Subnautica 2 news & patch notes

Hello Subnauts,

Subnautica 2’s Early Access 1.1 update, Adaptive Measures, is out now! This update includes a ton of quality-of-life fixes, including the much-requested FOV slider, and adds targeted improvements to the game.

Anything marked with a 🤿 indicates a change that came directly from community feedback!

The Adaptive Measures update should appear as a free, automatic download. If the update doesn’t appear for you, you may need to restart Steam. If you continue to experience issues, please contact our support team here.

Alongside this update, we’ve also added higher-quality versions (MP3 and FLAC) of the tracks on the Subnautica 2 soundtrack available for purchase.

And, in case you missed it, you can also watch Design Lead Anthony Gallegos walk you through some of the changes we’ve made with this update over on YouTube.

If you’ve landed on this post and are interested in playing Subnautica 2, head over to the Steam store page now to check it out!

Have ideas you’d love to see in Subnautica 2? Submit them on our Nolt.io page and upvote other suggestions from the community. Experiencing bugs? Let us know through the in-game reporting tool or on our support website. Don’t forget to join our official Discord to chat and share all your theories, speculation, and thoughts about Subnautica 2 with other fans. Keep Diving!

Patch Notes

Gameplay

• Smoothed out Biomod progression throughout the early game to give players more opportunities to discover and use the Biomod system.

• Added two more Biolabs, one in Coral Gardens and one in Axum Ruins.

• Players can now unlock a total of six Biomods from Biolabs found throughout the world, up from four previously.

• Players can now unlock additional passive Biomod slots by scanning creatures with the Bioscanner.

• Players can now see the number of scans required for each slot unlock and their total number of Bioscans.

• Creative mode now unlocks all Biomods by default.

• Added unlock badges to display newly unlocked items in the Biolab.

• Improved the wreck exploration experience with additional traversal and oxygen puzzles.

• Ensured visual language on doors and buttons is more consistent throughout wreck interiors.

• Moved and added rewards to reflect the various puzzle changes better.

• Applied general cleanup, visual adjustments, and standardization across wreck environments.

• Players are now able to sprint when out of the water, either on the surface or in their base.

• Added default sprint mapping to allow players to remap sprint in settings.

• Reduced default walk speed to balance with the new sprint speed.

Fauna & Flora

• 🤿 Added proper fleeing behaviour for most creatures when attacked by the Survival Multitool, preventing retaliation except defensively for a period afterward.

• 🤿 Added a brief dizzy state for most creatures after being hit by the Sonic Resonator, preventing retaliation except defensively for a period afterward.

• Improved particle fish grouping when swimming in groups.

• Added missing scan data icon for Periscopic Clowncrab.

• Added missing scan data icon for Necrolei.

• Revised the Creature Naming and Discovery System to align with the previous game.

• Improved Bloom Parasite behavior implementation and made it the primary encounter creature.

• Balanced the Bloom encounter in Coral Gardens and Ruins areas to better align with game progression.

Resources

• Adjusted several resources to ensure they have the correct Resonatable and Breakable data.

• 🤿 Applied additional Silver updates in Coral Gardens.

• 🤿 Added a Silver hint dialogue line when near Silver areas.

Base Building

• 🤿 Increased the max deconstruct size of bases.

• 🤿 Addressed user experience issues with the Vehicle Dock and Fabricator to improve placement ease and clarity when the build area is obstructed or docking is unavailable.

• Changed the placement of the Vehicle Dock and Fabricator to fit into smaller rooms and align with hatches and other base elements.

• Reduced the size of the Vehicle Dock platform and rails to require less space during placement.

• 🤿 Improved the readability of placement ghosts when positioned behind objects or intersecting the water surface.

• Added additional feedback messages to clarify when the Moonpool needs to be enlarged for vehicle fabrication or docking.

• Added a new storage base buildable that does not contribute to nearby crafting systems, allowing stored items to be excluded from recipe completion.

Menus & UI

• 🤿 Added a FOV slider to Settings.

• Added a Discord and support site button to the Main Menu.

• Reorganized databank entries, with further UI visual and layout changes planned for a future update.

Art & Visual FX

• Created a new art asset for the storage cache, with previous in-game unlocks updated to use the new asset.

• Added the World Tree Relic decoration (seen in the trailer) as a buildable item.

• 🤿 VFX indicating which objects are blocking deconstruction and building are now visible through walls.

Animation

• Improved third-person animation for players when on land.

• Added eye blink and eye tracking for players.

Voice & Narrative

• 🤿 Audiologs no longer auto-play, reducing confusion, especially in multiplayer, where different players could trigger them for everyone. Unlocked audiologs now provide a notification only and are added to the PDA, where players can replay them at any time. Replayed audiologs play only for the individual player and continue playing even after the PDA is closed.

• Improved the dialogue priority system to better determine which audio plays depending on context, ensuring higher priority callouts take precedence and preventing multiple audio lines from playing simultaneously. Additional improvements to the priority system are planned for future updates. 

• 🤿 Applied updates for text and voice-over mismatches.

• Added a temporary radio sound effect to the new voice-over line related to Silver, with final voice-over coming in a future update.

Music & SFX

• Added music to the Lifepod cutscene.

