Subnautica 2 Gets Release Date and Trailer, Steam Page Teases Body Augmentation and Co-Op Gameplay

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Unknown Worlds has finally announced the next sequel to its popular indie survival game franchise, Subnautica, and released a teaser trailer alongside the reveal. While details are still scant, the first trailer divulges some key information about the upcoming game. For starters, and likely the biggest divergence from Subnautica and the Subnautica: Below Zero expansion, is the addition of multiplayer gameplay, supporting teams of up to four players. For now, it looks like gameplay will either be single-player or online co-op, although it’s unclear whether teams will be able to mix the two, popping into four-player sessions alone or with one or two players sitting it out.

Just judging from the trailer and Steam Store page, it looks like Subnautica 2 will take many of the same game mechanics—crafting, resource management, and an open-world sandbox—as the other games in the franchise, and build on them, instead of trying to rewrite the story. Likewise, it looks to be leaning into the Lovecraftian horror themes earlier on in the game. There also seems to be a new upgrade mechanic that will allow players to augment the biology of their characters, which should add an extra layer of depth to the game. Unknown Worlds has not yet published the full retail price for Subnautica 2 or pinned an exact release date, but it will release as an Early Access game sometime in 2025. Fans of the genre and franchise can wishlist and follow the game on Steam, Epic Games, or Xbox or join the Discord community.

This world is too dangerous for humans to survive… Unless you change what it means to be human… As you learn more about this world, evolve your genetics to adapt your body for survival.

It remains to be seen just what this means for players, but it could be an indication that the surface world in Subnautica 2 is far more hostile than the one in the original game or that players are more firmly pushed to spend more time exploring the ocean depths—perhaps players will be less reliant on their oxygen tanks for diving.

The Steam page also teases that there may be grander forces at play that have thrown the planet out of balance, although information on exact gameplay and story points are still quite vague—and rightfully so, given that the game is still so far from release. It’s unclear how long Unknown Worlds plans to keep Subnautica in Steam Early Access, although the original game spent nearly four years in early access before the full-fledged launch. Given the success of the original game and the subsequent pseudo-expansion—and how long Unknown Worlds has had to work on the new game already—it seems likely that Subnautica 2 will spend significantly less time in early access.

The Steam Store page for Subnautica 2 describes the game as follows:

Immerse yourself in a new adventure with Subnautica 2, an open-water survival game from the creators of the Subnautica series. Play alone or with friends as you explore alluring biomes and discover fascinating creatures. Craft vehicles, tools, and bases to survive this mysterious alien world.

Check out the Subnautica 2 teaser trailer below via YouTube: