When does Subnautica 2 Early Access start?
May 14, 2026 at 08:00 PDT (15:00 UTC). Not a midnight release. For Japan and eastern Australia that lands after midnight on May 15.
20 questions, plain answers. We update this page whenever Unknown Worlds drops new info.
May 14, 2026 at 08:00 PDT (15:00 UTC). Not a midnight release. For Japan and eastern Australia that lands after midnight on May 15.
$29.99 USD on Steam, Epic, and Xbox. Unknown Worlds has warned the price will go up once the game leaves Early Access, so the EA window is the cheapest entry. Included with an active Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass subscription at no extra charge.
Yes, up to 4 players online. Solo play is also a full option. No split-screen, no couch co-op.
Yes. Official listings point to cross-platform multiplayer across Steam, Epic, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, ROG Xbox Ally, and Game Pass. PS5 and Switch are not in the game at all, so friends on those platforms cannot connect.
Yes. Day-one on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass as a Game Preview title. Game Preview is Xbox's name for early access, which means expect updates and rough edges throughout the EA period.
Steam, Epic, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, ROG Xbox Ally, Game Pass Ultimate, and PC Game Pass. No PlayStation, no Nintendo. PS5 and Switch are not listed by Unknown Worlds or any official storefront.
Windows 10 or 11, an Intel i5-8400 or Ryzen 5 2600, 12 GB of RAM, a GTX 1660 6GB or RX 5500 XT 6GB, DirectX 12, and 50 GB of free space. Broadband is required for co-op but not for solo.
No. It is Early Access. The first build has a working core game (biomes, creatures, vehicles, base building, co-op), but expect more content to land in patches across the EA period. The original Subnautica spent four years in EA before its 1.0 in 2018.
Same answer: 08:00 PDT / 15:00 UTC on May 14, 2026. Steam usually unlocks at the listed time; platform rollouts on Epic, Xbox, and Game Pass can vary.
Yes. The Steam store page is live now with pre-purchase, system requirements, and the official feature list.
Yes. Same release date and same $29.99 launch price as Steam. Pick the PC launcher you already use, but remember that Steam and Epic have different account, friends-list, cloud-save, and launcher ecosystems.
Yes, on Xbox Series X|S and via Xbox Play Anywhere on PC. Game Preview, Game Pass Ultimate, and PC Game Pass all include it on day one.
Not at launch. Unknown Worlds has not listed any PlayStation version. The original Subnautica and Below Zero did eventually come to PlayStation, so a later port is plausible but unannounced. Treat any PS5 release date you see online as fan speculation unless it cites an Unknown Worlds or Krafton source.
No. Unknown Worlds has not announced or listed any Nintendo platform for Subnautica 2. The original Switch hardware would also struggle with the engine: the first Subnautica already ran below 30 FPS on Switch. Switch 2 is technically capable but again, no announcement.
No. Online co-op for up to 4 players only. If you want to play with someone in the same room, both of you need your own PC or Xbox and your own copy or Game Pass access.
Yes. Solo play is supported from day one, and co-op is optional. Unknown Worlds has not detailed every save-hosting rule yet, so wait for the launch build before assuming how solo saves, hosted worlds, and co-op sessions convert between modes.
Unknown Worlds has not announced cross-save between PC and Xbox. Xbox Play Anywhere does sync saves between Xbox console and Xbox on PC, but jumping a save from Steam to Xbox (or the other way) is not confirmed. Plan to pick one ecosystem per save.
No official preload window has been announced yet. Watch your storefront (Steam, Epic, or the Xbox app) and the official Subnautica channels for the install button to appear. Free up 50 GB of disk space now so you are ready when it does.
Steam lists 50 GB of available storage under PC requirements. That is the install planning number. Unknown Worlds has not published a separate compressed download size, and the final download can vary by platform and storefront.
We are a fan wiki. We do not republish trailer text, full screenshots, or other copyrighted material from Unknown Worlds or Krafton. Everything here is summarized in our own wording, with original concept art and clearly attributed quotes when needed.
These pages cover the stuff that doesn't fit in a one-line answer.