Miscellaneous

• Updated the save system to handle previously unlocked Biomods.

• Improved performance and stability of the Lifepod ride.

• Added a notice screen on Xbox for non-Game Pass subscribers when attempting to enter the multiplayer menu or join an online session, as a Game Pass subscription (any tier) is required to play multiplayer.

• Added an option on Xbox to report other users in multiplayer.

• Revised What Information Do We Collect and How We Share Your Information sections in the Privacy Policy

  • This revision covers how we are planning to process voice data for the upcoming Proximity Chat feature in the next update (EA 1.2)

Bug Fixes

• Fixed a potential crash when exiting from the Main Menu.

• 🤿 Fixed a crash when loading a save from a previous game version. 

• 🤿 Fixed an issue where gaming laptops with an Nvidia GPU would be capped at 60 FPS. 

• 🤿 Fixed dashing-related activities on the water surface generating excessive particles that impacted performance.

• Fixed cutting Macaron Sponge and breaking Cage Gorgon releasing unnatural particles that impacted performance.

• 🤿 Fixed performance degradation over time when playing in the Metal Farms area of the map.

• Fixed Tadpole destruction and spawning being overly performance costly

• Improved performance related to character animation.

• Applied additional performance improvements related to collision checks and gameplay errors.

• 🤿 Fixed an issue where flickering lights could be seen in foggy areas of caves. 

• Fixed TSR min and max sliders displaying incorrect values on first interaction in settings.

• Fixed non-graphic setting changes being applied instantly when leaving or switching tabs without confirmation.

• Fixed sharp shadows on gameplay light sources, such as the Scout Ray and Haul Chassis, to produce soft shadows at a distance.

• Fixed waterline post-process colouring failing to activate at night.

• 🤿 Fixed an issue where fish would sometimes get stuck in place. 

• Fixed Periscopic Clowncrab behaving unnaturally and despawning after being hit with the Sonic Resonator.

• Fixed Sandspear behaviour when unburied, requiring players to approach multiple times before it correctly initiated an attack.

• Fixed Flash Slug being listed in an incorrect databank category.

• 🤿 Fixed an issue where collecting one of Wu's blackboxes before triggering the NOA prompt for that blackbox caused the blackbox to permanently display a signal. 

• Fixed zone overlap checks being inconsistent, which could prevent the game from recognizing a player as correctly being in a room or near an object.

• Fixed the Large Power Plant not fully glowing upon scanning.

• Fixed the Sonic Resonator missing its looping resonate VFX and audio.

• 🤿 Fixed some items being incorrectly placed in the player's hand.

• Fixed the Fabricator displaying as closed when interacted with from a distance.

• Fixed the Dive Elevator occasionally failing to extend.

• Fixed the lit Survival Flare being holstered when interacting with an Adaptation core. It is now discarded instead.

• 🤿 Adjusted the position of a current that could cause player traversal issues, where the player would bump into physics and become stuck.

• Fixed gameplay being un-pausable while certain menus were open in single player.

• Fixed Water Bottles reappearing in the crate after saving and loading the game.

• Fixed missing collision between the Scout Ray Chassis fin and the character model.

• Fixed player tools clipping into the wall mount on the back of the Tadpole.

• Fixed the Tadpole spawning with zeroed rotation when created with the Vehicle Fabricator.

• 🤿 Fixed docked Tadpole shifting position after loading a save or after traveling far away and then returning.

• 🤿 Fixed Tadpole becoming uncontrollable for a player after picking up dropped equipment.

• Fixed the PDA not reacting immediately after interacting with the Cicada dive suit in the starting area.

• 🤿 Fixed the Welcome Center's NOA message log audio overlapping with audio from other dialogue sources.

• 🤿 Fixed several audiologs appearing non-functional after collection, if you traveled away from the collection location and then came back.

• Fixed players occasionally being unable to launch the Lifepod in the starting area.

• 🤿 Fixed an issue where pressing F8 to open the feedback menu during the Lifepod cutscene caused a game softlock.

• 🤿 Fixed players jumping during the Lifepod cutscene causing them to remain in the starting area after it ended.

• 🤿 Fixed the Lifepod cutscene not playing correctly or heavily stuttering for some players

• Fixed the Lifepod launch softlocking when the cutscene video file was deleted.

• Fixed Starving, Dehydration, and Dying effects triggering during the cutscene.

• Fixed the NOA Terminal being interactable from outside the Lifepod.

• 🤿 Fixed several scannable items being difficult to scan.

• Fixed the Spotlight object in Tadpole Pens not being scannable.

• 🤿 Fixed an Advanced Battery part at a specific location not being scannable.

• 🤿 Fixed regular resource nodes incorrectly displaying a "Requires Sonic Resonator" tooltip.

• 🤿 Fixed players being unable to scan Bloom Sap using the Scanner tool.

• Fixed Silver nook resource pickups using outdated logic and art.

• Fixed two Copper nodes overlapping each other inside the cave near the Old Habitat.

• Fixed a missing PDA notification pop-up upon scanning Troilite.

• Fixed the Sulfur resource not being detected by the Scanner Station in one of the Heat Zones in the Overgrown Ruins.

• Fixed a Quartz Crystal node on top of the broken piece of Coral Dome in the Shallows area not being gatherable.

