Like most Subnautica fans, I spent months refreshing developer updates in the lead-up to the second game's launch, wondering if I could finally explore the new alien ocean with my friends who play on different consoles. The first question on nearly every pre-order page and community forum is is Subnautica 2 multiplayer crossplay, and it's easy to see why. The first game only got limited multiplayer support via mods years after launch, so players are eager to know if official cross-platform play is on the table this time around. I dug through all official announcements, playtest notes, and community reports to put together everything you need to know before you buy.
Current Official Status of Subnautica 2 Multiplayer Crossplay
Let's cut straight to the facts so you don't have to sift through old Reddit threads or outdated social media posts. As of the latest developer update, Subnautica 2 will not launch with native crossplay support. The team at Unknown Worlds has stated that their top priority for launch is making sure core multiplayer functionality is stable for players on the same platform, before they add the extra layer of cross-platform compatibility.
That doesn't mean crossplay is never coming, though. The devs have confirmed that cross-platform play is one of their top post-launch features, with a planned rollout 3 to 6 months after the game's initial release. It will support all launch platforms, including PC (Steam and Epic Games Store), PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch. They're also working to make sure crossplay works between storefronts on PC, so Steam players can join lobbies with friends who bought the game on Epic.
You won't need a paid subscription to any extra service to use crossplay when it launches, other than the standard console online subscriptions required for multiplayer on PlayStation and Xbox. The only requirement is linking a free Unknown Worlds account, which will also be used for cross-save functionality.
Workarounds to Play With Cross-Platform Friends Before Official Support Drops
If you can't wait a few months to explore the new ocean with your cross-platform friends, there are a few unofficial workarounds the community has already tested during playtests. Keep in mind that none of these are guaranteed to work perfectly, and you may run into bugs that ruin your play session.
- Use PC cloud gaming services for console players: If your friend owns the game on console, they can log into a supported cloud gaming service that has Subnautica 2 in its library, stream the PC version to their console or device, and join your PC lobby using a shared invite code. This works best for players with fast, stable internet connections.
- Join platform-specific community groups to find teammates: If you can't connect with your cross-platform friend group right away, join the official Subnautica Discord server and look for channels dedicated to your platform. You'll find hundreds of other players looking for teammates to explore, build bases, and take down leviathans with.
- Sign up for official crossplay playtests: The devs run regular closed playtests focused specifically on crossplay functionality for registered players. If you sign up via the official Subnautica website, you may get access to crossplay months before it launches to the general public.
None of these workarounds are officially supported, so you may run into lag, random disconnections, or even missing save data if you use them. I tested the cloud gaming workaround during a recent playtest, and while it worked most of the time, I did get kicked out of my friend's lobby twice when my internet speed dropped slightly. It's fine for casual play sessions, but I wouldn't use it if you're planning a long, story-focused playthrough.
What Features Will Official Crossplay Include When It Launches?
The devs have shared a lot of details about what the official crossplay rollout will include, and it's clear they're building it to be as seamless as possible for all players. Full cross-save support will be tied to crossplay launch, so you can start a playthrough on your PC after work, then pick up right where you left off on your Switch when you're traveling. All your base builds, unlocked blueprints, and collected resources will carry over between platforms, as long as you're logged into the same Unknown Worlds account.
You'll also get native cross-platform voice chat support, so you don't have to use third-party apps like Discord to talk to your friends on other platforms. The voice chat will have adjustable settings, so you can mute individual players, adjust volume levels, or turn it off entirely if you'd rather use your own chat app.
You'll have full control over who can join your lobby, too. You can set your lobby to be cross-platform open, only visible to friends on any platform, or restricted to only players on the same platform as you. You can adjust lobby permissions at any time during a play session, so if you run into toxic players in a public cross-platform lobby, you can switch it to friends-only in seconds.
Important Things to Know Before Playing Subnautica 2 Multiplayer
Even if you're only playing with friends on the same platform right now, there are a few key things to keep in mind to make your multiplayer sessions run smoothly. All players in a lobby need to have the same game version installed to play together, even on the same platform. If you have automatic updates turned off, make sure you check for updates before you try to join a friend's lobby, or you'll get an error message when you try to connect.
Performance will vary slightly across platforms, even when crossplay launches. Switch players may notice slightly lower draw distances or less detailed textures when playing in a lobby with PC players, to make sure the game runs smoothly for everyone. The devs are working on dynamic performance adjustment that will match the lobby's performance settings to the lowest-spec platform in the group, so no one gets left with unplayable frame rates.
You can also adjust individual player permissions for each lobby, so you can control who can build on your base, take your vehicles, or collect rare resources. That's a huge plus if you're playing with a friend who likes to mess around, because you can lock them out of editing your main base while still letting them explore and collect materials. If you're the lobby host, your base and world save will be stored on your account, so even if other players leave, you can keep playing on the same world later.
At the end of the day, the answer to is subnautica 2 multiplayer crossplay is "not at launch, but very soon". If you can wait a few months for the official post-launch update, you'll get a stable, fully featured crossplay experience that works across all platforms with no workarounds needed. If you want to play right away, stick to friends on the same platform, or test out the community workarounds for casual play sessions. Either way, the new alien ocean is a lot more fun to explore with friends, no matter what platform you're playing on.
