Release info
Subnautica 2 release date — May 14, 2026
Subnautica 2 launched in Early Access on May 14, 2026 at 08:00 PDT / 15:00 UTC, on PC (Steam, Epic, Windows Store) and Xbox Series X|S, with day-one Xbox Game Pass. The full 1.0 release date is not yet announced; EA is expected to run roughly 12 months based on Subnautica 1 precedent, but Unknown Worlds has not committed.
Quick facts
- Early Access launch: May 14, 2026, 08:00 PDT / 15:00 UTC (confirmed).
- Launch price: $29.99 USD.
- Launch platforms: PC (Steam, Epic, Windows Store), Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Game Pass (PC + Console) day-one.
- Full release: Not announced. Unknown Worlds has historically kept EA windows long (SN1 ran ~3 years EA → 1.0).
- Not coming day-one: PS5, PS4, Switch, Mac, native VR. See platform breakdown.
Development and launch timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Oct 2021 | Krafton acquires Unknown Worlds for ~$500M + $250M earnout contingent on Subnautica 2 performance. |
| Dec 2023 | Subnautica 2 first revealed by Krafton in an earnings call. |
| 2024 | Dev vlogs begin; "Diving Together" reveals 4-player co-op. |
| May 2025 | Krafton CEO Changhan Kim launches campaign to delay launch (per Delaware court filings). |
| Jul 2025 | Founders Cleveland and McGuire, plus CEO Ted Gill, fired by Krafton. |
| Jul 11, 2025 | Fortis Advisors (representing the fired execs) files suit against Krafton. |
| Mar 16, 2026 | Delaware Chancery Court orders Krafton to reinstate Ted Gill, extends earnout window 9 months. |
| May 14, 2026 | Early Access launches on PC + Xbox Series X|S, day-one on Game Pass. |
| Full release | Not announced. Expected ~12 months minimum based on Subnautica 1 precedent. [unconfirmed] |
Why launch on Early Access?
Subnautica 1 spent roughly three years in Steam Early Access before its 1.0 in 2018, and that process is widely credited with shaping the game's final scope and creature design through player feedback. Unknown Worlds is repeating the model deliberately: ship a playable foundation, iterate publicly. The May 14, 2026 build is feature-incomplete by design — the story arc concludes around the Observatory biome with the World Tree and additional vehicles (Prawn Suit, Large Submarine) held back for later EA updates.
What's in the EA launch build?
- 2 regions containing roughly 10 biomes / sub-biomes.
- 5+ leviathans — Collector, Shiver, Ghost Shiver, Great Jaw, Deepwing Brooder; the Titan-class World Tree is visible but unreachable. See sizes.
- 1 vehicle: the modular Tadpole (Scout Ray / Haul Rig chassis). All entities.
- 4-player online co-op, full crossplay across Steam ↔ Epic ↔ Xbox. Co-op hub.
- Procedural / freeform base building, water filtration, power, scanning, blackbox recordings.
What's NOT in EA yet (but planned)
- Prawn Suit (new SN2 design) and Large Submarine — both confirmed on the roadmap, no dates.
- More leviathans and biomes — the World Tree region is the obvious endgame target.
- Full 1.0 story conclusion.
- PS5, Switch, Mac builds — not announced.
- Native VR support — not committed.
PS5, Switch, Mac — release date?
None confirmed. Sony's PlayStation does not support an Early Access / Game Preview program, which makes a day-one PS5 launch structurally impossible. Based on the SN1 / Below Zero pattern, expect a PS5 port at or after 1.0 — likely 2027 at earliest. The Switch / Switch 2 picture is murkier; Unknown Worlds has indicated they are "staying out of Nintendo waters for the time being." Mac is unconfirmed. Full breakdown on the platforms page.
Related
- Where to buy Subnautica 2
- Subnautica 2 price
- Is Subnautica 2 on PS5?
- Is Subnautica 2 on Switch?
- Krafton vs Unknown Worlds lawsuit timeline
- All Q&A
Last updated: 2026-05-25. Sources: Steam, Unknown Worlds news, PC Gamer, GameSpot, Bloomberg.