Subnautica 2 Early Access confirmed for May 2026
After a lengthy legal battle between developer Unknown Worlds Entertainment and publisher Krafton, Subnautica 2 has officially been confirmed for Early Access launch in May 2026 on PC and Xbox.
Subnautica 2 is officially heading to Early Access in May 2026, ending months of uncertainty following a dramatic legal dispute between Unknown Worlds Entertainment and publisher Krafton. For everything confirmed about the game so far, see our Subnautica 2 hub.
The confirmation came after a Delaware court ruled in favour of the studio's original leadership, ordering the reinstatement of Unknown Worlds CEO Ted Gill. Following the ruling, both Unknown Worlds and Krafton issued statements confirming the May Early Access window.
Studio head confirms the timeline
In an internal message shared with the team, Unknown Worlds studio head Steve Papoutsis confirmed the timeline: "Over the past nine months, you have worked incredibly hard to bring Subnautica 2 close to the finish line. That effort has resulted in a game we are truly proud of."
The team confirmed they have added new story chapters, built new creatures, and created new biomes during the extended development period. The game has passed Krafton's milestone review and is cleared for Early Access release.
Nearly 4 million wishlists
Subnautica 2 remains the most wishlisted game on Steam, with nearly 4 million players tracking its release. The Early Access period is expected to last 2–3 years, following the same open development model as the original Subnautica.
No microtransactions
No microtransactions, battle passes, or season passes will be included at any point.