More than seven years after the original Subnautica first arrived on Xbox, players are finally able to dive into the next chapter of the series. Subnautica 2 has officially launched in Game Preview on Xbox Series X|S and PC, while also entering Early Access on Steam. The best bit? If you have Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass, you can dive in right now.
But before anyone jumps headfirst into the ocean, one thing needs making very clear – this is not the finished version of the game.
Published and developed by Unknown Worlds Entertainment, Subnautica 2 is launching as a work-in-progress build that will continue evolving over time with new creatures, biomes, story content, vehicles and features added throughout development.
This is the start of the journey, not the final destination.
At A Glance
- Game: Subnautica 2
- Developer: Unknown Worlds Entertainment
- Publisher: Unknown Worlds Entertainment
- Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PC, Steam, Play Anywhere
- Price: Free with Game Pass, otherwise £25.99
- Genre: Survival Adventure
Returning To The Depths
Subnautica 2 takes players to an entirely new alien ocean world following a disastrous colony mission involving the ship CICADA. Stranded far from safety and pushed forward by a suspiciously persistent AI system, players must survive, explore and uncover exactly what has gone wrong beneath the surface.
As expected, exploration once again forms the heart of the experience. Players scan alien wildlife, gather resources, build underwater bases and slowly push deeper into increasingly dangerous waters while attempting to survive the planet’s hostile ecosystem.
That sense of discovery was always one of the original game’s greatest strengths. In our 2018 review of Subnautica, we wrote: “It’s rare for a game to provide such an amazing and deeply rewarding sense of discovery.”
Co-Op Finally Arrives
Perhaps the biggest addition this time around is optional online co-op multiplayer.
Subnautica 2 can still be played solo, but players also have the option to explore the ocean world alongside up to three friends online. Unknown Worlds says the game is being designed primarily as a single-player experience first, with co-op acting as an additional way to experience the world together.
That multiplayer support has been one of the community’s most requested features for years, making its inclusion here a major moment for the franchise.
Built Around Early Access Development
Unlike a full launch, Subnautica 2 is entering Game Preview and Early Access in an unfinished state.
“The Early Access launch of Subnautica 2 marks the beginning of an adventure to chart the unknown deep alongside players worldwide,” said Fernando Melo, Executive Producer of Subnautica 2. “Player feedback is the compass guiding our direction, and we will continue building the experience together with the community throughout Early Access.”
Unknown Worlds has openly stated that players should expect bugs, missing features, performance issues and in-development systems during this phase. Additional story content, creatures, equipment, vehicles and customisation options are all planned for future updates as development continues. The studio also emphasises that community feedback will directly help shape the final game over time.
For players comfortable joining a project early and watching it evolve, that open development process will likely feel familiar. Others may prefer waiting until the full release arrives further down the line. It’s your cash and time, do with it what you will…
A Huge Return For One Of Survival Gaming’s Biggest Names
The original Subnautica became one of the standout survival games of its generation thanks to its atmosphere, exploration and constant tension between beauty and danger. We first covered the sequel’s reveal all the way back in 2024, and anticipation has only grown since then.
Now the next chapter is finally playable – even if the adventure is still far from complete.
For those ready to descend back into alien waters, Subnautica 2’s Game Preview form is available now on Game Pass, Xbox Series X|S and PC with Xbox Play Anywhere support via the Xbox Store. It’s also in Early Access on Steam.
Just remember: if something enormous starts moving beneath you, swimming faster is rarely the solution.
