Subnautica 2 hits Early Access with 413K players in 45 minutes and 90% positive reviews

Subnautica 2 launched into Early Access on May 14, 2026, pulling in over 413,000 concurrent players within 45 minutes and landing a 90% positive rating on Steam. That's the kind of opening day most studios can only dream of — especially one that spent the past year fighting its own publisher in court. The game is available now on Steam, Epic Games Store, Xbox Series X|S, and Microsoft Store, and it's included on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass from day one.

The game

Subnautica 2 sends players to an entirely new ocean planet on a mission for the Alterra Corporation — which, naturally, goes wrong immediately. The core loop that made the original a cult favourite returns: explore a vast underwater world, build and upgrade a base, and scrape together whatever it takes to survive. The biggest structural change is co-op. For the first time in the series, up to four players can dive together, with every mechanic designed around that group dynamic. Cross-platform play is supported across Steam, Epic, Xbox, and the Microsoft Store, so friends don't need to be on the same storefront.

The Early Access window

Unknown Worlds is planning a two-to-three year Early Access period — longer than the original Subnautica's four-year stint (2014–2018), though the studio says this build is "bigger and more polished" than any previous Unknown Worlds Early Access launch. The roadmap includes major content drops, smaller updates, and hotfixes shaped by player feedback via a public Nolt board. More than five million players had wishlisted the game before launch, per Gaming Pro Max, making it one of Steam's most-wanted titles in recent memory.

The entry price is $29.99 in the US (£24.99 in the UK). That price will rise at the full 1.0 release, so buying in early locks the lower rate. For Game Pass subscribers on Ultimate or PC tiers, it's included at no extra cost — though Essential and Premium subscribers will need to pay separately.

The backstory

The road to launch was messy. Publisher Krafton fired Unknown Worlds' founders during development, triggering a legal battle that ended with the founders reinstated by court order in May 2026. Leaked builds circulated online days before release, and the Krafton dispute cast real doubt on whether the game would ship at all. It did — and early players say it's worth it. Whether the ongoing IP and publishing dispute affects the long-term 1.0 roadmap or any potential PS5 port remains an open question. For now, PlayStation and Nintendo players are waiting with no confirmed release date.