Everything you need to know before diving into Subnautica 2's Early Access: what's in at launch, what's coming, and what the developers plan to build.
Table of Contents
What's New In Subnautica 2
Subnautica 2 is set on a completely new alien planet. The story is standalone, so new players don't need prior knowledge, though series fans will find lore callbacks to the Kharaa incident and the Alterra corporation scattered throughout.
The jump to Unreal Engine 5 brings noticeably better cave lighting and environmental detail with dense volumetric fog and intentionally short draw distances to preserve the original's signature ocean atmosphere.
The BioMod System
The BioMod system lets you interact with alien lifeforms to acquire new physical traits and abilities, essentially modifying your own biology to adapt to the planet. Early unlocks include basic things like food digestion; the system expands significantly as you explore deeper.
Bloom
Bloom is an infectious disease spreading across the planet, affecting both wildlife and plant clusters. Infected creatures become hostile, and finding a cure is one of the main story threads in this sequel.
Vehicles
| Vehicle | Status |
|---|---|
| Tadpole (base) | Available at launch |
| Tadpole + Scout Ray Chassis | Available at launch |
| Tadpole + Hull Chassis | Available at launch |
| Mech Suit (Prawn Suit equivalent) | In development |
| Large Submarine (Cyclops equivalent) | Long-term development |
Leviathans
Five Leviathan types are available at Early Access launch. More are planned for the Early Access period.
| Leviathan | Type |
|---|---|
| The Collector | Aggressive |
| Shiver Leviathan | Aggressive |
| Giant Coral Crab | Non-aggressive |
| Great Jaw | Ambiguous |
| Deep Wing Brooder | Ambiguous |
Base Building
Base building has been redesigned as a sculptural system. You place a base form and physically pull on sections to reshape it. Windows are customizable in size and shape, with lighting that responds to the opening you create. It's the most expressive base building the series has had.
Co-op
Co-op is optional and supports up to 4 players with PC/Xbox cross-play. At its core, Subnautica 2 is still fundamentally a single-player game, but co‑op gives you someone to share the isolation of the deep with.
What's in the Launch Build
| Feature | At Launch |
|---|---|
| Story Content | Chapter 1 (~20 hrs average; up to 70+ for completionists) |
| Co-op | Yes. Up to 4 players, PC/Xbox cross-play |
| Creative Mode | Yes |
| Survival Mode | Yes |
| BioMod System | Yes |
| Tadpole + 2 Chassis | Yes |
| Leviathans | 5 types |
| Proximity Chat | No (Confirmed for Update 2) |
| Sprint | No confirmed for Update 1 |
| Large Submarine | No (Planned for long-term development) |
Subnautica 2 Roadmap
Update 1: Quality of Life
Arriving shortly after launch. Focused on usability and core system polish.
- BioMod system improvements and expanded inventory slots
- Sprint function added
- Storage system improvements
- Expanded Blight encounter content
- Additional shipwreck gameplay
- Vehicle docking and crafting improvements
- Expanded PDA and databank entries
- Voice log priority system
Update 2: Co-op Focus
Focused on strengthening the multiplayer experience.
- Proximity chat (most-requested community feature post-announcement)
- Animated emotes
- Player reviving system
- World ping system improvements
- Base builder tool improvements
- Pinned Recipe system for on-screen resource tracking
- Additional character customization options
Long-Term
- New biomes and creatures added throughout Early Access
- Story continues in chapters (Chapter 1 at launch; full game targets 10 chapters)
- Additional vehicles
- Large submarine (Cyclops equivalent) in long-term development
- Mining and Automation system planned
- Farming System planned
Subnautica 2 Product Information
| Subnautica 2 | |
|---|---|
| Price | Steam, Epic Games, Xbox: $29.99 Available in PC Game Pass and Ultimate Subscription |
| Release Date | May 14, 2026 (Early Access) |
| Available Platforms | PC (Steam, Epic Games, Xbox), Xbox X|S |
| Estimated File Size | PC / Xbox X|S: 50GB |
| Publisher | Unknown Worlds Entertainment |
| Supported Languages | English, German, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, French, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Italian, Russian, Ukrainian |
| Official Site | Subnautica 2 |
