Unknown Worlds Entertainment, the team behind the Subnautica series, has officially announced the sequel to the long-teased original game, Subnautica 2. The teaser trailer for Subnautica 2 premiered at the Xbox Partner Showcase in October 2024, giving fans a taste of what to expect from the sequel. The first two Subnautica indie games were beloved by many, and Subnautica 2 is backed by publisher Krafton and promises to be a significant evolution from the already thrilling Subnautica: Below Zero.
While the reveal trailer is a welcome sneak peek, players have been left in limbo in the meantime. Unknown Worlds plans to make more announcements in the coming days and reveal details about the new game, including release date and price. Below is everything known so far about Subnautica 2, including important details such as confirmed in-game features and content, potential price and release window.
Subnautica 2 Early Access and Release Period Explained
What players can expect from the release
According to information revealed, Unknown Worlds Entertainment and Krafton plan to release early access to the game in 2025. With early access games, it’s important to keep in mind that the game isn’t finished, but it allows developers to truly take everything into account. Receive feedback and incorporate it into the finished product. It’s unclear exactly how long Early Access will last, but according to Subnautica 2’s Early Access FAQ on Steam, Early Access is expected to last around two to three years in order to enjoy the game at its best.
The original Subnautica also had a lengthy Early Access period lasting just over three years.
A release date has not been confirmed, but based on gaming industry timelines and the timing of announcements, the game is likely to be released in mid-2025 as it is still in beta testing and general development. It seems so. It’s also possible that the teaser trailer is just the beginning of a longer marketing cycle, with a release potentially in late 2025. More information on this topic may be shared along with another trailer during Subnautica’s 10th anniversary in December. 26, 2024.
Subnautica 2 confirmed platforms and rumored price
Where to play the new Subnautica game
The early access release of Subnautica 2 follows Unknown Worlds’ proven strategy, allowing players to provide input on projects in development, but limiting the number of platforms on which the game can be expected to be released. Subnautica 2 is available on PC on Steam, Epic Games Store, Microsoft Store, Xbox Series X/S, and will be accessible from day one through Xbox Game Pass.
Sony appears to have stricter requirements for early access games on PlayStation. It is unclear whether this will prevent Subnautica 2 from being released on PS4 and PS5 for the time being, or whether an exclusive deal will be signed.
Subnautica 2 is an early access game, so the price may be lower than the finished game. A safe estimate is that early access costs around $10-15 USD, but with the studio’s previous games available for $29.99, that increases to around $30 for the full release. Pricing for Subnautica 2 has not yet been announced, but the studio has confirmed that there will be no further purchases, as the game will grow through free updates. If affordability is important to you, the early access period is likely to be the cheapest.
Teaser trailer and gameplay details
Subnautica 2 looks promising.
The released trailer hides new elements of the “Subnautica” series, so fans should definitely pay attention to it. In addition to the announcement, the game’s Steam page also provides players with a brief description of what to expect from a plot standpoint.
You are a pioneer traveling to a faraway world, but something is wrong. The ship’s AI insists on continuing the mission. This world is too dangerous for humans to live in…unless we change what it means to be human. What creatures, intelligent or not, await your arrival?
The storyline shows AI as the main antagonist, and it’s clear that this corresponds to the current scene where AI is on the rise. Generative AI models are mainly based on other people’s creative work, plagiarism of content, can mislead by providing false information, and their presence in the game is a violation of its evil nature. seems to be emphasizing.
The trailer also reveals new biomes and marine life to discover, a new submarine called the Tadpole, and a new sea glider, the Wakemaker. It’s unclear what the submarine will feature, but the developers hinted at the possibility of further expansion of the tadpole’s interior when answering questions on the game’s official Discord server. As for Seaglide, from what’s shown in the trailer, it looks like it’s been replaced by Wakemaker to solve the amount of space the original took up, blocking the screen. Therefore, Wakemaker is no longer visible.
The trailer also features scanner tools for analyzing different species, like the original spectroscopic scanner, but there are no guns in the game, which sticks to the anti-violence core of the series while also featuring scanner tools for analyzing different species. I am also loyal to In terms of realism, the graphics are not meant to be realistic and follow the art style of the original game. The experience is meant to remain immersive, and the developers also say they “intend to stimulate people’s primal fears.”
RELATED What makes Subnautica: Below Zero better than the first game?
Subnautica: Below Zero features many improvements from the first game, including weather, new vehicles, and a main character with a personal story.
Otherwise, it has been confirmed via the Unknown Worlds website that Subnautica 2 will feature multiplayer co-op for 2-4 players. This will not be a separate, dedicated multiplayer mode, but will allow players to experience the entire game with their friends. Multiplayer in Subnautica was only possible with mods in the original game, but it’s already built into Unreal Engine 5 in the new title. The game’s world is also confirmed to be an entirely new planet, and the map size is larger and deeper than Subnautica. Pointed out by Game Rant.
This freshness of Subnautica is intentional, with one of the sequel’s developers saying that Unknown Worlds used the original game as a “North Star” and worked to stay true to the series while making it new for players. I shared it with you. For those interested in joining Subnautica 2’s early access, the game’s official Discord server has already implemented changes such as expanded dietary options to include vegan meals, with more changes likely to come. There is. Opportunity to shape the game’s development after its early access release in 2025.
Sources: Steam, Subnautica/YouTube, Discord, Unknown Worlds, Game Rant
subnautica 2
Franchise Subnautica
Platform PC, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
Developer Unknown Worlds Entertainment
Publisher Crafton
Multiplayer online co-op play
Engine Unreal Engine 5
Number of players: 1 to 4 people
Early Access Release 2025
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