Subnautica 2 dev vlog shows glimpses of co-op gameplay as early access approaches

Subnautica was developed and published by Unknown Worlds Entertainment in 2018 and the game has overwhelmingly positive reviews on Steam. It became a popular title soon after launch and fans have been waiting for a sequel, which was announced in October last year. Now, a new dev vlog titled ‘Road to early access’ has been posted on the official YouTube channel inviting fans to help improve the game as it goes into early access later this year. 

Design Lead, Anthony Gallegos, states in the video that Subnautica 2 is based in an all new mysterious alien world and that the team has taken everything they learned from the original game and put it in the sequel. Subnautica 2 will feature co-op gameplay, something that was lacking in the original, and the video shows glimpses of a duo exploring the waters and helping each other. 

Early access for Subnautica 2 kicks off “later in 2025” as per Gallegos. Players will be able to share feedback as the game is developed, as well as explore biomes, experience new vehicles, craftables, and leviathans. There is no release date for early access but this is the first update since the teaser back in October 2024.

The Steam page for Subnautica 2 states while it is “difficult to accurately predict how long Early Access will last,” based on previous Early Access games developed by Unknown Worlds Entertainment, the developers expect it to take about two to three years. With the sequel, unlike the original from 2018, the team is handing over publishing to KRAFTON.