Subnautica 2 finally has a concrete release date for its early access, and it’s very soon.
Subnautica 2 will enter early access on PC and Xbox Series X|S on May 14, 2026, at 8am PT. The game will cost $29.99, making for a very accessible price point in a crowded month for games. The deep-sea game will be released right before the highly anticipated releases of LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight and 007 First Light, but each game targets different audiences.
“We’re excited for players to experience Subnautica 2, beginning May 14!” said Ted Gill, CEO of Unknown Worlds, in a press release about the date reveal. “Our team cannot wait to hear your feedback as the game evolves throughout Early Access.”
Subnautica 2 has had a long and bumpy road to release. The first game was a surprise hit that inspired the team to take a lot of the core ideas and expand upon them for a sequel that also features co-op multiplayer. It has been in the works since 2022 and was targeting a 2025 release date, but it hit a major snag last summer. Unknown Worlds leadership, including CEO Ted Gill, were removed from the studio by parent company Krafton, which stated that leadership was working on other projects, distracting them from getting Subnautica 2 ready for launch.
The Gill and the other let-go leadership employees filed a lawsuit, alleging they were fired and Subnautica 2 was delayed because Krafton didn’t want to pay out a $250 million bonus for hitting key revenue targets in 2025. Ultimately, a judge reinstated Gill and the leadership team at Unknown Worlds in March 2026 and stated that Krafton didn’t have a valid reason for firing them. Shortly thereafter, it was confirmed that Subnautica 2 would launch sometime in May.
Cade Onder is a freelancer for IGN’s news team. He covers all things entertainment, including gaming, film, and more. You can find him on Twitter @Cade_Onder.
