Game publisher Krafton has revealed that Subnautica 2 will feature multiplayer and has clarified a controversial "games as service" statement. Previously believed to be titled Subnautica 3, Subnautica 2 is expected to join its predecessors in the line-up of popular underwater exploration games.
Released in 2018, Subnautica takes players to an alien planet where they must fight to stay alive while discovering the secrets of an aquatic world. Subnautica 2 will see fans visiting a brand-new mysterious planet, either solo or with friends, with an entirely new gameplay model.
Subnautica Developer Teases Subnautica 3 Early Access Plans for 2024
Following the confirmation of development on a new entry in the Subnautica series, Unknown Worlds teases early access plans for Subnautica 3 in 2024.
First reported by IGN, Korean video game publisher Krafton's latest financial report states that Subnautica 2 will feature co-op gameplay and will follow a "game-as-a-service model." Both the original Subnautica video game and its follow-up release Subnautica: Below Zero are single-player experiences, though the Subnautica community has created a number of mods that allow multiplayer. Subnautica 2 will be the first in the series to officially feature up to 4-player co-op. Following backlash to the "games-as-service model" claim, it was clarified that it means it will "continually update the game for many years to come," similar to how the previous games were handheld. There will be no seasons passes, battle passes, or subscriptions.
While co-op gaming remains incredibly popular, making the leap from single-player to multiplayer often faces mixed results. Fans of solo video game experiences may feel left behind, while co-op lovers may be weary of jumping into an existing franchise. When done right, though, longtime fans can enjoy new gameplay experiences and broader audiences can be introduced to beloved stories. As players await further details on the live-service multiplayer format of Subnautica 2, fans continue to enjoy the existing releases in the franchise.
Subnautica
- Released
- January 23, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
You have crash-landed on an alien ocean world, and the only way to go is down. Subnautica's oceans range from sun drenched shallow coral reefs to treacherous deep-sea trenches, lava fields, and bio-luminescent underwater rivers. Manage your oxygen supply as you explore kelp forests, plateaus, reefs, and winding cave systems. The water teems with life: Some of it helpful, much of it harmful.
After crash landing in your Life Pod, the clock is ticking to find water, food, and to develop the equipment you need to explore. Collect resources from the ocean around you. Craft knives, lights, diving gear, and personal water craft. Venture deeper and further form to find rarer resources, allowing you to craft more advanced items.
Build bases on the sea floor. Choose layouts and components, and manage hull-integrity as depth and pressure increase. Use your base to store resources, park vehicles, and replenish oxygen supplies as you explore the vast ocean.
- Developer(s)
- Unknown Worlds Entertainment
- Publisher(s)
- Gearbox Publishing
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