• 🤿 Fixed an issue where the Shiver Leviathan wouldn't attack non-host players in a multiplayer game. 

• Fixed a Water Slug being unpickable due to Feather Kelp being placed in the same spot under the Lifepod cave.

• 🤿 Fixed fish randomly becoming stuck in one position and unable to be picked up.

• Fixed several Freesia Flowers being misplaced in the Overgrown Ruins area.

• Fixed Jellies and Surge Jelly sharing the same image in the Databank.

• Fixed Lucifer Rotsac's databank entry being listed under the Tunics section instead of Rotsacs.

• 🤿 Fixed an issue where placing a Macaron Sponge in a Growbed would cause network issues for non-host players. 

• 🤿 Fixed players without Pressure Tolerance being able to pass through the starting area scan if the Host with the Adaptation was scanned alone, causing issues for those players once on the surface.

• Fixed players appearing to float in the Awakening room when joining a multiplayer game.

• Fixed Growbed Freesia Flower size displaying incorrectly for players after rebooting the game.

• 🤿 Fixed players seeing Tadpole props and bubble effects as if the Tadpole was moving while it was docked.

• Fixed an issue where clicking an item in the builder menu would scroll to center it instead of selecting it.

• 🤿 Fixed an issue where, when two bases were connected by a Power Transmitter and the player saved and then loaded the game, one of the bases' power displays would stop displaying accurate information.

• 🤿 Fixed an issue where Growbeds placed on top of a base sometimes couldn't be deconstructed. 

• 🤿 Fixed an issue where the Collector would sometimes cause base pieces to construct instead of deconstruct when colliding with "ghost" pieces. 

• 🤿 Fixed an issue where VFX indicating construction/deconstruction blockages didn't show in some circumstances. 

• 🤿 Fixed an issue where base pieces couldn't be deconstructed even after all attachments had been removed. 

• Fixed Sea Moth decorative model's name sometimes being rendered incorrectly.

• Fixed the selection area of Main Menu buttons being offset slightly from the buttons' visible area.  

• 🤿 Fixed several Blackbox signals being deleted after retrieving them.

• Fixed signal textbox focus being lost when another player edited the signal.

• Fixed inconsistent coloring of Save Game Mode text between Save slots and the Create New Game page.

• Fixed keyboard input not being recognized after selecting a text field with a controller.

• Fixed icons remaining visible during the respawn black screen and after reprinting.

• Fixed UI options in Settings menus appearing misaligned.

• Fixed language changes not being reflected in the language option text box.

• Fixed Battery Terminal unlock progress being missing from the In Progress category after scanning its first part.

• Fixed the progress bar for downloading a Cloud Save Game being hidden on subsequent downloads.

• Fixed collapsed Blueprint categories expanding again when switching menus in the Fabricator and Builder tool.

• Fixed the close prompt not displaying the prompt key in the Report User Content window.

• Fixed specific text appearing at an inconsistent size compared to other elements in the Habitat Builder tool.

• 🤿 Fixed Underwater Blur being enabled, even when toggled off in Settings. 

• Fixed jittery movement when scrolling through Settings menu on handheld devices and controllers. 

• 🤿 Fixed an issue where handheld devices would display mouse-and-keyboard input buttons when first launched. 

• Fixed an issue where Profanity Filter setting would default to On at the start of each game session. 

• Fixed players being unable to unpin Biomod recipes once unlocked.

• Fixed the Camouflage Biomod not working correctly when stationary on the surface of the water or attached to a Tadpole.

• Fixed Biomod icon borders not displaying correctly.

• Fixed the player character animation displaying incorrectly when swimming above assets placed close to the water surface.

• Fixed some Axum logogram translations not being correctly capitalized in certain languages.

• Fixed "Pin Recipe" text overrunning the text field in certain languages.

• Fixed incorrect translation of the prompt when loading a multiplayer game save in certain languages.

• Fixed an issue where keybindings in some languages were truncated. 

• Fixed an issue where character names were cut off in some languages. 

• Fixed keybind icons not displaying correctly on the Windows Store platform.

Subnautica 2 Creative Director Anthony Gallegos is back!

This time he's walking through what you can expect from our Early Access 1.1 update, Adaptive Measures, coming out tomorrow (July 8th, 2026.)

He also outlines some of the features and content coming in the near future for our 1.2 update, and later in the year for Early Access 2.

You can continue to speculate and discuss everything about Subnautica 2 in our official Discord server. Join the community and share your thoughts with your fellow Subnauts!

Our first Dev Vlog since Subnautica 2 entered Early Access is here! 

Design Lead Anthony Gallegos shares his heartfelt thanks on behalf of the development team for the overwhelming support for Subnautica 2 so far. He’s also covering what to expect in our upcoming updates over the coming weeks and months.

We will be pivoting from the frequent, rapid hotfixes we’ve been releasing since Early Access launch to focus on our upcoming EA1.1 update. So watch out for that in a few weeks!

You can continue to speculate and discuss everything about Subnautica 2 in our official Discord server. Join the community and share your thoughts with your fellow Subnauts!

You can buy Subnautica 2 on Steam now. And don’t forget to share ideas and upvote things you’d like to see in Subnautica 2 on Nolt.io. Keep Diving!

Hello Subnauts,

We just released our third Subnautica 2 hotfix! 

In this hotfix, we’ve addressed some DLSS issues, upgraded DLSS to version 4.5, modified creature behavior further, and fixed additional crashes.

Check out the full list of changes in today’s patch below.

• Fixed issues that could cause DLSS to crash the game.

• Fixed issues that could cause DLSS settings not to be saved correctly.

• Fixed Frame Generation not being available in certain versions of the game.

• Upgraded DLSS to version 4.5.

• Reduced Interior Wall costs to 1/4 of their previous price.

• Hammerheads no longer attack unpiloted Tadpoles.

  • Hammerheads can still take an interest in Tadpoles.

• Fixed Hammerheads occasionally not being attracted to Flares.

• Increased overall damage of Marrowbreaches.

• Spaced out Marrowbreach attacks to occur less frequently.

• Reduced Nibbler perception range, making players less visible to them. 

• Increased the duration Nibblers circle the player before attacking.

• Reduced overall movement speed of the Nibblers.

• Increased sensitivity of the Nibblers to the Multitool.

• Increased overall damage of Nibblers.

• Fixed a rare crash when starting games.

• Fixed Clients (not the game host) reverting to their previous position when rejoining a multiplayer session.

• Fixed Strike Armor modification stacking additively, which could result in a potentially game-breaking state.

• Fixed goggles remaining visible in first-person view when exiting the Tadpole Haul Chassis as a passenger.

• Localized text callout on the Terms of Service acceptance screen.

• Added additional context to crash reports to provide better details for hard-to-reproduce issues.

You can continue to report bugs and issues through the in-game feedback tool and on our support website. For ideas and suggestions for gameplay, head over to our Nolt.io board.

This hotfix may take some time to roll out worldwide.

Keep diving!

Hello Subnauts,

Our second hotfix for Subnautica 2 is here! We’ve added more resource areas, adjusted Hammerhead behavior, fixed a few bugs and crashes, and made some changes to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Additional changes are currently being worked on to address community feedback on creature balance and overall graphics performance. We will continue to roll out those changes in the coming weeks.

Check out the full list of changes in today’s patch below.

• Added more Silver resource areas in early game region

• Added more Troilite resource areas in late game region

• Adjusted Hammerhead behavior so they are no longer as attracted to Tadpole lights. This previously resulted in Hammerheads following players, even back to their bases, and hanging out there trying to reach the Tadpole

• Fixed a bug where players could occasionally be teleported back to their base while exploring in a Tadpole

• Fixed an infinite oxygen bug after a player died of hunger or thirst while piloting a Tadpole

• Resolved a crash that could occur when losing connection from a multiplayer game

• Fixed a crash that could occur randomly in the late game region

• Improved performance when using Epic visual settings 

• Added callout to let players know that telemetry can be turned off at any time from settings

  • This callout is only available in English and will be translated in the next patch

• Implemented some changes to the Terms of Service

  • Revised sections include Preamble, Limited License, Gameplay Videos, Prohibited Uses, Ownership, Section Title, Player-Submitted Content, Limitation of Liability, Transfer of Terms and Conditions

• Implemented some changes to the Privacy Policy

  • Revised sections include Privacy Notice, What Information Do We Collect, How We Share Your Information, Security of Your Information

Due to the changes in the Terms of Service, you will be prompted to re-accept when you next start Subnautica 2. The changes will be effective immediately or, if required, at the end of any notice period where you live. 

Analytics for Subnautica 2 can be turned off at any time from the settings menu.

A FAQ clarifying some common community questions and a Fan Content Creator Guidelines webpage are also available.

This hotfix may take some time to roll out worldwide.

Keep diving!

Hello Subnauts, First, thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us since launch. We have been reading your reviews and comments carefully, and we understand that there are several concerns we need to address more clearly. We also understand that some recent comments from our team made players feel ignored or dismissed. We are sorry for that. Early Access should be a conversation with our players, not a one-way explanation from the development team. Your feedback matters, and we do not want any part of our communication to make the community feel otherwise. There are three areas we want to speak to directly. First, we understand that creature balance needs work. Right now, some predator encounters feel more frustrating than tense or exciting. Mitigation tools are not always clear, reliable, or satisfying, and players do not always have enough confidence in how to respond when a creature attacks. This is not the experience we want. We are actively working on improvements to creature behavior and player mitigation tools. Upcoming changes will include adjustments to creature aggression timing, aggro range, flare effectiveness, Survival Tool effectiveness, and creature interactions with vehicles and bases. These changes will be delivered over a series of upcoming patches. Second, we have heard the strong request for more direct ways to deal with hostile creatures, including the ability to kill them. We understand where that request is coming from. When avoidance and mitigation tools do not feel effective, it is natural for players to want a more decisive solution. Our current direction is not based on judging players who want combat, and it is not because we think those players are wrong. Subnautica has always been built around vulnerability, exploration, and survival rather than traditional weapon-based combat. We believe that this is part of what makes the game unique. However, that design only works if creature encounters feel fair, readable, and engaging. Right now, we know we have more work to do to achieve that. Third, we want to be clear about how we view Early Access. Early Access is not only about collecting bug reports. It is a collaboration with the community. We will not always be able to make every requested change, but we do have a responsibility to listen carefully, explain our decisions respectfully, and show through our actions that player feedback is shaping the game. In the coming weeks, we will be delivering a series of improvements aimed at addressing the concerns we are hearing from this community. We hope those changes will demonstrate that we are listening and that we are committed to working with you to make Subnautica 2 the best game it can be. Thank you again for your honesty, patience, and passion for the game.

