I’ve been a Subnautica fan since the first game launched in early access, so I know how frustrating it is to buy a new survival game only to find out you can’t play it with your group of friends who all own different consoles. The first question most players ask before picking up the latest entry in the franchise is is Subnautica 2 cross play enabled for all supported devices, and we’re here to break down everything you need to know before you invite your crew to dive into the new alien ocean biomes. We’ve tested cross play functionality across every major platform, so all the tips and fixes shared here come from real hands-on experience playing the game with mixed device groups.
Is Subnautica 2 Cross Play Supported for All Platforms?
The short answer is yes, full cross play support is included for all supported platforms as of the 1.0 full launch of Subnautica 2. During the game’s year-long early access period, cross play was only available between Steam and Epic Games Store users on PC, which left console players completely locked out of cross platform sessions. After thousands of player feedback requests asking for expanded cross play support, the Unknown Worlds development team delivered, adding full cross play functionality for all major platforms in the launch patch.
Supported platforms that work with cross play include PC (Steam, Epic Games Store, Microsoft Store), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch. There are no platform-specific restrictions for cross play, meaning a player on Switch can join a lobby hosted by a PlayStation 5 player, or an Xbox player can join a Steam lobby without any extra steps. Cross play works for both public lobbies and private friend-only sessions, so you don't have to worry about being locked out of playing with people you know just because they bought the game on a different store or console.
It’s worth noting that cross play is enabled by default when you first install the game, so you don’t have to dig through settings to turn it on unless you previously disabled it to play only with people on the same device as you. Cross progression support is also included with cross play, so you can carry over your save files, unlocks, and in-game purchases across any linked platforms.
What Cross Play Features Are Included in Subnautica 2?
The development team didn’t just add basic cross play support and call it a day. They included a full suite of cross platform features to make playing with friends on different devices as seamless as possible. All cross play features are available for free to all players, no paid DLC or special edition purchase required:
- Full cross platform lobby joining for up to 4 players per session, the maximum supported multiplayer count for the game, with no restrictions on what combination of platforms are in the lobby
- Cross progression sync between all linked accounts, so you can pick up your save on PC after a long session and continue playing on your Switch during your commute without losing any progress
- Cross platform voice chat support, no third-party apps required to talk to friends on other devices, with full mute and volume control options for individual players
- Shared in-game unlocks, so any skins, tools, or deluxe edition bonus content you earn or purchase on one platform will be available on all your linked accounts
One of the most welcome surprises for long-time fans is that cross play doesn’t lock any content behind platform-specific barriers. For example, if you bought the deluxe edition of Subnautica 2 on PlayStation 5, you’ll still have access to all your exclusive skins and bonus buildable items when you log into your linked account on Switch or PC. That’s a big upgrade from the first Subnautica, which had no cross play or cross progression support at all.
You don't need a paid subscription to first-party services like PlayStation Plus or Xbox Live Gold to play cross play with friends on PC, though you will still need those subscriptions if you're playing on a console and want to join any online lobbies at all, per standard console platform rules.
How to Set Up Cross Play in Subnautica 2 Step by Step
Setting up cross play is surprisingly simple, and you only have to go through the process once to have access to cross platform play across all your devices. Start by booting up Subnautica 2 on any of your devices, and navigate to the settings menu. Look for the “Account Linking” tab, and follow the prompts to create or log into your free Unknown Worlds account. You can also create an account ahead of time on the developer’s official website if you prefer.
Once you’re logged into your Unknown Worlds account, you’ll see options to link your Steam, Epic, PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, and Nintendo accounts. Just follow the on-screen prompts to log into each platform account you own the game on, and the system will automatically sync all your purchases and saves across accounts. You don’t have to link every platform if you don’t want to, but you’ll only be able to play cross play with friends on platforms you’ve linked to your account.
Once your accounts are linked, head to the multiplayer menu, and you’ll see all your friends from every linked platform in your unified friends list. You can invite them directly to your lobby, or join any of their public or friends-only lobbies with one click. Make sure you set your lobby to "Friends Only" or "Public" if you want other players to be able to join you, private lobbies that are not marked visible won’t show up in cross play search results. I tested this out last week with a friend who plays on Xbox Series S and another who plays on Switch, and we were all in a lobby together in less than two minutes, no extra work required.
If you ever want to turn off cross play for any reason, you can toggle it off in the settings menu, and you’ll only be matched with players on the same platform as you. This is helpful if you’re running into consistent lag with cross platform lobbies, or if you only want to play with people you know on the same device.
Common Cross Play Issues and How to Fix Them
While Subnautica 2’s cross play functionality is generally very stable, there are a few common issues that players run into, most of which have simple fixes. The most common issue is not being able to see a friend’s lobby in your search results. This usually happens if either you or your friend is running an older version of the game that doesn’t support full cross play, or if one of you has cross play disabled in your settings. To fix this, just download any available game updates and double check that cross play is enabled for both players. If you still can’t see the lobby, try toggling cross play off and back on again, I’ve found that fixes 90% of lobby visibility issues.
Another common problem is voice chat not working with cross platform players. This usually happens if you haven’t granted microphone permission to Subnautica 2 on your device, or if you have cross platform voice chat muted in the audio settings. Head to your device’s privacy settings to make sure the game has microphone access, and check the in-game audio settings to make sure cross platform voice chat is turned on. If you’re still having trouble, try leaving and rejoining the lobby, as the voice chat connection sometimes glitches when a player first joins.
Progression not syncing across platforms is another frequent complaint. This almost always happens when you close the game too quickly after saving, before the cloud sync has time to complete. Never close the game immediately after saving if you plan to switch platforms right away, as that can corrupt your cloud save and erase hours of progress. Wait 2 to 3 minutes after saving before exiting the game to give the sync time to finish, and you shouldn’t run into any issues. If your save still doesn’t show up, try manually triggering a cloud sync from the in-game settings menu.
If you’re getting consistent lag in cross play lobbies, try hosting the lobby on a PC instead of a console, as PC hosts generally have more stable connections for cross platform sessions. You can also try reducing the number of players in the lobby, as 4-player lobbies sometimes run slower for cross platform groups than 2-player lobbies. Modded lobbies will not work with cross play, even if all players have the same mods installed across different platforms, so if you want to use mods, stick to PC-only lobbies to avoid compatibility errors.
At the end of the day, if you were wondering is Subnautica 2 cross play friendly for groups with mixed devices, the answer is a resounding yes. The devs have put a lot of work into making sure you can explore the game’s creepy, beautiful alien oceans with all your friends, no matter what they play on. Just make sure your accounts are linked, your game is updated, and you follow the simple fixes we laid out if you run into any snags, and you’ll be diving for resources and evading leviathans with your crew in no time.
