Subnautica 2 Coming To Game Pass At Launch

GameSpot » All News RSS Feed✍ Eddie Makuch📅 May 4, 2026⏱ 3 min read(3 months ago)

Overview & Key Takeaways

Subnautica 2 is coming to Xbox Game Pass on day one, developer Unknown Worlds has announced. It'll release on May 14 for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass members on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Rog Xbox Ally.

As on Steam, Subnautica 2 will release in early access--known as Game Preview on Xbox. For more, check out the exact Subnautica 2 launch times for Xbox and PC.

Subnautica 2 is coming to market with a lot of hype behind it, as it's the No. 1 most-wishlisted game on Steam. The 2018 original game was much-loved and the spin-off, Below Zero, was enjoyed by fans, too. The sequel has not been confirmed for release on PlayStation 5 or Nintendo Switch 2.

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As on Steam, Subnautica 2 will release in early access--known as Game Preview on Xbox. For more, check out the exact Subnautica 2 launch times for Xbox and PC.

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Now Playing: Subnautica 2 - Early Access Release Date Reveal | Cinematic Trailer

In a blog post, senior QA analyst Rob Hamiter said getting performance where it needed to be for the Rog Xbox Ally version was a priority after Subnautica 2's announcement. The game will launch with a preset graphics option by default, though players can tweak graphics settings to their liking.

Unknown Worlds also confirmed that the version of Subnautica 2 launching into early access/Game Preview "is the result of years of hard work." As for how long Subnautica 2 will be in early access/Game Preview, Unknown Worlds said it plans on "developing the game over the next few years...."

While Subnautica 2 will be on Game Pass, players will be able to buy the game outright for $30. Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass recently became more affordable following a price cut that brought the memberships down to $23/month (from $30/month) and $14/month (from $16.50/month), respectively. Subnautica 2 will not be included with the Game Pass Essential or Premium tiers.

Krafton is co-publishing Subnautica 2 with developer Unknown Worlds, which is a subsidiary of Krafton. In 2025, Krafton ousted Unknown Worlds' founders and delayed the game into 2026. The former developers alleged that Krafton did this, after getting advice from ChatGPT, in an attempt to avoid a $250 million payout it would've had to give Unknown Worlds' founders had they delivered Subnautica 2 in 2025.

A judge forced Krafton to reinstate CEO Ted Gill earlier this year.

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