Subnautica 2 sold 2 million copies in 12 hours — here's what's coming next
Subnautica 2 launched into Early Access on May 14, 2026 and sold 2 million copies in its first 12 hours, making it one of the fastest-selling survival games in recent memory. The game sits at 92% positive reviews on Steam, suggesting Unknown Worlds pulled off a clean launch despite the turbulence that nearly derailed development. For anyone who bought in — or is thinking about it — here's what the studio has planned.
The roadmap
Unknown Worlds has outlined two major content updates for the Early Access period, with smaller interim patches in between.
The first big update adds new biomes, each with unique creatures, new resources, additional tools, and more vehicles. More importantly, it continues the main story — the part most players are already asking about. Smaller patches will land before that update drops, fixing issues and tuning the experience based on player feedback.
The second major update focuses squarely on co-op. Voice chat, emotes, and a trading system are all planned, along with expanded customization options. The co-op foundation already works well at launch, but this update will flesh it out into something closer to a full shared-world experience.
Beyond those two updates, Unknown Worlds says it will keep expanding the underwater world — more biomes, more content — and will shape development around community feedback. The original Subnautica spent years in Early Access and delivered on its promises, which gives this roadmap some credibility.
The bigger picture
The launch carries weight beyond unit sales. A Delaware court ruling in March 2026 reinstated CEO Ted Gill after publisher Krafton attempted to remove him and halt development — widely seen as a move to avoid a $250 million earnout tied to sales milestones. With 2 million copies sold on day one, that window now closes by September 15, 2026 per court documents.
Subnautica 2 is currently in Early Access, with a full 1.0 release expected in 2027–2028.
Full release is expected sometime in 2027 or 2028 — Unknown Worlds has not set a firm 1.0 date. Subnautica 2 is available now on PC via Steam, Epic Games Store, and the Microsoft Store, and on Xbox Series X|S. It's included on Xbox Game Pass from day one at no extra cost. A PlayStation 5 or Nintendo Switch 2 version has not been confirmed for Early Access, though the original Subnautica eventually reached both PS4 and Switch.
Source: Steam