Big news! Unknown Worlds has suddenly released a 10-minute Q&A covering everything about Subnautica 2.

The video discussion between community manager Donya Abramo and creative producer Scott MacDonald reveals fresh insights about this upcoming survival adventure. Key takeaways include confirmation that players will return to controlling a silent protagonist. More importantly, the developers emphasized that Subnautica 2 isn't simply a co-op game with solo play tacked on—it's fundamentally designed as a single-player experience that happens to support optional cooperative play (and yes, that's a meaningful distinction!).

Diving Into Scale & Scope

Regarding size, MacDonald stated: "The playable area will exceed what we initially offered in early access for both the first Subnautica and Below Zero. However, the full vertical and horizontal dimensions during early access remain uncertain. Our world designers and environment artists are meticulously crafting everything by hand—they're pouring their hearts into this underwater realm."

"We're targeting this to become the most expansive and thrilling Subnautica entry yet when we reach full release in the coming years," he added.

Evolving Mechanics & Missing Classics

Not every familiar element will return—the iconic Cyclops, Seamoth, and Sea Truck vehicles won't make appearances. Instead, the team is creating entirely new vehicles that "share similar design philosophies but better suit our brand-new aquatic landscapes."

"Don't worry," Abramo reassured fans, "while massive submarines won't be available at early access launch, our team is already developing ambitious alternatives behind closed doors."

Platforms & Limitations

The developers confirmed an early access period will begin later this year, explaining why PlayStation users must wait—Sony's platform currently doesn't support early access releases. VR functionality also won't be available initially.

While proximity chat remains under consideration ("we're investigating options," said the team), Discord remains the recommended voice solution for cooperative expeditions.

The Big Picture

This sequel transports up to four players to an unexplored alien planet teeming with novel biomes, vegetation, and creatures. Though no exact launch date exists, dive into this oceanic adventure later in 2025 on PC and Xbox Series X|S, including for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers.

Recall that we awarded the original Subnautica an outstanding 9.1/10, praising its "masterful survival focus blended with gripping sci-fi storytelling and profound underwater terror." Its successor Below Zero similarly earned an impressive 9/10 in our review, proving Unknown Worlds' consistent excellence in immersive aquatic survival.