Access build, not a limited trial.

05

How do I get the Reaper Leviathan Statue blueprint?

Just own the game. Unknown Worlds promised the Reaper Leviathan Statue blueprint to every player on every platform as a thank you for hitting 5 million wishlists. It is not gated to a launch window, you can claim it any time after starting the game.

06

Does Subnautica 2 have multiplayer?

Yes. Up to four players in the same world with drop-in, drop-out co-op and cross-platform support between PC and Xbox Series. There is no PvP. Solo play is fully supported and the campaign is balanced to be playable alone.

07

Where does Subnautica 2 take place?

On a brand new alien ocean world. The Alterra corporation ships a group of Pioneers off-world aboard the colony vessel CICADA. When the ship's AI insists on continuing its own agenda, you and the rest of the crew end up stranded on the planet below.

08

What platforms is Subnautica 2 on?

PC via Steam and Epic Games Store, plus Xbox Series X|S at Early Access launch. Subnautica 2 is Steam Deck Verified on day one. There is no PlayStation or Nintendo Switch version announced. The original Subnautica added PS4 and Switch later, so more platforms remain possible after 1.0.

09

Who is developing Subnautica 2?

Unknown Worlds Entertainment, the studio behind Subnautica and Subnautica: Below Zero. Unknown Worlds is also publishing under its own banner, with Krafton listed as franchise partner. The team is fully remote, spanning the US, UK, France and Australia.

010

Will Subnautica 1 characters or creatures come back?

No. Unknown Worlds has confirmed that characters, locations, creatures and vehicles from Subnautica and Below Zero will not return. Subnautica 2 is a clean slate set on a different planet, with a new cast and a new ecosystem.

011

How long will Early Access last?

Unknown Worlds estimates roughly two to three years, mirroring how Subnautica 1 and Below Zero were developed. New biomes, creatures, craftables, narrative beats and quality fixes will land in regular updates throughout that window.

012

Will there be a Subnautica 2 demo or beta?

No public demo or beta has been announced. The first time anyone outside Unknown Worlds plays the game is at Early Access launch on May 14, 2026. Pre-purchase or wishlist if you want a launch-day reminder.

013

Will Subnautica 2 have VR, microtransactions or generative AI?

No to all three. Unknown Worlds has stated there are no plans for VR support, no battle passes or microtransactions, and no generative AI used in development. The studio is sticking to its earned, premium model.

014

What languages will Subnautica 2 support at launch?

Eleven languages at Early Access, with English receiving full voice audio. German, Korean, Brazilian Portuguese and Latin American Spanish are all confirmed with interface and subtitle support. Additional language coverage is planned through the Early Access run.

015

What engine does Subnautica 2 use?

Unreal Engine 5, a generational leap from Subnautica 1's Unity build. Expect Lumen-style lighting, denser biomes, and the kind of fidelity that lets a single rendered Leviathan carry a whole dev vlog.

Sources & freshness

Every claim on this page cites a primary Unknown Worlds Entertainment source: the Steam product page (app 1962700), the official YouTube channel (@subnautica), and the unknownworlds.com developer blog. We update the wiki within hours of each new dev vlog or Steam announcement. The Subnautica 2 wiki is run by Wikily, an independent community project not affiliated with Unknown Worlds or KRAFTON.

Last updated

2026-05-14

Wikily editorial · Subnautica 2 desk