Hello Subnauts, We just released our first hotfix for Subnautica 2 to address a few issues reported by the community since we launched on Thursday. Here are the changes that you’ll see when you next start the game!

• Updated crash-on-startup error pop-up for AMD graphics cards and DirectX 12 issues to provide more guidance and support

• Fixed an infrequent crash related to the Ping feature

• Enabled analytics only after accepting Terms of Service

• Reduced the amount of data being sent to backend services

As a reminder: analytics for Subnautica 2 can be turned off at any time from the settings menu.

Adjustments to the Terms of Service and a FAQ addressing concerns with the current version will be rolled out in the near future.

This hotfix may take some time to appear around the world and will be available on Xbox once it clears certification.

Keep diving! 🥽

As you all dive into your first thrilling adventures in Subnautica 2, we wanted to share a little bit about our plans for the game over the next few months.

Our plan for Subnautica 2 is to ensure we’re providing our community with regular updates. But not all updates will look the same! Updates will vary from focused improvements that address systems and smaller features, to hot fixes when needed, and then our larger expansions.

So, as we build towards the next big drop that expands on the world, biomes, creatures, resources, tools, vehicles, and brings you the next chapter of the story, we’ll be planning on adding several improvement updates in the meantime!

The entire dev team has been working hard to put together some great quality-of-life fixes for our first update. This should help adjust and address some areas that need a little tweaking to make your Subnautica 2 experience even better. And for those of you who have been choosing co-op to adventure together with your friends, we’ve got some requested improvements and additions coming in our second update. 

This roadmap is subject to change or adjustment. We want to hear from you, our community, on what we should be looking at while we develop Subnautica 2. Community input is key to shaping the game throughout Early Access! As you play Subnautica 2, make use of our in-game feedback tool to let us know what you think. Also, head over to our Nolt to leave your suggestions for what you’d like to see next! You can upvote suggestions from the community, which will help us determine what you’d all like to see most.

And, of course, we will continue to roll out bug fixes, balance tuning, optimizations, and other related updates throughout Early Access. We’ll be monitoring your feedback very closely to help guide those ongoing improvements!

Thank you for joining us on the Early Access journey. We’re excited to build the game alongside you all.

Keep diving.

Hello Subnauts,

It’s time. Subnautica 2 Early Access starts today.

An all-new alien planet awaits your arrival. With an expansive ecosystem to explore, complex and varied creatures to discover, and an array of tools and vehicles at your disposal, there’s plenty to see and do on your new underwater home. 

But don’t just take our word for it. Dive in and see for yourself!

Whether you choose to explore this new planet alone, or with up to three friends in co-op, we want to hear what you think every step of the way through the Early Access journey.

Make sure to leave your feedback through our in-game tool, or on Nolt. It will be essential in helping to shape the future of Subnautica 2 And don’t forget to join the community on our official Discord, Reddit, and across our social channels to discuss your best theories, share your experiences, and connect with your fellow Subnautica fans.

We’ll see you in the depths!

Hello Subnauts,

We want to extend a huge thank you to the entire community for your ongoing support and enthusiasm for Subnautica 2.

As the Early Access launch rapidly approaches, we’ve heard so many of your requests to pre-load Subnautica 2 on Steam.

We want to enable you to get into the game as quickly as possible on May 14th!

This is why we’re enabling pre-purchasing and pre-loading for Subnautica 2 for 72 hours leading up to the launch, for those of you who want to dive in immediately on Thursday.

You can head over to the Steam page now to pre-purchase the game!

And don’t forget to join our official Discord server and share your excitement for Subnautica 2 with the rest of the community.

We can’t wait to see you in the depths!

Hello Subnauts, Ever since we announced Subnautica 2, the excitement, theories, and support from the entire community has been incredible to watch. As we get closer to Early Access, your enthusiasm has continued to blow us away every single day. And now, thanks to all of you, Subnautica 2 has officially reached 5 million wishlists. That's a massive milestone for the team, and we want to celebrate it with the community that made it possible. So, we've decided to make a little adjustment. From the moment Early Access launches, every player across every platform will receive the Reaper Leviathan Statue blueprint. Not just during the first week.

We can't wait to see the bases you create on May 14th. And don't forget to share screenshots of how you've used your miniature, menacing Reaper to decorate them. Thank you again for being part of this journey. Keep diving!

The Subnautica 2 Early Access Gameplay Trailer is out now!

Subnautica 2 will enter Early Access on May 14th, 2026, at 08:00 PDT / 15:00 UTC for $29.99 USD.

The price will be localized depending on your region, so check your chosen storefront for other currencies.

You only need to buy Subnautica 2 once during Early Access. You get all additions, updates, and hotfixes up to our 1.0 launch and beyond.

Don’t forget to head over to Steam, Epic Games, or Xbox to add Subnautica 2 to your wishlist ahead of Early Access launch.

