If you’re a long-time Subnautica fan eagerly waiting for the sequel’s launch, you’ve probably scrolled through dozens of forum threads asking the same big question. A huge chunk of the player base is split between PS5 and PC, so crossplay support makes or breaks co-op plans for most friend groups. One of the most frequent questions I’ve seen pop up across Discord and Reddit lately is will Subnautica 2 be cross platform ps5 and pc, and I’ve dug through all official developer comments, leak threads, and playtest details to put together everything we know right now.
Will Subnautica 2 Be Cross Platform for PS5 and PC: What We Know So Far
Unknown Worlds, the studio behind the Subnautica franchise, has been very open about their crossplay goals for the sequel from the very first announcement. Unlike the first game, which got crossplay support almost three years after its initial launch, the team is building cross platform functionality directly into the core of Subnautica 2. For anyone asking will Subnautica 2 be cross platform PS5 and PC, the short answer is almost certainly yes, as long as development stays on track for the planned full launch. Unknown Worlds has explicitly listed PS5-PC crossplay as a core launch feature target in multiple public developer updates over the past year.
Playtesters who have gotten access to early closed builds of the game have already reported testing cross platform lobbies between PS5 dev kits and PC versions of the game. There have been a few small bugs reported, like mismatched UI scaling between the two platforms, but those are standard for pre-release development and are being fixed rapidly. The studio hasn’t given a 100% guarantee yet, but all signs point to the feature being ready for day one launch.
What Cross Platform Play for Subnautica 2 Will Actually Look Like
Crossplay between PS5 and PC won’t just let you join the same lobbies, either. The studio has confirmed that most in-game features will work seamlessly across both platforms, with no extra hoops to jump through for most players. You’ll use a universal in-game friend list tied to your free Unknown Worlds account, so you don’t have to add friends separately on PSN and Steam to play together. Cross progression will also work across PS5 and PC, so you can pick up right where you left off no matter which system you're using.
That means if you build a giant underwater base on your PS5 while you’re away for the weekend, you can log into your PC copy when you get home and keep working on it without losing any progress. All scanned creatures, unlocked crafting recipes, and earned cosmetics will carry over between the two platforms too. Cross platform lobbies will support up to 4 players total, matching the first game's co-op limit, so you can explore the new alien ocean with three friends no matter what system they play on.
Invites will work through in-game codes or direct friend requests, so you don’t have to share your platform-specific account info if you don’t want to. You’ll also be able to toggle crossplay on or off in the settings menu, if you’d rather only play with other users on your same platform for any reason.
Potential Limitations for PS5 and PC Crossplay at Launch
As exciting as cross platform support is, there are a few confirmed limitations you should be aware of before launch, so you don’t end up disappointed on day one. Most of these limitations are in place to keep gameplay fair and consistent across both platforms, and some may be adjusted with post-launch updates. The biggest confirmed restrictions are:
These limitations aren’t permanent for the most part. The studio has mentioned they may add support for limited modded crossplay in the future, only for mods that are approved for both PC and console, but that feature is not a priority for launch. You won't be able to join a friend's modded PC server from your PS5, even if you have the same mods installed on console, so if mod support is important to you, you’ll want to stick to PC-only lobbies for that content.
The early access limitation is also important to note. There’s been heavy speculation that Subnautica 2 will launch in early access on PC 6 to 8 months before it comes to PS5, and crossplay will be disabled entirely during that early access window. If you buy the early access PC version, you’ll only be able to play with other PC players until the full PS5 launch.
How to Prepare for Subnautica 2 Cross Platform Play Between PS5 and PC
There are a few simple steps you can take right now to make sure you’re ready to jump into cross platform lobbies as soon as the game launches, no hassle required. First, head to the official Unknown Worlds website and create a free account if you don’t already have one, then link your PSN account and your Steam/Epic Games account to it. This will make sure your progression carries over automatically when you first boot up the game, and your friends list will sync across both platforms immediately.
You’ll also want to double check your privacy settings on both PSN and your PC store account to make sure cross platform play and invites are enabled. A lot of players have these settings turned off by default, which can cause issues when you try to join cross platform lobbies or send invites to friends on other systems. You will need to purchase a separate copy of Subnautica 2 for each platform you want to play on, as cross-buy is not part of the current launch plans, so plan your budget accordingly if you want to switch between PS5 and PC regularly.
If most of your friends play on PS5, I’d recommend picking up the PS5 copy first even if you own a gaming PC, so you can play with your group right away. You can always grab the PC copy later if you want to try modded play or get better graphical performance. If you’re mostly planning to play solo, pick whichever platform you prefer, since cross progression means you won’t lose progress if you switch later down the line.
At the end of the day, all official signs and developer comments confirm that the answer to will Subnautica 2 be cross platform ps5 and pc is a resounding yes, as long as no last-minute development issues pop up. The team has put a lot of work into making cross play work seamlessly across both platforms, so you can start planning your co-op deep dives and shared base builds with friends no matter what system they use. I’ve been waiting to play through the new story with my PS5-only friend ever since the sequel was first announced, and I’m just as excited as everyone else to jump into the new alien ocean together when it launches.
