Unknown Worlds Entertainment, the team behind theSubnauticaseries, has officially revealed a sequel to the original game,Subnautica 2, which had previously been heavily teased for some time.Subnautica 2’s teaser trailerpremiered at the October 2024 Xbox Partner Showcase, giving fans an idea of what to expect from the sequel. The first twoSubnauticaindie games are beloved by many, and withSubnautica 2backed by publisher Krafton, it is expected to be a significant evolution from the alreadythrillingSubnautica: Below Zero.
While the reveal trailer is a welcome sneak peek, it left players hanging in the meantime.Unknown Worlds plans to make more announcements as time goes on,disclosing more about the new game, such as the release date and pricing. Below is everything that is known aboutSubnautica 2so far, including important details such as the confirmed in-game features and content, as well as its possible pricing and release window.
Subnautica 2 Early Access & Release Window Explained
What Players Can Expect With Its Release
From what has been disclosed, Unknown Worlds Entertainment and Krafton intend to release early access to the game in 2025. With an early access game, it’s essential to keep in mind that the game is not finished, but it allows the developers to truly consider all the feedback and incorporate it into the finished product.It is uncertain how long early access will last exactly, but according toSubnautica 2’s early access FAQ onSteam,early access is expected to last around two to three yearsto have the game at its best.
The originalSubnauticaalso had a lengthy early access period, lasting just over three years.
Despite no confirmation on a release date, based on the timeline for the gaming industry and the timing of the announcement,it seems likely that it could be released mid-year 2025as the game is still going through beta testing and general development. It’s also possible that the teaser trailer is merely the beginning of a longer marketing cycle, with a release potentially coming in late 2025. There’s a possibility that more information on the topic, potentially alongside another trailer, will be shared onSubnautica’s 10th birthday, June 22, 2025.
Subnautica 2 Confirmed Platforms & Rumored Price
Where To Play The New Subnautica Game
ReleasingSubnautica 2into early access follows a proven strategy for Unknown Worlds, letting players provide input on the in-development project, but it does limit the number of platforms the game can be expected to release on.Subnautica 2will be available to play on PC through Steam, Epic Games Store, and the Microsoft Store, and on Xbox Series X/S,as well as access through Xbox Game Pass on day one.
Sony seems to have stricter requirements for early access games on PlayStation; it’s unclear if this is keepingSubnautica 2off PS4 and PS5 for the time-being, or if there is an exclusivity deal in place.
WithSubnautica 2being an early-access game, it will likely be priced lower than the finished game.A safe estimate puts its early access cost around 10–15 USD, with its full release increasing to around $30, as the studio’s prior games are available at $29.99.Subnautica 2’s price has not been announced yet, but the studio has confirmed there will be no subsequent purchases, as the game is intended to grow via free updates. If affordability is a concern, the cheapest will most likely be during early access.
Teaser Trailer & Gameplay Details
Subnautica 2 Looks Promising
The trailer that was released has hidden reveals of new features for theSubnauticaseries, requiring fans to take a closer look at it. Alongside the announcement, the game’s Steam page also provides players with a short description of what to expect in terms of its plot:
You are a pioneer traveling to a distant world, but something is amiss. The ship’s AI insists you carry on the mission. This world is too dangerous for humans to survive… Unless you change what it means to be human. What creatures, intelligent or otherwise, await your arrival?
With the storyline indicatingAI as its main antagonist,it is clear that this is in response to the current scene with AI on the rise. Generative AI models are mainly based on other people’s creative work, stealing content, and can be misleading by providing false information, and its presence in the game seems to highlight the evil nature of it.
The trailer also reveals new biomes and sea creatures to discover,and a new submarine called the Tadpole, as well as a new seaglide, the Wakemaker. It’s uncertain what this submarine will feature, but developers have also hints at the possibility of a bigger interior for the Tadpole when answering questions on the game’s offiicalDiscordserver. In terms of the seaglide, from what has been shown in the trailer, it looks like it was replaced with the Wakemaker as a solution for the amount of space the original took, blocking the screen, hence the Wakemaker being made invisible.
The trailer also features a scanner tool, like the spectroscope scanner in the original, for analyzing the variety of species, but there will be no guns in the game, abiding by the series' anti-violence core while also staying true to physics. In terms of realism, the graphics are not meant to be realistic but rather follow from the original game’s art style. The experience is intended to remain immersive, with developers also stating thatthey are “planning on prodding at people’s primal fears.”
How Subnautica: Below Zero Is Better Than The First Game
Subnautica: Below Zero provides many improvements over the first game, including weather, new vehicles, and a main character with a personal story.
Otherwise, it has been confirmed viaUnknown Worlds' website thatSubnautica 2will feature multiplayer co-op with 2–4 players. This will not be a separate, dedicated multiplayer mode, but rather allow for players to experience the whole game together with friends.Subnauticamultiplayer was only possible with modsin the original game, but the new title will have it ingrained already on Unreal Engine 5. The game world is also confirmed to be a new planet entirely, with a map size bigger and deeperthanSubnautica, as pointed out byGame Rant.
This freshness toSubnauticais intentional, as one of the sequel’s developers shared thatUnknown Worlds is working to make it new for players while also staying true to the series, using the original game as its “north star.”For those hoping to be involved inSubnautica 2’s early access journey, the game’s official Discord server is likely the place to contribute. Changes like expanded food options to include vegan diets, for instance, have already been implemented, and there will likely be many more opportunities to shape the game’s development after its early access release in 2025.
