Summary
- Subnautica 2 is the franchise’s most ambitious entry yet, according to the developer.
- The game is set to launch in Early Access sometime in 2025.
- Unknown Worlds plans to keep Subnautica 2 in Early Access for 2-3 years, with regular content updates throughout.
Developer Unknown Worlds Entertainment said Subnautica 2 is the result of everything the studio has learned from previous games and will be the “biggest and most ambitious” entry in the franchise to date. Subnautica 2 will launch in Early Access sometime in 2025, and the developer has revealed an early look at some of its features and environments, while teasing exciting additions for the survival game.
Subnautica is a critically acclaimed open-world survival game released in 2018, where players assume the role of a lone survivor on a spaceship that crashed on an ocean planet. Players start with very limited resources and must explore the vast ocean to gather essential materials for crafting, repairing the ship, and surviving — with the ultimate goal of eventually escaping the planet. Players are constantly managing health, hunger, thirst, and oxygen levels, alongside other engaging survival mechanics. While the game remains popular, the developer announced Subnautica 2 in 2024, promising a more expansive experience. Now, Unknown Worlds has revealed more details about the sequel.
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In a dev blog, the studio shared some of Subnautica 2’s gameplay elements and features, while hinting at the game’s scale and what players can look forward to. Design lead Anthony Gallego commented on the game’s development, saying that the new entry is “shaping up to be our biggest and most ambitious Subnautica game ever.” Gallego expressed his eagerness to let players explore the game sometime in 2025, when Subnautica 2 launches in Early Access on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
Subnautica 2 Will Be Bigger and More Ambitious Than Previous Games
To shape Subnautica 2’s features and world, Gallego said the team is using all the experience it gained from working on the previous games and applying it to the new entry. The game will feature new vehicles, craftables, biomes, and leviathans. It will also evolve some of the building mechanics, introducing new elements like support pillars and superconducting foundations, while offering an improved version of the scanner. The recently released trailer also hinted at changes to the inventory system, which seems to have been reworked in Subnautica 2.
Subnautica 2 will also introduce an online multiplayer co-op mode, supporting up to 4 players. While the specific release date remains unknown, the developer plans to keep the game in Early Access for about 2 to 3 years, as it aims to deliver “quality at a reasonable pace.” During the Early Access period, players can expect several updates adding new content, such as biomes, creatures, craftables, and much more to Subnautica 2.
- Developer(s)
- Unknown Worlds Entertainment
- Publisher(s)
- Krafton
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op
- Franchise
- Subnautica
