If you’re a fan of the original Subnautica’s tense, beautiful underwater survival gameplay, you’ve probably asked yourself is subnautica 2 gonna be on ps5 at least once over the last year. The first game was a surprise hit on Sony’s console, with millions of players diving into its alien ocean world to scavenge, build, and uncover the secrets of planet 4546B. We’ve been scouring official announcements, developer comments, and industry leaks to pull together every confirmed and rumored detail about the sequel’s PS5 launch, so you don’t have to dig through scattered forum threads and social media posts. This guide covers everything from confirmed platform plans to expected performance features you’ll get if you pick the game up for Sony’s current-gen console.
Is Subnautica 2 Gonna Be on PS5? Confirmed Developer Updates
First off, let’s cut straight to the answer so you don’t have to scroll: yes, Subnautica 2 is confirmed to launch on PS5, alongside Xbox Series X/S and PC, when it hits full release. The team at Unknown Worlds made the announcement during a community Q&A in late 2023, after months of speculation about timed platform exclusivity. They noted that the PS5’s custom SSD and 3D audio support were big factors in prioritizing the console for day one launch, as both features align perfectly with the sequel’s faster open-world loading and immersive underwater sound design. There is no planned PS4 release for Subnautica 2 at the time of writing, and the devs have explicitly said they’re not focusing on last-gen hardware to avoid compromising the game’s performance and scale. That means if you’re still playing on a PS4, you’ll need to upgrade to a PS5 if you want to play the new Subnautica sequel at launch.
What PS5 Exclusive Features Can You Expect for Subnautica 2?
One of the biggest perks of picking Subnautica 2 up for PS5 is the custom features the dev team is building specifically for Sony’s console. The DualSense controller’s haptic feedback is being tuned to let you feel everything from the rush of fast swimming through open water to the rumble of a distant leviathan moving through the depths below you. Adaptive triggers will also come into play for tools like the new plasma cutter and upgraded sea glide, so you’ll feel resistance when you’re using high-power gear that drains battery quickly.
You’ll also get two performance modes to choose from, depending on your preferences, plus a specialized audio toggle for maximum immersion:
- Quality Mode: 4K resolution at 30 frames per second, with full ray tracing for water refraction and dynamic lighting that makes the ocean feel more realistic than ever
- Performance Mode: Upscaled 4K at a locked 60 frames per second, with reduced ray tracing effects for smoother gameplay during fast exploration and combat
- 3D Audio Mode: A specialized toggle that prioritizes spatial audio, so you can pinpoint the exact location of distant creatures or resource deposits even when you’re deep in dark cave systems
The PS5’s SSD will also eliminate the long load times that occasionally popped up in the original Subnautica’s console ports, so you’ll be able to fast travel between your bases or dive from the surface to the deepest biomes with zero load screens in between. There’s also support for PS Activities, so you can jump straight to specific tasks like exploring a new biome or fighting a boss directly from your console’s home screen.
Will Subnautica 2 Have Crossplay Between PS5 and Other Platforms?
Crossplay is one of the most requested features for the sequel, especially since the original Subnautica only added cross-platform play years after its initial launch. The devs have confirmed that full crossplay will be supported across all platforms at launch, including PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. That means you can team up with friends who own the game on other systems for co-op exploration, which is a first for the Subnautica franchise. The co-op mode supports up to 4 players per world, so you can build bases, take on leviathans, and uncover the new planet’s secrets with a full group if you want.
You’ll also be able to carry over save files between PS5 and PC if you own the game on both platforms, though cross-save support with Xbox has not been confirmed yet. Cross-progression will only be available if you link your game to your official Unknown Worlds account, so make sure you set that up before you start playing if you plan to switch between platforms down the line. The devs have also noted that PS5 players will get access to the same post-launch DLC and updates as players on other platforms, with no timed exclusive content for any system. That means you won’t miss out on any new biomes, creatures, or story content if you pick the PS5 version over PC or Xbox.
What to Do While You Wait for Subnautica 2’s PS5 Launch
We still don’t have an exact release date for Subnautica 2, but it’s expected to launch sometime in the next 12 months, so there’s plenty of time to prepare if you’re planning to play on PS5. If you’ve never played the original Subnautica or its standalone expansion Below Zero, now is the perfect time to jump in, as both games are regularly on sale for less than $15 on the PS Store. Playing through the original games will also help you get familiar with the core survival mechanics, and you’ll pick up on small lore hints that tie into the sequel’s story. You’ll also get a feel for what playstyle works best for you, whether you prefer slow, methodical exploration or fast-paced base building and combat.
You can also join the official Subnautica community Discord to get early access to developer updates, and sign up for the game’s closed beta if you want to test out early builds before launch. PS5 players will have access to the same closed beta testing slots as PC and Xbox players when sign-ups open later this year, so keep an eye on your PSN notifications if you want to get in early. If you’re looking to upgrade your setup before launch, investing in a good pair of 3D audio headphones will make the game’s immersive sound design hit even harder when you first dive into the new alien ocean. You can also free up space on your PS5’s SSD now, as the devs have said the game will take up around 75GB of storage at launch, with additional space needed for post-launch updates.
For players who want to get even more involved, you can submit feedback to the dev team about features you want to see in the PS5 port. They regularly run community polls about everything from control schemes to quality of life features, so your input could actually shape the final version of the game before it launches. Even small feedback like preferred button layouts or accessibility features are considered by the dev team as they work to make the game accessible for as many players as possible.
At the end of the day, if you’ve been holding off on upgrading your console or saving up for the new Subnautica game, you can rest easy knowing the answer to is subnautica 2 gonna be on ps5 is a resounding yes. The dev team is putting a lot of work into making the PS5 port feel like a native, polished experience, with custom features that take full advantage of the console’s hardware. Whether you’re a long-time fan of the franchise or a new player curious about the underwater survival genre, the PS5 version of Subnautica 2 is shaping up to be one of the best ways to play the game when it launches. Just keep an eye on official announcements for exact release date details, and don’t forget to sign up for beta testing if you want to get a sneak peek at the new world before everyone else.
