Subnautica 2 released a new gameplay trailer ahead of its May 14 Early Access launch, showcasing more of the game’s mysterious underwater world. Learn more about what was revealed in the latest footage.
Subnautica 2 Premieres New Gameplay Trailer
New Trailer Teases Strange Voices and a Mysterious Tree
Subnautica 2 revealed a new gameplay trailer during developer Unknown Worlds Entertainment’s First Dive Showcase livestream on May 9. The over one-minute-long trailer gives players another look at the much-awaited open-world survival game before its May 14 Early Access launch.
The new trailer begins with the player crash-landing on a new alien planet after the colony ship CICADA malfunctions, leaving players stranded underwater. Early in the footage, the ship’s AI assistant NoA (Noetic Advisor) tells the player to "find a convenient way to die."
Alongside familiar survival mechanics such as resource gathering, crafting, scanning wildlife, and underwater exploration, the trailer also showcases new underwater areas, hostile creatures, and a bit of base building. The footage additionally revisits the massive tree first shown in the game’s cinematic trailer released on April 30.
In the new trailer, a voice warns players, "if you start to hear voices, or if you get the urge to swim to the tree, don’t go," before later adding, "Forget NoA, forget Alterra, forget the life you imagined. It’s all gone now."
Unknown Worlds did not reveal too much beyond what was shown in the trailer. The development team did share a few additional details during the showcase livestream, though they have yet to talk about the mysterious tree and the "voices" mentioned.
A Deep Dive Into Subnautica 2
In the showcase livestream, developers also discussed details about the game’s new environments, creatures, vehicles, and co-op systems. The team explored locations called the "Coral Gardens," which featured bioluminescent spires and donut-shaped rock formations, alongside an area filled with large glowing anemones and another featuring massive jellyfish-like organisms suspended across underwater cliffs. The demo also featured cave-dwelling crab-like creatures known as the "Jetto Caris."
The livestream also provided a closer look at the game’s modular "Tadpole" vehicle. According to the developers, players can swap between different chassis types depending on their preferred playstyle, with game design lead Anthony Gallegos explaining that "every chassis that it attaches to serves a very specific purpose and a very different gameplay role from the other." The team also demonstrated how players can detach the smaller Tadpole vehicle from larger chassis modules when exploring tighter underwater cave systems.
The team also discussed Subnautica 2’s approach to its new four-player co-op mode during the livestream. Gallegos described the sequel as "not a co-op Subnautica, it’s Subnautica with co-op," explaining that the team wanted to preserve the series’ exploration-focused gameplay instead of designing mechanics that constantly force players to stay together.
According to Gallegos, players in co-op can freely swim apart from one another and still encounter unique moments independently, allowing the game to retain the sense of solitude associated with the original Subnautica while introducing a new multiplayer experience.
Early Access Starts May 14
Subnautica 2 was first announced in October 2024 as the next mainline entry in the series following Subnautica: Below Zero. The game was initially planned for a 2025 Early Access launch before publisher Krafton delayed it to 2026. During the showcase, Unknown Worlds Entertainment also confirmed that players who purchase the game during launch week will receive a buildable in-game Reaper statue decoration.
Subnautica 2 launches in Early Access on PC and Xbox Series X|S on May 14 at 08:00 PDT for $29.99 USD, with regional pricing varying depending on storefront and location. Players will only need to purchase the game once during Early Access to receive future additions, updates, and hotfixes leading up to the game’s full 1.0 release and beyond.
To stay up-to-date on the game, check out our article below.
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Subnautica 2 Early Access Gameplay Trailer
Subnautica 2 Early Access: First Dive Showcase
Krafton Responds to Ex-Subnautica 2 Leads' Lawsuit, Saying They 'Resorted to Litigation to Demand a Payday They Haven't Earned'
