Subnautica 2 — Early Access, co-op and new aquatic planet

Return to the deep

Unknown Worlds Entertainment announced Subnautica 2 at The Game Awards 2024, and every new detail since has fueled excitement in a loyal fanbase. The original Subnautica (2018) and Below Zero (2021) each sold several million copies — proof that the solo underwater survival formula works. Subnautica 2 pushes the experience further by adding what the community had been asking for years: co-op.

The new planet is called Planet B — an aquatic world with an ionized atmosphere that scrambles communications and forces players to adapt to an environment even more hostile than Planet 4546B from the first game.

Co-op: how it works

Unknown Worlds has been transparent about their approach: co-op for up to 4 players is opt-in. You can still play solo just like the first two titles. In co-op, each player has their own inventory and construction bases, but resources and the map are shared.

• Up to 4 players in co-op on the same session
• Progress saved individually — if a friend leaves, you keep your progress
• Construction bases shared or individual depending on chosen mode
• No PvP — the game remains purely cooperative

Biomes and creatures — what we know

Trailers reveal several new biomes: a forest of bioluminescent crystals at around 200 meters depth, thermal current zones with silicate-based creatures, and an abyssal zone called 'the Singing Void' that appears to play a central role in the story.

Screenshots reveal a tentacle-type Leviathan that appears twice the size of the original Reaper Leviathan. Game dataminers also found references to flying creatures — a first for the franchise.

Early Access: what will be available

Unknown Worlds confirmed that Early Access will include approximately 30-40% of the final content. That's more generous than typical Early Access offerings. At EA launch, players will have access to the first 4 biomes, the base construction system, first-tier submersibles and the main narrative arc up to the midpoint.

Pricing and availability

Subnautica 2 will be available on PC (Steam and Epic Games Store) and Xbox Series X|S. It will be in Xbox Game Pass from the Early Access day — excellent news for subscribers. The Early Access price is estimated at $39.99 USD (approximately $54 CAD), with an increase planned for the 1.0 release.

La Meute QC verdict

Subnautica 2 is probably the most anticipated Early Access of 2026 for us. The original game has been in our recommendations for years — it's one of the few survival games that manages to create a genuine atmosphere of exploration and discovery without falling into abusive grind loops. Adding co-op was the missing piece.

We recommend buying it in Early Access if you're a fan of the first game or the survival genre. If you're discovering the franchise, wait for 1.0 — an incomplete co-op experience can leave a poor first impression.