Subnautica 2 / Unknown Worlds
Unknown Worlds has finally shared the first Subnautica 2 gameplay video and confirmed early access in 2025. The studio encourages players to actively influence the development.
In a recent developer vlog, the team showed early footage of a survivor from the underwater world. The video is titled Road to Early Access and shows the early state of the game, which is due to be released in early access in 2025 on PC (Steam and Epic Games Store) and Xbox Series X|S. It has also been confirmed that the game will be available via Game Pass.
Subnautica 2 — is the third game in the franchise after the original Subnautica and Below Zero. The development of the sequel was confirmed back in 2022, but then players had to settle for a cinematic teaser. Now, for the first time, you can see the gameplay of the new game.
Design Director Anthony Gallegos told about the main changes: the game will take place in a completely new oceanic world with new biomes and creatures. The video shows a few of them — from a strange creature with a fan-shaped tail to a large aggressive fish that hits rocks. The underwater base and swimming in the cooperative are also shown.
But one of the most interesting details is that a multiplayer mode has been added for the first time. This feature will become one of the main focuses of the developers. Players will be able to build bases and explore the ocean together, as well as — as shown in the early video — use voice chat. Since the developers want to consult with fans, they have already suggested something like a walkie-talkie for remote communication.
This idea with the walkie-talkie has already received over 12,000 likes. The idea is not to take away the feeling of isolation from the players, which was key in the previous games in the series. That is, they should be able to hear each other only when they are close to each other. And radio/radio will become an in-game way to communicate at a distance of — without third-party voice clients.
Unknown Worlds has also previously stated that at the start of early access, Subnautica 2 will include «several biomes, a specific story, cooperative, various creatures, and crafted items». The game will be developed over the course of about two to three years, as it was with the previous installments of the series.
While a specific launch date has not yet been announced, an early access release in 2025 looks very realistic — and the studio has not yet reported any delays. Players who join the game in early access will be the first to receive new content — from vehicles to legendary leviathans.
Source: Subnautica / YouTube