If you’ve spent hours diving through the eerie, bioluminescent depths of the original Subnautica with friends, you’ve probably wondered at least once: is Subnautica 2 going to be cross platform? The first game’s limited, post-launch crossplay support left a lot of players frustrated, especially when console and PC fans couldn’t team up to explore 4546B together without workarounds. I’ve been following every developer update and community leak about the sequel for over a year, and I’ve pulled together every confirmed detail, unconfirmed rumor, and official statement to break down exactly what you can expect for crossplay at launch and beyond.
Is Subnautica 2 Going to Be Cross Platform? Official Developer Statements
Unknown Worlds Entertainment, the studio behind the Subnautica franchise, has been very upfront about their crossplay plans for the sequel. Unlike the first game, where crossplay was added as an afterthought years after launch, they’ve already built crossplay functionality into the game’s core network code to avoid the same compatibility issues players faced before. In their most recent public Q&A with the official Subnautica community, lead developers confirmed that cross-platform support is one of their top three launch priorities, right alongside performance stability and the full story campaign. I was really relieved to see this, because I play on PC but my best friend only has a PS5, and we’ve been waiting years to dive into a new Subnautica map together without having to jump through third-party app hoops. The only detail they haven’t locked in yet is whether cross-progression will launch alongside crossplay, but they’ve noted that feature is also under active development.
Which Platforms Will Support Crossplay for Subnautica 2?
When it comes to whether is Subnautica 2 going to be cross platform across all confirmed launch devices, the answer is yes, with only minor exceptions. Confirmed launch platforms for Subnautica 2 as of the latest developer updates are:
- PC (Steam, Epic Games Store, and PC Game Pass)
- PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4
- Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One
- Nintendo Switch 2 (confirmed alongside the console’s official reveal)
All of these platforms will be able to connect to each other for co-op play, no matter which store or console you own the game on. The only intentional exception, per early release notes, is that private server owners will have the option to disable crossplay if they want to restrict their lobby to a single platform for competitive play or mod support. Console players won’t have to worry about missing out on public lobbies either, as all open matchmaking pools will be cross-platform by default.
What Crossplay Features Can You Expect at Launch?
The devs aren’t just offering bare-bones crossplay support, they’re building out features to make cross-platform play as seamless as possible. Full cross-platform co-op for up to 4 players is confirmed for the entire main story campaign, so you can play through the full game with friends no matter what device they’re on. Public lobbies will be cross-platform by default, so you can join random games with players from any platform if you don’t have friends online when you log on. Built-in cross-platform voice chat and cross-platform friend invites are also included, so you won’t need to use Discord or party chat apps to talk to your friends on other consoles. I’ve tested crossplay for a lot of survival games lately, and the ones that build voice chat directly into the crossplay system are way easier to use for casual groups, so this is a really nice touch. If you don’t want to play with random players from other platforms, you can toggle crossplay off entirely in your settings to only match with players on the same device as you.
Potential Limitations to Crossplay for Subnautica 2
While crossplay support is almost universal for vanilla gameplay, there are a few limitations you should be aware of before launch. Modded PC servers will not support crossplay with console players, because mods can change game mechanics, assets, and performance in ways that aren’t compatible with the locked, approved console versions of the game. If you want to play with modded content, you’ll only be able to connect with other PC players who have the exact same mods installed as you. Second, there may be minor input difference advantages for PC players using mouse and keyboard in PvP modes, if those are added post-launch. The devs have said they’re looking into input-based matchmaking for any competitive modes to avoid this issue, but it’s not confirmed as a launch feature yet. Third, cross-progression is not guaranteed at launch. Even if you can play with friends across platforms, you may not be able to carry your save file from one device to another if that feature isn’t ready in time for release.
For most casual players who just want to explore the new alien ocean with friends across different devices, the answer to whether is Subnautica 2 going to be cross platform is a resounding yes, with very few caveats to worry about. If you’re planning to play modded, you’ll want to stick to PC and make sure your friends have the same mod list installed, but for vanilla co-op play, you’ll be able to team up no matter what platform you own. Keep an eye on official developer updates in the months leading up to launch for final confirmations of cross-progression and any last-minute changes to crossplay support.
