Subnautica 2 Aims to Break New Ground for Xbox Gaming

The team behind Subnautica 2 is actively seeking ways to allow Xbox players to test new features ahead of their official release, a move that’s not usually available for titles in Xbox Game Preview.

In a recent chat, lead developer Anthony Gallegos shared insights about the Xbox version and how it compares to the PC edition. One key difference is that Steam users can access experimental branches to try out new features before they go live for everyone. Currently, this isn’t an option for Xbox, but Unknown Worlds is eager to change that.

“Every patch that goes out will be available on Xbox, Steam, and the Epic Games Store simultaneously, thanks to our cross-play capabilities,” Gallegos explained. “We’re even exploring ways to implement different branches for Xbox, but those discussions are still ongoing. We usually run experimental branches on PC.”

Participating in beta branches of early-access games allows players to feel involved in the development process, giving feedback on changes that developers are considering. While Xbox does support early access through Xbox Game Preview, it only allows for a single version of a game at a time.

Interestingly, Microsoft had previously scrapped a Game Pass feature called Project Moorcroft, which would have enabled developers to release experimental demos for player feedback. Now, Unknown Worlds is looking for a way to create a similar opportunity for the Xbox version of Subnautica 2. The specifics of this initiative are still under wraps, but it’s certainly something for Xbox players to watch as updates from the game’s ambitious roadmap continue to roll out.

Implementing such a feature on Xbox would be beneficial in the long run, especially since Subnautica 2 is expected to remain in Steam Early Access and Xbox Game Preview for a while. Reports indicate that the game could stay in early access for “at least two years,” with the Steam page suggesting it might take up to three years.