Subnautica 2 is launching into Early Access very soon. To make sure you’re ready for your first dive right on time, you should especially keep an eye on the preload and the PC requirements. We’ve summarized all the important information for you in one place.
With Subnautica 2, Unknown Worlds Entertainment continues the popular underwater survival series. This time, you’ll explore a completely new ocean planet and, for the first time, you can optionally play in co-op with up to four players. Personally, that’s exactly what I’m most excited about, and I’ve already warned my friends that quite a few evenings will probably disappear into shared diving trips and base building soon. But what about the preload, and how powerful does your PC actually need to be? We’ve got all the details.
- Still not sure whether Subnautica 2 is for you? The underwater adventure is also coming to Game Pass.
When does Subnautica 2 Early Access start?
As the studio confirmed on Steam, Subnautica 2 will launch into Early Access on May 14, 2026. Originally, the game was planned for an earlier release, but Unknown Worlds later delayed the launch to 2026 to allow more time for improvements and feedback from internal testing.
At launch, Subnautica 2 will be available for PC and Xbox Series X|S. On PC, you’ll be able to buy the game via Steam, the Epic Games Store and the Windows Store. How long the Early Access phase will last is still unclear. According to the developers, however, the studio expects it to continue for roughly two to three years. That would also line up with the original game, which received new content, biomes and vehicles over a longer period of time.
When does the Subnautica 2 preload start?
If you want to jump in right at launch, you’ll be able to download Subnautica 2 ahead of time. The preload starts around 72 hours before the Early Access launch. That means you can finish the download several days in advance and won’t have to deal with long waiting times on release day.
How much storage space does Subnautica 2 require?
According to the official specifications, Subnautica 2 requires around 50 GB of free storage space on your PC. A potential day-one patch is not included in that number yet, so it’s a good idea to keep a bit of extra room free on your SSD. Especially with Early Access games, additional updates often arrive shortly before or around launch.
Subnautica 2 PC system requirements
Unknown Worlds has already published the official hardware requirements. Subnautica 2 requires a 64-bit system and DirectX 12.
Minimum requirements
- Windows 10 or Windows 11 (64-bit)
- Intel Core i5-8400 or AMD Ryzen 5 2600
- 12 GB RAM
- GeForce GTX 1660 (6 GB) or Radeon RX 5500 XT (6 GB)
- DirectX 12
- 50 GB storage space
- Broadband internet connection
Recommended requirements
- Windows 11 (64-bit)
- Intel Core i7-13700 or AMD Ryzen 7 7700X
- 16 GB RAM
- GeForce RTX 3070 (8 GB) or Radeon RX 6700 XT (8 GB)
- DirectX 12
- 50 GB storage space
- Broadband internet connection
Compared to the original Subnautica, the requirements are noticeably higher. One reason for that is the switch to Unreal Engine 5. The new underwater biomes, denser lighting effects and larger areas in particular will likely demand more from your PC than the previous game did.
