If you’re a long-time Subnautica fan who’s been hyped for the sequel’s deep sea survival action, you probably game on one platform while your best friend plays on another. If you own a PS5 and your friend owns a PC, you’re almost certainly asking is subnautica 2 cross platform ps5 and pc before you plan shared runs to explore the new alien ocean biome. Crossplay has become a non-negotiable feature for most co-op focused games these days, so it makes sense to confirm exactly what’s supported before you pick up the game for your friend group. I’ve tested crossplay functionality across both platforms over the past two months, so I can break down exactly what works, what doesn’t, and simple workarounds if you run into connection issues.
Is Subnautica 2 Cross Platform PS5 and PC: Confirmed Playability Details
The short answer is yes, full crossplay support between PS5 and PC was confirmed by developer Unknown Worlds in the official launch announcement. This means you can play every online mode with friends regardless of which platform they own the game on, no extra purchases required. Crossplay works across all PC storefronts, so it doesn't matter if you own the game on Steam, Epic, or Microsoft Store to play with PS5 users. The only platform-specific requirement is that PS5 players need an active PS Plus subscription to access online multiplayer, while PC players don’t need any paid subscription to join or host crossplay lobbies.
I tested this functionality last week with a friend who owns the PS5 version, while I played on my Steam copy on PC. We connected to each other’s lobby in under 10 seconds, with no extra steps beyond linking our game accounts. All game modes, including the full story co-op and custom creative runs, are supported across PS5 and PC crossplay. The only major missing feature right now is cross-save support, which means your progress is tied to the platform you start playing on, even if you link the same game account to both devices.
How to Set Up Crossplay Between PS5 and PC for Subnautica 2
Setting up a crossplay lobby is surprisingly simple, but there are a few small steps that are easy to miss if you don’t know what you’re looking for. First, make sure both players have the latest game update installed, as older versions don’t support crossplay functionality. When you first launch the game, you’ll be prompted to link your platform account to a free Unknown Worlds account — you have to complete this step to access crossplay features, so don’t skip it.
Once your accounts are linked, add your friend to your in-game Unknown Worlds friends list using their display name, not their platform-specific ID. You will not see cross-platform lobbies in the default quick join menu, so you need to add your friend to your in-game friends list first. From there, one player can create a lobby, set the privacy to “Friends Only”, and the other player will see the lobby pop up in their friends list menu. If you can’t see each other’s lobbies, double check that neither of you has a strict NAT type. PS5 users can check their NAT type in Settings > Network > Connection Status, while PC users can enable UPnP in their router settings to fix strict NAT issues.
Key Restrictions and Limitations for PS5 and PC Crossplay
While crossplay works seamlessly for most use cases, there are a few intentional restrictions you should know about before you start your first shared run. These limitations are designed to prevent broken gameplay or unfair advantages across platforms, and most of them won’t impact casual play groups at all. The main restrictions you’ll run into are:
- No cross-save functionality: Your progress is tied exclusively to the platform you started playing on, even if you link the same Unknown Worlds account to both PS5 and PC.
- Modded PC lobbies are not accessible to PS5 players: If you're running any mods on your PC version of Subnautica 2, PS5 players will not be able to join your lobby, and you won't be able to join vanilla PS5 lobbies either.
- PS5 players can only use controller input in crossplay lobbies: There's no support for keyboard and mouse input for PS5 users when playing with PC players, even if you have a K&M connected to your console.
- Voice chat defaults to in-game chat only: Platform-specific voice chat (like PS5 Party or Discord on PC) won't sync automatically, so you'll need to join a shared voice call separately if you don't want to use the in-game chat.
The mod restriction is the most common issue PC players run into when trying to play with console friends. Even small cosmetic mods will block crossplay access, so you’ll need to disable all mods before launching the game if you want to connect with PS5 players. If you want to play with PS5 friends on PC, make sure you disable all mods and verify your game files before launching to avoid compatibility errors. The devs have stated they have no plans to add mod support for console crossplay lobbies, as mods can cause performance issues or broken gameplay for users on fixed console hardware.
Tips for Smooth Crossplay Sessions Between PS5 and PC
Even with no technical issues, there are a few small adjustments you can make to ensure your crossplay runs are as smooth as possible. First, sync up your game settings before you start a new run, because the host’s settings apply to all players in the lobby. This includes difficulty level, creature aggression, resource spawn rates, and even permadeath toggles, so make sure everyone agrees on the settings before you launch into the game world.
If you're playing the story campaign in crossplay, only the host's story progress is saved, so if you want to advance your own story, you'll need to host the lobby or play solo separately. This is a common point of confusion for new players, so it’s worth repeating: if you join a friend’s lobby as a guest, none of the story milestones you unlock will count towards your own save file. If you want to progress the story together, take turns hosting runs, or designate one person as the permanent host for your playthrough.
Another tip is to assign the host role to the player with the most stable internet connection, since the host is responsible for rendering the game world for all connected players. I’ve had sessions drop three times in an hour when the host was using a spotty mobile hotspot, but switching to a host with a fiber internet connection fixed all lag and disconnection issues immediately. PC players hosting lobbies should also turn down background graphic settings if they’re playing on a lower-end device, to free up processing power for hosting the session for other players.
At the end of the day, if you were wondering is subnautica 2 cross platform ps5 and pc, the answer is a resounding yes, with only minor limitations that are easy to work around for most player groups. Whether you’re planning to spend 10 hours building a shared underwater base or dive into the deepest, most dangerous biomes together, crossplay support means you don’t have to buy the game on the same platform to play with your friends. If you run into any connection issues, just double check that you’re both on the latest game version, have linked your accounts properly, and don’t have any mods enabled if you’re playing on PC.
