Unknown Worlds has opened up pre-orders for Subnautica 2 as the game surpasses 5 million wishlists on Steam ahead of its early access launch later this week on May 14, 2026.
Subnautica 2 has reportedly been the most wishlisted game on Steam, and it will almost definitely be one of the biggest launches of 2026 before the end of the year. Even though, technically, it probably should've been one of the biggest releases of 2025 before a legal battle between Unknown Worlds' parent company Krafton and the co-founders of Unknown Worlds overshadowed the game for the past year.
After that battle ended with the co-founders coming out on top of Krafton, a release window, and shortly after that a release date was locked in for Subnautica 2 in early access. Unknown Worlds has also confirmed the game's PC requirements, which do appear to be quite heftier than those of the first game, as you'll need 12GB of RAM, not 8GB, to play the game at 30 FPS at 1080p.
The studio also dug into what players can expect in the game with a massive livestream over the weekend you can view above, going over several of the game's key systems, the visual improvements in the sequel, and what's new compared to the first game.
"We're thrilled by the enthusiasm for the Early Access launch. We can't wait to hear from you as we continue building this game together," said Ted Gill, co-founder of Unknown Worlds and the recently re-instated CEO of the studio.
The game will also be available through Xbox Game Pass for those subscribed to the Game Pass Ultimate tier when it arrives later this week.
About the author: David has been writing about videogames, technology, and culture since 2020, with a focus on reporting daily news across multiple publications, including GameDaily.Biz, GameSkinny, and PlayStation Universe before joining Wccftech in 2025. David started contributing as Canada/US reporter for Wccftech's gaming section in 2025. Besides being up-to-date on the industry's movements, he loves interviewing developers, reviewing games, and writing intricate essays about the symbolism and layered meanings to be found in rich narratives as he's done for publications like GamesIndustry.Biz, LostInCult, and others. Outside of games he loves movies, music, theatre, his hometown, and his family, though not necessarily in that order.
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