Subnautica 2 launched into early access on May 14 and pulled in two million copies in under 12 hours – an extraordinary debut for a sequel to one of the most beloved survival games ever made. Now Unknown Worlds has shared what the roadmap looks like from here, and there’s a lot to be excited about.
The Next Two Updates Are Already Mapped Out
Unknown Worlds has detailed the content coming in the first two post-launch updates. The first update is focused on quality of life improvements – fixes, tweaks, and polish based on player feedback from the opening days of early access. Nothing flashy, but exactly what you want to see from a developer taking the community seriously right out of the gate.
The second update is where things get more interesting. Labelled as the co-op-centric update, it’s being built around improving the multiplayer experience with features including voice chat, emotes, player trading, player revive, and additional customisation options. For a game that launched with co-op as a core feature, these additions will meaningfully deepen the experience of exploring the ocean depths with friends.
New Biomes, Creatures, and a New Vehicle
Looking further ahead, Unknown Worlds plans to expand the game world with new biomes, new creatures, leviathans, resources, tools, and a new vehicle. The story will also continue – the second chapter is confirmed for a future update, which means the narrative arc players start in early access will eventually reach a proper continuation.
Unknown Worlds has been transparent that Subnautica 2 is expected to remain in early access for at least two years. That’s a long runway, but given how the original Subnautica used its early access period to craft something exceptional, patient players have every reason to be optimistic.
A Turbulent Road to Launch
It’s worth acknowledging what this game went through to reach players. The development of Subnautica 2 was overshadowed by an extraordinary corporate dispute: Krafton CEO Changhan Kim allegedly used ChatGPT to help justify firing the studio heads at Unknown Worlds in what many read as an attempt to avoid paying out a $250 million bonus. The studio heads fought back legally, were reinstated, and the game launched on the originally announced May 14 date – albeit with the early access window already locked in before the dispute was fully resolved.
The fact that the game shipped, found its audience so quickly, and has a clear development roadmap in place is a testament to the team at Unknown Worlds. The ocean awaits – and it’s apparently only getting deeper.
Subnautica 2 is available now on Steam and Xbox Series X|S at $29.99 USD.