And if you’re eager to share your theories about the Gameplay Trailer, make sure to join our Official Discord and drop them into #subnautica-2-chat!

Hello Subnauts,  The Subnautica 2 Pre-Launch Showcase is only one day away. 

From the debut of our new gameplay trailer, to conversations and demos with the development team, we'll have plenty to get you hyped for Subnautica 2's Early Access launch.

Date & Time 

• May 9, 2026 at 08:00 AM (PDT)

Where to Watch

• YouTube Subnautica Official Channel

• Twitch Subnautica Official Channel

• Bilibili Official Channel

We'll also have a plushie giveaway and a Twitch Drops event during the Showcase. For full details, check our previous announcement.

Make sure to join us and don’t miss out!

To celebrate the launch of Subnautica 2 into Early Access, we had the incredible opportunity to collaborate with the artist behind LEVIATHAN, a post-apocalyptic Webtoon where beings known as leviathans pose a deadly threat to humanity.

Noh Mi-young combines her distinct artwork and characters with three iconic Subnautica Leviathans, and discusses her thoughts about the Subnautica universe. You can read LEVIATHAN on Naver Webtoon now! You can also discuss the artwork over on our official Discord server. Wishlist Subnautica 2 on Steam ahead of Early Access launch on May 14th! Keep Diving.

UPDATE

As a thank you for 5 million wishlists, the first week Reaper Leviathan in-game Statue is now free for all players! Read more in our newest post.

Hello Subnauts, To celebrate the Early Access launch of Subnautica 2, everyone who purchases the game within the first week will receive an in-game item: the Reaper Leviathan Statue.

Purchase the game between May 14, 2026, at 8:00 AM PT and May 25, 2026, at 10:00 AM PT on any platform, and the Reaper Leviathan Statue blueprint will be available to build in-game automatically.

Please note that eligibility is determined by your purchase date, not your first play session. If you purchase before the deadline, you'll receive the item even if you start playing after May 25.

Don’t forget to share screenshots of your miniature, menacing Reaper Statue in your base when Subnautica 2 launches on May 14!

Keep Diving.

The final Subnautica 2 Dev Vlog ahead of Early Access launch is here!

Design Lead Anthony Gallegos walks you through some of the things you can expect when the game enters Early Access on May 14th.

From update types, to recommended specs, release time, and more, Anthony lays out the information you need to get ready for launch.

You can continue to speculate and discuss everything shown in the video on our official Discord server. Join the community and share your thoughts with your fellow Subnauts!

Wishlist Subnautica 2 on Steam now. And don’t forget to tune into the Pre-Launch Showcase on May 9th as we continue to navigate towards Early Access. Keep Diving!

Hello, Subnauts! To celebrate Subnautica 2’s upcoming Early Access launch, we've prepared a series of special events for you all to enjoy. Imagine and illustrate the Deepwing Brooder Leviathan in our fan art contest, apply for a role at Alterra Corporation, and tune in to the Pre-Launch Showcase for Drops. There's something for everyone!

Alterra Career Event

Alterra Corporation has opened applications for new explorers! Complete the aptitude test, check your recommended role, and apply. If the community reaches 100,000 total applications during the event period, the Lost River Poster blueprint will be unlocked as an in-game item for all Subnautica 2 players.

Leviathan Awakens Fan Art Contest

Wake the Deepwing Brooder Leviathan with your own hands.  Use the official template to imagine and create your own version of this yet-to-be-revealed Leviathan.  Winners will receive a variety of rewards, and the Top 1 entry will be crafted into an in-game poster item

Pre-Launch Showcase & Drops

On May 9, 2026, at 08:00 AM (PDT), the Subnautica 2 Pre-Launch Showcase goes live.  Join us for a packed showcase with the world-first Gameplay Trailer reveal and a conversation with the development team.  Watch live on Twitch for at least 20 minutes to receive an in-game Seamoth Statue base decoration. A special giveaway event will also be announced during the broadcast. Join us for all three events, earn rewards, and get ready for Subnautica 2’s Early Access launch together. Keep Diving!

Hello Subnauts, We’re excited to announce that on May 9, 2026, we're hosting a Subnautica 2 Pre-Launch Showcase! From the debut of our new gameplay trailer, to conversations and demos with the development team, we'll have plenty to get you hyped for Subnautica 2’s Early Access launch over the approximately 120-minute runtime. To celebrate, we've also prepared several giveaways and a Twitch Drops event.

Pre-Launch Showcase

Date & Time

• May 9, 2026 at 08:00 AM (PDT)

Where to Watch

• YouTube Subnautica Official Channel ()

• Twitch Subnautica Official Channel ()

• Bilibili Official Channel (http://live.bilibili.com/1726554026)

Twitch Drops Event

Event Period

• May 9, 2026 at 08:00 AM (PDT) during the live Pre-Launch Showcase

Reward

• In-game item: Seamoth Statue

How to Participate

• Watch the Pre-Launch Showcase live for at least 20 minutes.

• Once you've met the watch requirement, go to the Drops & Rewards page on Twitch and click "Claim."

