Subnautica 2 is off to a great start. After selling 4 million copies in less than two weeks, there should be no doubt in anyone’s mind that Unknown Worlds has a hit on their hands. But there’s no denying that the game feels unfinished as requires more content, and more polish.
To be fair to Subnautica 2, it’s only available in early access, so the devs will be taking player feedback into account while they finish building the experience and add more content. The question is, when will Subnautica 2 release in full and be out of early access?
When is the Subnautica 2 full release?
At the time of writing, nobody knows exactly when Subnautica 2 will release in full and leave early access. No official release date or narrow window has been provided.
However, Unknown Worlds has released a roadmap for the game, which gives us the best clue as to when Subnautica 2 will release in full. According to the roadmap, Subnautica 2 is expected to leave early access and release in full sometime between 2028 and 2029.
This may be a long time away, and a rather wide window, but it’s better to think about the full release as more of a “when the game is finished,” rather than thinking of it as an incomplete product.
Subnautica 2 is a full game, with lots to see and do, and like any live service adventure, it will be updated periodically.
Subnautica 2 content roadmap
Even once the game is released in full, it could still receive expansions and content. But the good news is, it’s going to get more content throughout its early access period, meaning that even if you’ve done everything there is to do in Subnautica 2, the next expansion is on the way.
According to Unknown Worlds, “Updates will vary from focused improvements that address systems and smaller features, to hot fixes when needed, and then our larger expansions.”
“So, as we build towards the next big drop that expands on the world, biomes, creatures, resources, tools, vehicles, and brings you the next chapter of the story, we’ll be planning on adding several improvement updates in the meantime!”
This means that by the time Subnautica 2 releases in full, it could be a very different experience from what it is now, with a lot more content to enjoy. Eagle-eyed players have already spotted unused assets, such as the Elusive Leviathan, a creature that may join the main roster of huge monsters we can meet in the game.
When it comes to the story, Subnautica 2 currently ends on a cliff-hanger of sorts, with the mysterious Axum aliens encouraging the player to go on a new quest to save the planet. The current story quests in Subnautica 2 feel like a mere introduction to a much grander adventure, so this will be something players have to look forward to.
The first major expansion could see the player journey to Xanadu to find the World Tree and encounter the Veps, the “Crypters”, or what’s become of the Tailings. This likely isn’t something Unknown Worlds will make players wait until 2028 – 2029 for.
So when it comes to Subnautica 2, it’s about enjoying what we have now and waiting to see what comes next.
