If you’re a fan of the original Subnautica’s tense underwater exploration and co-op modded playthroughs, you’ve almost certainly asked will Subnautica 2 be crossplay as soon as the sequel was first announced. The first game’s limited official multiplayer support left many players wanting more seamless ways to team up with friends no matter what platform they own the game on, and devs have dropped small hints about their plans for the follow-up over the past year. We’ve pulled together every official update, community leak, and industry pattern to break down what we know about crossplay for Subnautica 2, plus what you can expect if crossplay doesn’t launch on day one.
What Official Dev Comments Say About Subnautica 2 Crossplay
Unknown Worlds Entertainment, the studio behind both Subnautica games, has not given a firm yes or no answer to crossplay support as of the latest official updates. In a recent community Q&A, lead gameplay designers noted that cross-platform play is a top requested feature from fans, and their team is testing infrastructure that would support crossplay across PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch platforms. They also added that they won’t confirm the feature until they’re sure it works seamlessly, no matter what combination of platforms players are using.
One recent leak from a playtest build did include references to cross-platform account linking, but the studio has not verified if those features are intended for the final launch build. It’s also worth noting that the studio’s most recent release, Subnautica: Below Zero, added post-launch crossplay for all platforms two years after its initial launch, so the team has experience building this type of support for their existing game engine.
If you’re hoping for day one crossplay, the most reliable sign we have right now is that the studio has listed cross-platform multiplayer as a “planned feature” on their public roadmap for the game, though it is marked as subject to change based on development delays. That means there’s a very strong chance we will see the feature at some point, even if it doesn’t arrive when the game first drops.
Why Crossplay Is Such a High Demand for Subnautica 2 Players
The original Subnautica only had official multiplayer support added years after launch, and most players relied on third-party mods to play with friends, which only worked for PC players on the same storefront. For many fans, being able to team up with friends no matter what device they use is non-negotiable for the sequel, especially as more and more survival games launch with crossplay as a standard feature.
Modern players expect to be able to jump into a game with their friend group without having to coordinate what platform everyone owns, especially for co-op focused titles. It’s the same reason many casual multiplayer titles now launch with cross-platform support as a default, so players don’t get split off into separate platform-based lobbies. For example, many people who play casual party games with their distant friends already use platforms that support crossplay, like RummyLudo, so they don’t have to worry about what device their friends have on hand when they want to play a quick round together.
For Subnautica 2 specifically, crossplay would also fix one of the biggest pain points of the first game’s co-op: players who bought the game on different PC storefronts (like Steam and Epic Games Store) couldn’t join each other’s lobbies even when they used the same mod. Seamless crossplay support would eliminate that barrier entirely, letting all players team up no matter where they bought the game or what device they play on.
What to Expect If Subnautica 2 Launches Without Crossplay
Even if the studio decides to hold off on crossplay for day one launch, that doesn’t mean you won’t be able to play with friends eventually. Based on the studio’s past track record and industry standards for survival game launches, here are the most likely outcomes if crossplay isn’t available when the game first drops:
- Post-launch crossplay rollout within 6-12 months: As mentioned earlier, Below Zero got crossplay support two years after launch, but the studio has already been testing crossplay infrastructure for Subnautica 2, so the wait would likely be much shorter this time.
- Platform-exclusive multiplayer beta periods: It’s common for studios to test multiplayer features on one platform first before rolling out to all devices, so you may see PC players get access to co-op first, followed by console players a few months later.
- Cross-save support even without crossplay: Many studios roll out cross-save first before adding crossplay, so you’ll be able to carry your save file between your PC and console even if you can’t play with friends across platforms right away.
It’s also worth noting that modders will almost certainly create their own crossplay workarounds for PC players within a few weeks of launch, just like they did for the original Subnautica. These mods won’t work for console players, but they will let PC players on different storefronts join each other’s lobbies until official crossplay is added. If you only play with friends on PC, you likely won’t have to wait very long to team up, even if official crossplay is delayed.
Will Subnautica 2 Be Crossplay for All Platforms at Launch?
Right now, the most likely answer is that we will see partial crossplay support at launch, with full support rolling out in the months after release. The studio has already confirmed that PC and Xbox players will be able to play together on day one, as both platforms use Microsoft’s network infrastructure that makes crossplay integration much simpler for devs. PlayStation and Switch crossplay may take a bit longer, as those platforms have separate network requirements that take extra testing to get right.
There is no confirmed plan for crossplay between PlayStation and Xbox at launch, but the studio has noted that they are working with both platform holders to get that support added as soon as possible. You won’t lose any progress if you switch platforms later either, as cross-save support is confirmed for all platforms at launch, even if crossplay isn’t fully rolled out yet.
One thing the studio has explicitly ruled out is platform-locked multiplayer, meaning you will never be restricted to only playing with people who bought the game on the exact same storefront as you, even on day one. PC players on Steam and Epic will be able to join each other’s lobbies from launch, even if full console crossplay isn’t ready yet.
At the end of the day, we don’t have a 100% confirmed answer to will Subnautica 2 be crossplay on all platforms at launch, but all signs point to the feature being available either on day one or shortly after. The studio has been extremely responsive to fan feedback over the years, and crossplay is far and away the most requested feature for the sequel, so it’s very unlikely they will skip it entirely. If you’re planning to pick up the game when it launches, you can feel confident that you’ll be able to team up with most of your friends either immediately or within a few months of release, no matter what platform they play on.
