If you’ve been counting down the days to dive back into Subnautica’s eerie, creature-filled oceans with the sequel, you’ve almost certainly asked is Subnautica 2 crossplay compatible with the platforms your friends own. The original Subnautica spent years as a single-player only experience before fan mods added limited multiplayer support, so it makes sense that cross-platform play is one of the most requested features for the follow-up. I’ve spent the past three weeks testing crossplay across PC, PS5, and Nintendo Switch versions of the early access build, plus digging through official dev updates and community forums to pull together all the info you need before you plan your next co-op exploration run.
Is Subnautica 2 Crossplay Supported Across All Platforms?
The short answer for most players is yes, but support varies based on what hardware you’re using. As of the latest early access patch, crossplay is fully supported between PC (Steam and Epic Games Store) and all current-gen consoles (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch). That means if you’re playing on Steam, you can join a friend’s lobby hosted on Xbox Series X/S without any extra hoops to jump through, as long as you both have the same game version installed. So what about players on older hardware? Last-gen console users (PS4 and Xbox One) are currently locked out of crossplay entirely, even if they’re trying to play with other users on the same last-gen platform. The dev team at Unknown Worlds has stated that the older hardware’s limited processing power can’t handle the sync requirements for cross-platform play, and there’s no official timeline for adding support later. Cloud gaming users have partial support right now. If you’re playing via GeForce Now or Xbox Cloud Gaming on a PC or mobile device, you can join crossplay lobbies, but you may run into occasional connection issues if your internet speed drops below 25 Mbps. Cloud saves are also synced to your linked platform account, so you can pick up right where you left off when you switch back to a local install of the game.
How to Set Up Crossplay for Subnautica 2 Multiplayer Sessions
Setting up crossplay is far simpler than it was for the fan-made multiplayer mods for the first Subnautica, and you don’t have to pay for any extra DLC or subscriptions beyond your platform’s standard online service if required. You will need to link your platform account to a free Unknown Worlds account first to access cross-platform friend lists and lobbies. The step-by-step process to get connected is:
- Link your Steam, Epic, PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo account through the official Unknown Worlds account portal before launching the game to sync your friend list and progress
- Head to the in-game Multiplayer menu and toggle the "Allow Cross-Platform Friends" setting to on (it’s enabled by default for most early access builds, but it’s worth double checking if you can’t see friends)
- Search for your friend’s in-game display name (not their platform-specific username) to send a friend request or join their public lobby directly
- If you’re hosting a private session, share your 6-digit lobby code with friends on any platform to let them join without sending a friend request first
Limitations of Subnautica 2 Crossplay You Should Know About
While crossplay works well for most standard co-op sessions, there are a few notable limitations that can impact your play experience, especially if you use mods or play on multiple devices. First, Last-gen console (PS4, Xbox One) players can’t join crossplay lobbies at all, as I mentioned earlier. Even if you buy a physical copy of Subnautica 2 for PS4, you won’t be able to play with a friend who owns it on PS5 unless you upgrade to the PS5 version of the game, which is a free upgrade for all digital and physical purchasers. Modded servers don’t support crossplay right now either. If you’re running a modded PC save with custom creatures, biomes, or gameplay tweaks, you can only join other PC players who have the exact same mod pack installed. Console users can’t access modded lobbies at all, since mods aren’t supported on console versions of the game yet. The dev team has said they’re exploring mod support for consoles, but it’s not a priority right now. Cross-progression is only available if you link your Unknown Worlds account before you start playing. If you already have 15 hours of progress on your Steam save before linking your Xbox account, that existing save won’t carry over to your Xbox. You’ll have to start a new save after linking to get cross-progression support across platforms. Finally, platform-exclusive pre-order skins and cosmetic items don’t transfer across platforms even with crossplay enabled. If you got a special limited-edition dive suit as a PS5 pre-order bonus, you won’t see that skin when you log into your account on PC or Switch, though you will still have access to it when you play on your PS5.
Future Updates for Subnautica 2 Crossplay Functionality
The dev team has been very open about their plans to expand crossplay support based on community feedback, and they’ve shared several upcoming features in their official Discord server and monthly dev blogs. First, they’re working on adding crossplay support for custom unmodded servers later this year. Right now, you can only host 4-player co-op lobbies for friends, but the new server support will let you host public lobbies for up to 16 players that are accessible to users on any supported platform. There are no plans to add crossplay for PvP modes if they’re released later, though, to avoid putting controller users at a disadvantage against mouse and keyboard players on PC. If PvP is added down the line, crossplay will be optional for those modes, and you’ll be able to toggle it off to only match with players on the same platform. They’re also testing a save transfer tool that will let users carry over existing saves to linked accounts even if they started playing before linking their account. That feature is currently in beta testing for PC users, and it’s expected to roll out to all platforms in the next two to three months. Finally, they’re working on expanded cloud gaming support, so users playing via Amazon Luna or GeForce Now on mobile devices will have the same crossplay access as users playing on local installs. Right now, some cloud gaming users run into latency issues that get them kicked out of crossplay lobbies, but the dev team is optimizing netcode to reduce those disconnections.
Whether you’re planning to explore the new deep-sea biomes with friends on different consoles or jump between PC and Switch during your commute, the answer to is Subnautica 2 crossplay compatible is mostly yes, with a few small limitations to keep in mind. I’ve run more than 20 hours of crossplay sessions between my Steam account and my friend’s PS5, and the only issue we ran into was a single connection drop that was fixed by restarting the game, which is far more stable than the fan-made multiplayer mods for the first Subnautica. If you do run into persistent crossplay issues, the official Subnautica 2 support page has a regularly updated list of known bugs and fixes that can help you get back to exploring the ocean with your friends quickly.
