Subnautica 2's Early Access 1.2 update, Buddy System, is out now! This update introduces the hugely requested Proximity Chat feature, Player Revives, Emotes, Player Trading, two new characters, and a ton of bug fixes.
Read the full patch notes through the link above!
Subnautica 2 Creative Director Anthony Gallegos returns to discuss everything you can expect from the 1.2 update, Buddy System, out tomorrow (August 19th).
From features like Proximity Chat, Player Trading and Revives, and an all-new Tracking Tag, there's plenty to see.
And there may even be another sneak peek at the upcoming Early Access 2 update...
You can continue to speculate and discuss everything about Subnautica 2 in our official Discord server. Join the community and share your thoughts with your fellow Subnauts!
You can buy Subnautica 2 on Steam now. And don’t forget to share ideas and upvote things you’d like to see in Subnautica 2 on Nolt.io. Keep Diving!
Hello Subnauts,
As part of our ongoing dedication to the open development process during Early Access, we’re launching the Experimental branch of Subnautica 2 today on Steam and Xbox.
The Experimental branch is an entirely opt-in experience. It allows players to preview upcoming content for Subnautica 2 in an earlier state, and helps us catch any issues before we ship features to the main Early Access build.
Experimental does often mean just that. The builds are more likely to contain bugs (potentially game-breaking), and we often caution that you not get attached to any saves while playing on this branch.
Saves are also not compatible between versions. This means you can’t import or export saves between Experimental and the main branch. But don’t worry about accidentally loading your saves on the wrong version! Saves are stored in separate locations. This means that while you are playing the Experimental version, you won't see your main saves in the game. But don't worry, if you switch back they should re-appear.
For now, our Experimental branch will not update daily, as it did for Subnautica and Below Zero. Builds will be uploaded to preview our upcoming releases shortly before release to the wider public. We may also use it to preview smaller patches and fixes between major updates.
Interested? Here’s how you can opt in to the Experimental branch.
To access the Experimental branch of Subnautica 2 on Steam:
To access the Experimental branch of Subnautica 2 on Xbox, you will need to join the Xbox Insider Program. To join the Program, you need to be 18 years old and either own Subnautica 2 or have an active Game Pass Ultimate subscription.
If you want to read more about the Experimental branch, including the best way to report bugs and provide feedback, you can find an FAQ on our support website.
As always, we want to thank you for all of your support for Subnautica 2.
Keep diving!
An update for Subnautica and Below Zero on Switch 2 was just released!
The update includes several bug fixes across both games, and introduces new graphics presets so players can choose their preferred gameplay experience.
Patch Notes
Implemented Graphics Presets
Players can now select between the following presets:
Bug Fixes
Subnautica
Below Zero
Subnautica 2’s Early Access 1.1 update, Adaptive Measures, is out now! This update includes a ton of quality-of-life fixes, including the much-requested FOV slider, and adds targeted improvements to the game.
Read the full patch notes through the link above!
Subnautica 2 Creative Director Anthony Gallegos is back! This time he's walking through what you can expect from our Early Access 1.1 update, Adaptive Measures, coming out tomorrow (July 8th, 2026.)
He also outlines some of the features and content coming in the near future for our 1.2 update, and later in the year for Early Access 2.
Our first Dev Vlog since Subnautica 2 entered Early Access is here!
Design Lead Anthony Gallegos shares his heartfelt thanks on behalf of the development team for the overwhelming support for Subnautica 2 so far. He’s also covering what to expect in our upcoming updates over the coming weeks and months.
We will be pivoting from the frequent, rapid hotfixes we’ve been releasing since Early Access launch to focus on our upcoming EA1.1 update. So watch out for that in a few weeks!
You can continue to speculate and discuss everything about Subnautica 2 in our official Discord server. Join the community and share your thoughts with your fellow Subnauts!
You can buy Subnautica 2 on Steam, Xbox, and Epic Games now. And don’t forget to share ideas and upvote things you’d like to see in Subnautica 2 on Nolt.io.
Keep Diving!
Thank you to everyone who entered the #LeviathanAwakens fan art contest.
And a huge congratulations to eboy (🏆), Aster (🥈), and Hans (🥉) for winning the top spots!
Full winner announcement: https://unknownworlds.com/en/news/subnautica-2-leviathan-awakens-winner-announcement
Hello Subnauts,
First, thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us since launch. We have been reading your reviews and comments carefully, and we understand that there are several concerns we need to address more clearly.
We also understand that some recent comments from our team made players feel ignored or dismissed. We are sorry for that. Early Access should be a conversation with our players, not a one-way explanation from the development team. Your feedback matters, and we do not want any part of our communication to make the community feel otherwise.
There are three areas we want to speak to directly.
First, we understand that creature balance needs work. Right now, some predator encounters feel more frustrating than tense or exciting. Mitigation tools are not always clear, reliable, or satisfying, and players do not always have enough confidence in how to respond when a creature attacks. This is not the experience we want.
We are actively working on improvements to creature behavior and player mitigation tools. Upcoming changes will include adjustments to creature aggression timing, aggro range, flare effectiveness, Survival Tool effectiveness, and creature interactions with vehicles and bases. These changes will be delivered over a series of upcoming patches.
Second, we have heard the strong request for more direct ways to deal with hostile creatures, including the ability to kill them. We understand where that request is coming from. When avoidance and mitigation tools do not feel effective, it is natural for players to want a more decisive solution.
Our current direction is not based on judging players who want combat, and it is not because we think those players are wrong. Subnautica has always been built around vulnerability, exploration, and survival rather than traditional weapon-based combat. We believe that this is part of what makes the game unique. However, that design only works if creature encounters feel fair, readable, and engaging. Right now, we know we have more work to do to achieve that.