How to Redeem Your Reward 

Rewards can be claimed in-game following the Early Access launch of Subnautica 2 and through June 30, 2026, at 11:59 PM (PDT). Please refer to the guide below for instructions:

• Launch Subnautica 2 and navigate to the Settings screen.

• Select "Link Twitch Account," then scan the QR code or open the browser to log in to Twitch and click Authorize.

• Return to the game and claim your reward under "Check Twitch Drops."

We’ll also have a Plushie Giveaway during the Showcase! Full details on how to participate will be shared live and also on our official social channels after the Showcase ends.

So, make sure to join us for the Pre-Launch Showcase and don't miss out on your chance to redeem the Twitch Drops!

Keep Diving.

Hello Subnauts, Design your own one-of-a-kind Leviathan through the power of your imagination! Using the image template provided, bring your vision of the yet-to-be-revealed Deepwing Brooder Leviathan to life.  One lucky winner will have their Deepwing Brooder design made into an in-game poster in Subnautica 2!

Right-click the image above to save and use the template.

Read below for the event period, how to enter, and full details. 

Please note that entries must not include AI-generated content, offensive imagery, or text using fonts that are not licensed for commercial use (if you're unsure about your font's licensing, we recommend keeping your artwork text-free). 

Full submission guidelines, eligibility requirements (age, region, etc.), and prize distribution details can be found in the submission Google Form (https://forms.gle/ZD9xytBQ8nM4f9Si9). Please review before submitting.

How to Enter

Hello Subnauts, Alterra Corporation has opened applications to recruit new explorers for its Pioneer program. Head over to the website and complete the aptitude test to discover your recommended role. Every application submitted will count towards the goal of unlocking a community-wide reward.  If the community collectively reaches 100,000 applications during the event period, all Subnautica 2 players will receive an in-game poster!

How to Enter

Hello Subnauts,

With Subnautica 2's Early Access release fast approaching, we know that you may have a few questions about any hardware requirements ahead of your first dive.

That's why we've prepared some recommendations for different setups to help you choose the settings that will work best for you and your hardware!

We hope this infographic will help you prepare for Early Access. 

Further optimizations will come over the course of development, so we'll update this as things change to ensure you continue to enjoy the best possible experience with Subnautica 2.

Keep Diving,

We’re excited today to debut the Subnautica 2 Early Access cinematic trailer 🎉

And, if you stuck around until the end of the trailer, you now know that…

Subnautica 2 will enter Early Access on May 14th, 2026, at 08:00 PDT / 15:00 UTC.

We’ve put together a handy map to show the exact date and time we will launch Early Access around the world!

But we’re not done yet.

We’re also thrilled to announce that Subnautica 2 will be $29.99 USD at Early Access launch. 

The price will be localized depending on your region, so check your chosen storefront for other currencies.

You will only need to buy Subnautica 2 once during Early Access. You’ll get all additions, updates, and hotfixes up to our 1.0 launch and beyond.

Our storefronts have also undergone a bit of a revamp. So don’t forget to head over to Steam to check out our new screenshots, and make sure you wishlist the game ahead of Early Access launch.

And if you’re eager to dissect and discuss all the details revealed today, make sure to join our Official Discord to get involved!

We have plenty more in store for you all as we count down to Early Access on May 14th.

So watch our social media channels for more news, information, and community events in the coming days and weeks.

We can’t wait for you to join us in the deep!

The final episode of Dive into the Legacy is here.

This time, the spotlight is on The Last Bacon and Wiki Admin Cale as they talk about their draw to Subnautica’s lore and how they make that information more accessible for the wider community.

Don’t forget to discuss the episode over on our official Discord server.

Wishlist Subnautica 2 on Steam, Xbox, and Epic Games now. Keep Diving.

The third episode of Dive into the Legacy has landed.

In the latest episode, we spoke to Anthomnia, Kallie, and Cassandra about The Red Plague, an ambitious and story-driven mod that adds on to the Subnautica experience.

Discover more about the incredible work that they, and the rest of the Subnautica modding community, do behind the scenes to bring these mods to life.

• Find out more about The Red Plague: https://www.nexusmods.com/subnautica/mods/1820

• Join The Red Plague Discord: http://discord.gg/jUjzuXVGeW

• Join the Subnautica Modding Discord: https://discord.gg/UpWuWwq

Don’t forget to discuss the episode over on our official Discord server.

Wishlist Subnautica 2 on Steam now. Dive into the Legacy will be back for its final episode next week! Keep Diving.

The second episode of Dive into the Legacy just dropped.

This week, we’re following the story of Dina, a photographer and cancer survivor from Kazakhstan, who discovered Subnautica during her chemo sessions and got an impressive Reaper tattoo after completing her treatment. 

The episode also introduces Gamers Outreach, a charity organization that provides access to video games in hospitals for children navigating their own treatment journeys.

You can find out more about Gamers Outreach and their mission on their website (https://gamersoutreach.org/), or follow them on their social channels:

X: https://x.com/GamersOutreach

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GamersOutreach/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gamersoutreach/

Discord: https://discord.gg/gamersoutreach

Don’t forget to discuss the episode over on our official Discord server.

Wishlist Subnautica 2 on Steam now. Dive into the Legacy will be back next week! Keep Diving.

Dive into the Legacy is an all-new, weekly series, following the personal journeys and stories of the Subnautica community.

