If you’ve been counting down to the next installment of the beloved underwater survival franchise, you’ve probably wondered how much will Subnautica 2 cost on Steam ahead of its launch. I still remember staying up till 2AM trying to find the lava zone in the original Subnautica, so I’m just as hyped as you are for the sequel’s release. I’ve been tracking every official update, plus industry pricing trends for similar AAA survival games, to put together the most accurate breakdown possible. We’ll cover everything from base game pricing to special edition perks, regional differences, and even legitimate ways to save a few bucks when the game drops. You won’t find any unsubstantiated rumors here—all info is pulled from official developer statements, past Unknown Worlds Entertainment release patterns, and current Steam pricing standards for comparable titles.
How Much Will Subnautica 2 Cost on Steam: Base Game Pricing Estimates
To get a clear sense of the expected price point, it helps to look at the franchise’s past release patterns. The original Subnautica launched as a full 1.0 release on Steam for $24.99 USD back in 2018, and its stand-alone expansion Below Zero hit the platform for $29.99 USD in 2021. Subnautica 2 is a far bigger project, though, built on Unreal Engine 5 with a massive open world, new creature AI, and expanded co-op functionality, plus backing from major publisher Krafton, which acquired Unknown Worlds in 2021. Standard edition base price is almost guaranteed to land between $49.99 and $59.99 USD at full launch, aligned with pricing for other mid-tier to AAA survival games on Steam in 2024.
If the development team follows their traditional early access rollout model, you may be able to grab the game for a lower price before its full 1.0 release. Early access builds of past Subnautica titles were priced 20-30% lower than the full launch version, with all owners getting the final 1.0 update for free when it dropped. When the official listing goes live, the answer to how much will Subnautica 2 cost on Steam will be pinned to the top of the store page, so you can check there first for the most up-to-date number. Steam regional pricing will adjust this number significantly for users outside the US, with lower prices in emerging markets like India, Brazil, and parts of Southeast Asia, and higher prices in regions like the EU and Australia due to local tax and pricing policies.
Special Edition Pricing and What Extra Content You Get
Most major Steam launches offer at least two edition options, and Subnautica 2 will almost certainly follow that trend, based on past releases from the studio. For Below Zero, Unknown Worlds offered a digital deluxe edition that cost $10 extra, with bonus content for fans who wanted to support the team. For Subnautica 2, the deluxe edition will likely cost $10 to $20 more than the standard edition, putting it between $69.99 and $79.99 USD for launch. The extra content will almost certainly be cosmetic or non-essential, so you won’t miss any core story or gameplay content if you stick to the standard edition.
Based on official teases and past deluxe edition offerings, here’s what you can expect to get if you spring for the higher-priced version:
- Full digital art book featuring concept art of new biomes, creatures, and character designs from the three years of pre-production
- Official original soundtrack from the game's award-winning composer, Ben Prunty, who scored both previous Subnautica titles
- Exclusive in-game cosmetic items, like custom submarine skins, player character outfits, and rare base building decor you can’t get in the standard edition
- Early access to a bonus playable expansion chapter 3 months after the full game launches, following a side story about a different research outpost
- Subnautica 2 profile badge and animated emotes for your Steam profile to show off your love for the franchise
There are no plans for a physical collector's edition listed for Steam as of now, but if one is announced later, it will likely cost $149.99 or more, and include physical items like a Leviathan figurine, printed hardcover art book, and vinyl copy of the soundtrack. If you don’t care about extra cosmetic items or behind-the-scenes content, the standard edition is more than enough to enjoy the full game.
Legitimate Ways to Save Money on Your Subnautica 2 Steam Purchase
You don’t have to pay full price if you plan ahead, and there are several easy, safe ways to cut down the cost of your purchase without risking your Steam account. First, keep an eye out for pre-order discounts when pre-orders go live. Most publishers offer 10-15% off pre-orders for the first 2 weeks after they’re announced, which could save you $5-$10 off the full launch price. These discounts are usually applied automatically on the Steam store page, so you don’t need a special code to claim them.
If you own the original Subnautica or Subnautica: Below Zero on your Steam account, you might qualify for a loyalty discount when you buy Subnautica 2. Unknown Worlds offered a 20% loyalty discount for Below Zero buyers who owned the original Subnautica, and they’ve hinted that they’re planning a similar offer for the sequel to reward long-time fans. If you don’t mind waiting a few months to play, you can also wait for Steam’s seasonal sales—new releases almost always get a 20-30% discount 3-6 months after launch, during the Summer Sale, Autumn Sale, or Winter Sale.
Avoid any third-party key sellers that offer the game for 50% or more off the expected launch price, though. Those keys are almost always stolen or obtained fraudulently, and Steam will remove the game from your account without a refund if they find out the key was illegitimate. No matter which edition you pick, you can rest easy that the answer to how much will Subnautica 2 cost on Steam won't have any hidden fees or mandatory extra purchases to access core content. The studio has confirmed multiple times there will be no pay-to-win microtransactions or battle passes added to the game post-launch.
Common Pricing Rumors You Should Ignore
With a game as highly anticipated as Subnautica 2, there’s no shortage of misinformation floating around Reddit, Discord, and social media about its launch price. I’ve seen dozens of posts on the official Subnautica Discord claiming the game will cost $100, and none of them have any source to back them up. Let’s clear up the most common false rumors right now, so you don’t get scammed or stressed out for no reason.
First, the rumor that Subnautica 2 will be free-to-play is 100% false. The studio has confirmed multiple times that it is a premium paid title, with no free-to-play model planned for launch or post-launch. Second, the rumor that the standard edition will cost $79.99 USD is also unsubstantiated. No official statement has mentioned a price that high, and most premium survival games still cap their standard edition price at $59.99 on Steam. Third, the rumor that regional pricing will be removed for the game is impossible—Steam requires all publishers to offer regional pricing for all supported regions, so users in lower-income regions will still get adjusted lower prices.
All pricing rumors should be ignored until official announcements are posted on the game's official Steam store page, that’s the only trusted source for final pricing info. The studio has said they will announce pre-order dates and pricing at least 4 weeks before the game launches, so you’ll have plenty of time to budget if you want to grab it day one.
At the end of the day, we won't have the exact final number for how much will Subnautica 2 cost on Steam until the developers officially announce pre-order details, but all signs point to a fair price point that aligns with other similar high-quality survival titles on the platform. If you're dying to play the second it launches, putting aside $60 for the standard edition or $80 for the deluxe edition will make sure you're covered when pre-orders go live. If you're on a tighter budget, waiting a few months for the first Steam sale will let you pick it up for a discount without missing out on any of the core underwater exploration fun. Just make sure you only follow official updates to avoid falling for misleading pricing scams or rumors ahead of launch.
