If you’ve spent dozens of hours scanning alien fish, building underwater bases, and outrunning terrifying leviathans in the original Subnautica or its standalone sequel Below Zero, you’ve almost definitely wondered is Subnautica 2 coming out at some point. I’ve put over 300 hours into the Subnautica franchise across both PC and console, so I know exactly how antsy fans get waiting for news of the next entry. The first two games set an incredibly high bar for underwater survival, blending tense exploration, heartfelt storytelling, and a perfectly balanced sense of wonder and terror that few other titles in the genre have matched. For years, fans have been scouring developer updates, convention panels, and job listings for any hint of what’s next for the franchise, and we’ve pulled together every verified piece of information to cut through the noise and give you the full picture.
What We Know Right Now: Is Subnautica 2 Coming Out?
First off, let’s get the big question out of the way as directly as possible. In late 2023, developer Unknown Worlds Entertainment officially confirmed that a new, full-length Subnautica title is in active development, though the studio has stopped short of officially branding it Subnautica 2 as of this writing. That doesn’t mean it won’t carry that name when it launches, of course – the team has said they’re holding off on final branding until they’re ready to share more concrete details about the game’s scope and story.
The studio has also clarified that this new title will be a full mainline entry, not a smaller standalone expansion like Below Zero was. That means we can expect a larger map, longer run time, and more ambitious features than we got with the second game. Don’t fall for fake pre-order links or supposed release date leaks on social media, though – the studio has repeatedly said no pre-orders will go live until they’ve shared a full gameplay reveal and official launch window. Any listings you see right now are scams, no matter how legitimate they look.
Confirmed and Rumored Gameplay Features for the Next Subnautica Title
Unknown Worlds has shared very few official gameplay details so far, but we’ve been able to piece together a solid picture of what to expect from job listings, developer Q&As, and trusted industry leaks. First and foremost, underwater exploration will remain the core focus of the game. The team has explicitly said they have no plans to shift the franchise to land or space, which is a relief for fans who fell in love with the series’ unique ocean-based setting.
Co-op multiplayer is one of the most requested features from the fan base, and multiple job listings for network engineers at the studio have confirmed that the new game will include some form of multiplayer functionality. Some fans worry that adding co-op will take away the isolated, tense vibe that made the first game so memorable, but the devs have noted that multiplayer will likely be an optional mode, so single-player purists won’t have to engage with it if they don’t want to.
Other rumored features that have been hinted at through official channels include:
- New biomes that mix deep ocean trenches, volcanic hot springs, and even floating kelp forests that reach up to the surface of 4546B’s uncharted regions
- Expanded base building mechanics that let you create mobile underwater outposts and even customize small submersibles for long-range exploration
- A larger cast of alien creatures, including both passive, harvestable species and new leviathan-class predators that use unique hunting patterns to track players
- Procedural generation elements for certain high-risk areas to increase replay value for repeat playthroughs
The team has also confirmed that the iconic scanning and lore collection system will return. That means you’ll still be able to scan every creature, plant, and alien artifact you find to unlock detailed lore entries and crafting recipes. I’ve played a ton of survival games that drop their most beloved mechanics when making sequels to appeal to a wider audience, so it’s a huge relief to hear that the core loop that made Subnautica so special isn’t getting thrown out for flashy, unneeded features.
What We Know About the Next Subnautica’s Story and Setting
The studio has been very tight-lipped about plot details, but job listings for narrative designers have hinted that the story will follow a new protagonist who arrives on 4546B years after the events of both Subnautica and Below Zero. The planet was mostly terraformed and made safe for human life by the end of Below Zero, so the new story won’t focus on the same immediate survival threat of the Kharaa bacterium that drove the first two games’ plots.
Instead, the ancient Precursor civilization will play a much larger role in the main story. Fans have been begging for more lore about the mysterious alien species that once inhabited 4546B, and the devs have said they’re building out a full narrative arc that explores what happened to the Precursor civilization, why they abandoned their facilities on the planet, and what their long-term plans for humanity might be. If you’re invested in that side of the franchise, you’re going to have a lot of new lore to dig through when the game launches.
That doesn’t mean new players will be lost if they haven’t played the first two games, though. The devs have confirmed that the new title’s story will be completely accessible for first-time players, with plenty of context for existing lore that doesn’t feel like forced exposition. Long-time fans will still get plenty of Easter eggs and references to the first two games, but you won’t need to have 100% completed both prior entries to follow the new story.
When Can We Expect the New Subnautica Game to Launch?
Unknown Worlds hasn’t shared any official release window or even a target launch year for the new Subnautica title as of this writing. The team has said the game is still in relatively early development, with core gameplay mechanics still being tested and refined. Industry analysts who track the studio’s development timeline have predicted that we won’t see the game launch until at least late 2025, but that’s just an educated guess right now.
One thing we do know for sure is that Unknown Worlds has committed to a crunch-free development cycle for this title. The studio has spoken publicly about their commitment to healthy work practices, and they’ve said they won’t rush the game to meet an arbitrary deadline if it means sacrificing quality or overworking their staff. That’s a big win for both players and developers, even if it means we have to wait a little longer for the game to be ready.
We’ll likely get our first official look at the game sometime in 2024, either at a major gaming convention like Gamescom or The Game Awards. Until then, the best way to stay up to date on official news is to follow the studio’s official social media accounts or join their community Discord server. The team regularly shares small development updates and answers fan questions in both spaces, so you’ll hear official news there first before it spreads to other sites.
At the end of the day, if you’ve been asking is Subnautica 2 coming out, the short answer is yes – a new mainline Subnautica game is definitely on the way, even if we don’t have all the details yet. It’s still early in development, but everything we’ve heard so far points to a sequel that honors what made the first two games great while adding enough new features to feel fresh and exciting for long-time fans. Until we get an official reveal, you can always go back to 4546B for another playthrough, try out some of the best community mods, or bring a friend along for a modded co-op run to pass the time.