Third, we want to be clear about how we view Early Access. Early Access is not only about collecting bug reports. It is a collaboration with the community. We will not always be able to make every requested change, but we do have a responsibility to listen carefully, explain our decisions respectfully, and show through our actions that player feedback is shaping the game.
In the coming weeks, we will be delivering a series of improvements aimed at addressing the concerns we are hearing from this community. We hope those changes will demonstrate that we are listening and that we are committed to working with you to make Subnautica 2 the best game it can be.
Thank you again for your honesty, patience, and passion for the game.
Hello Subnauts,
We just released our first hotfix for Subnautica 2 to address a few issues reported by the community since we launched on Thursday.
Here are the changes that you’ll see when you next start the game!
As a reminder: analytics for Subnautica 2 can be turned off at any time from the settings menu.
Adjustments to the Terms of Service and a FAQ addressing concerns with the current version will be rolled out in the near future.
This hotfix may take some time to appear around the world and will be available on Xbox once it clears certification.
Keep diving! 🥽
The feedback we've been getting since launching Subnautica 2 into Early Access yesterday has been incredible.
But as you all continue to dive into your first thrilling adventures in Subnautica 2, we wanted to share a little bit about our plans for the game over the next few months.
This is a high-level view and subject to change or adjustment. We want to hear from you, our community, on what we should be looking at while we develop Subnautica 2. Community input is key to shaping the game throughout Early Access!
Keep making use of our in-game feedback tool to let us know what you think. Also, head over to our Nolt (https://subnautica2.nolt.io/) to leave your suggestions and up-vote other ideas from the community.
Read More: https://unknownworlds.com/en/news/subnautica-2-early-access-roadmap
Over 1 million Subnauts have already dived into Subnautica 2 🤯
We can't thank you enough for your support!
Hello Subnauts,
We want to extend a huge thank you to the entire community for your ongoing support and enthusiasm for Subnautica 2.
As the Early Access launch rapidly approaches, we’ve heard so many of your requests to pre-load Subnautica 2 on Steam.
We want to enable you to get into the game as quickly as possible on May 14th!
This is why we’re enabling pre-purchasing and pre-loading for Subnautica 2 for 72 hours leading up to the launch, for those of you who want to dive in immediately on Thursday.
You can head over to the Steam page now to pre-purchase the game!
You can also pre-purchase Subnautica 2 on Epic Games and Xbox.
And don’t forget to join our official Discord server and share your excitement for Subnautica 2 with the rest of the community.
We can’t wait to see you in the depths!
To celebrate the launch of Subnautica 2 into Early Access, we had the incredible opportunity to collaborate with the artist behind LEVIATHAN, a post-apocalyptic Webtoon where beings known as leviathans pose a deadly threat to humanity.
Noh Mi-young combines her distinct artwork and characters with three iconic Subnautica Leviathans, and discusses her thoughts about the Subnautica universe!
Bring the Reaper home!
Grab a copy of Subnautica 2 before May 25th, and you'll receive your very own in-game Reaper Statue base decoration!
The final Subnautica 2 Dev Vlog ahead of Early Access launch is here 🤯
Design Lead Anthony Gallegos walks through some of the things you can expect when the game enters Early Access on May 14th.
Hello, Subnauts!
To celebrate Subnautica 2’s upcoming Early Access launch, we've prepared a series of special events for you all to enjoy.
Imagine and illustrate the Deepwing Brooder Leviathan in our fan art contest, apply for a role at Alterra Corporation, and tune in to the Pre-Launch Showcase for Drops. There's something for everyone!
Alterra Corporation has opened applications for new explorers!
Complete the aptitude test, check your recommended role, and apply.
If the community reaches 100,000 total applications during the event period, the Lost River Poster blueprint will be unlocked as an in-game item for all Subnautica 2 players.
🔗: https://unknownworlds.com/en/news/subnautica-2-alterra-pioneer-recruitment
Wake the Deepwing Brooder Leviathan with your own hands.
Use the official template to imagine and create your own version of this yet-to-be-revealed Leviathan.
Winners will receive a variety of rewards, and the Top 1 entry will be crafted into an in-game poster item.
🔗: https://unknownworlds.com/en/news/subnautica-2-leviathan-awakens-fanart-contest
On May 9, 2026, at 08:00 AM (PDT), the Subnautica 2 Pre-Launch Showcase goes live.
Join us for a packed showcase with the world-first Gameplay Trailer reveal and a conversation with the development team.
Watch live on Twitch for at least 20 minutes to receive an in-game Seamoth Statue base decoration.
A special giveaway event will also be announced during the broadcast.
🔗: https://unknownworlds.com/en/news/subnautica-2-pre-launch-showcase-announce
Join us for all three events, earn rewards, and get ready for Subnautica 2’s Early Access launch together.
Keep Diving!
Hello Subnauts,
With Subnautica 2's Early Access release fast approaching, we know that you may have a few questions about any hardware requirements ahead of your first dive.
That's why we've prepared some recommendations for different setups to help you choose the settings that will work best for you and your hardware!
We hope this infographic will help you prepare for Early Access.
Further optimizations will come over the course of development, so we'll update this as things change to ensure you continue to enjoy the best possible experience with Subnautica 2.
Keep Diving.
The depths are calling… 🐟
The Subnautica 2 Early Access cinematic trailer is out now! Make sure you watch all the way to the end for a surprise 🫣
The final episode of Dive into the Legacy is here 👀
Watch The Last Bacon and Wiki Keeper Cale discuss their dedication to Subnautica’s ongoing lore and how they make it accessible for the community.
And there’s one more thing you don’t want to miss…