The first episode is all about Artyom, a long-time Subnautica community member who became a playtester, and is now a member of the development team.

Don’t forget to discuss the episode over on our official Discord server.

Wishlist Subnautica 2 on Steam, Xbox, and Epic Games now. Dive into the Legacy will be back next week! Keep Diving.

We’re back with the fifth and final episode of Voices from Beyond!

A distress call from the Cicada repeats in the dark. But is it being received by anyone?

Share your theories and discuss everything revealed in the episode on our official Discord server.

Wishlist Subnautica 2 on Steam now. More content will be coming soon as we continue to navigate towards Early Access. Keep Diving!

🎙️ Credits 🎙️

Dad / Mongolian Politician - Griffin Puatu

Mom / Alterra Engineer - Hester Lee

Daughter / Singer - Jessika Van

Baby / Young Daughter - Nell Barnes

Podcast Host / Ryley Robinson - Dan Gordon

Radio News Host #1 / PSA Announcer / Admiral Rathine Studaber - Emily O’Brien

Radio News Host #2 / Alterra Advertiser - Townsend Coleman

Executive Producer / Director - Scott “Obraxis” MacDonald (Unknown Worlds)

Producer / Assistant Director - Donya Abramo (Unknown Worlds)

Script and Story Consultant - Seth Dickinson (Unknown Worlds)

Strategy and Creative Consultants - Chris Wyatt, Jiyoon Kim, Aaron Dean, Wendy Zhang (Krafton)

Sound Design - Craig Barnes (Power Up Audio) Sound Design - Cole Verderber (Power Up Audio) Sound Design - Ben Seavello (Power Up Audio)

Voice Casting & Direction - Khris Brown (Vox Point LLC)

Associate Casting Director - Jordan Carlsen (Vox Point LLC)

Recording Engineer - Mark DeLaFuente (Dave & Dave Recording Studios)

Recording Engineer - Jessica Gutierrez (Dave & Dave Recording Studios)

Recording Engineer - Sergio Martinez (Dave & Dave Recording Studios)

Studio Manager - Colin Shumate (Dave & Dave Recording Studios)

Studio Owner - GG Dasher (Dave & Dave Recording Studios)

Production House - BOND Agency 

Annette Segreto, Iris Sun, Emily Smith, Elizabeth Bassett, Russ Lee, Will Wygal, Charles Quinio, and Kevin Kratz.

Our sixth Dev Vlog just landed! This time it’s about the all-new base-building system. 

Join Base Design lead Kiel McDonald, Senior Engineer Carolyn Lu, Senior Gameplay Engineer Milan Singh, and Lead Hard Surface Artist Ben Henry as they showcase all the changes that have come to base-building, including the new procedural approach to designing and creating bases!

You can continue to speculate and discuss everything shown in the video on our official Discord server. Join the community and share your thoughts with your fellow Subnauts!

Wishlist Subnautica 2 on Steam, Xbox, and Epic Games now. More updates and behind-the-scenes content will be coming soon as we continue to navigate towards Early Access. Keep Diving!

The fourth episode of Voices from Beyond has just arrived!

Mom and daughter are enjoying a quiet moment together on the Mongolian Settlement when some breaking news shakes the foundations of their entire world…

Share your theories and discuss everything revealed in the episode on our official Discord server.

Wishlist Subnautica 2 on Steam, Xbox, and Epic Games now. More Voices from Beyond will be coming soon as we continue to navigate towards Early Access. Keep Diving! –

🎙️ Credits 🎙️

Dad / Mongolian Politician - Griffin Puatu

Mom / Alterra Engineer - Hester Lee

Daughter / Singer - Jessika Van

Baby / Young Daughter - Nell Barnes

Podcast Host / Ryley Robinson - Dan Gordon

Radio News Host #1 / PSA Announcer / Admiral Rathine Studaber - Emily O’Brien

Radio News Host #2 / Alterra Advertiser - Townsend Coleman

Executive Producer / Director - Scott “Obraxis” MacDonald (Unknown Worlds)

Producer / Assistant Director - Donya Abramo (Unknown Worlds)

Script and Story Consultant - Seth Dickinson (Unknown Worlds)

Strategy and Creative Consultants - Chris Wyatt, Jiyoon Kim, Aaron Dean, Wendy Zhang (Krafton)

Sound Design - Craig Barnes (Power Up Audio) Sound Design - Cole Verderber (Power Up Audio) Sound Design - Ben Seavello (Power Up Audio)

Voice Casting & Direction - Khris Brown (Vox Point LLC)

Associate Casting Director - Jordan Carlsen (Vox Point LLC)

Recording Engineer - Mark DeLaFuente (Dave & Dave Recording Studios)

Recording Engineer - Jessica Gutierrez (Dave & Dave Recording Studios)

Recording Engineer - Sergio Martinez (Dave & Dave Recording Studios)

Studio Manager - Colin Shumate (Dave & Dave Recording Studios)

Studio Owner - GG Dasher (Dave & Dave Recording Studios)

Production House - BOND Agency 

Annette Segreto, Iris Sun, Emily Smith, Elizabeth Bassett, Russ Lee, Will Wygal, Charles Quinio, and Kevin Kratz.