Subnautica 2 launched with 1 million copies sold and over 460 thousand concurrent players on Steam

The game was met with a very warm reception.

Subnautica 2

Subnautica 2 was released in early access for PC and Xbox Series on the evening of May 14. According to the studio Unknown Worlds, sales of the underwater adventure almost immediately surpassed the first major milestone—1 million copies. This is despite the fact that the game is available through the Game Pass subscription, implying its total distribution should be even higher.

Moreover, Subnautica 2 has already become the second most popular new release of 2026 on Steam. According to SteamDB data, it managed to attract 467,582 concurrent players, surpassing the peak online presence of Resident Evil Requiem, Crimson Desert, and many other successful releases this year. Only Slay the Spire 2 surpasses Subnautica 2, with over 574,000 concurrent players. In the all-time Steam rankings, not just for 2026, Subnautica 2 currently holds the 29th position.

The initial players are pleased with the sequel. At the time of writing, Subnautica 2 received 16,500 reviews on Steam, 92% of which are positive, corresponding to a "Very Positive" rating. The game is praised for its beautiful visuals and pleasant atmosphere, but also noted for optimization issues.

When the full release of Subnautica 2 will occur is unknown. It is expected to remain in early access for about two to three years.