Subnautica 2 Makes a Splash with Its Steam Launch

Subnautica 2, the latest underwater survival adventure from Unknown Worlds, made a splash on Steam, climbing the charts in under an hour. The game has already surpassed one million sales, and as of now, it ranks as the fourth-most played title on the platform, boasting over 460,000 concurrent players. The only games with higher player counts at the moment are the ever-popular Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, and PUBG: Battlegrounds.

It’s important to note that the player count on Steam doesn’t account for those diving into the game on the Epic Games Store or Xbox, where it’s also available in early access, suggesting the total number of players is likely even greater.

This impressive launch was anticipated. Prior to its release, Subnautica 2 amassed five million wishlists, making it the most-wishlisted game on Steam. As a sequel to the acclaimed Subnautica and Subnautica: Below Zero, it has generated significant excitement. The game also faced a lengthy legal battle involving the studio’s executives and its owner, Krafton, which led to a delay from its originally planned early access launch in 2025, reportedly due to feedback from playtests.

Following a judge’s ruling in March that reinstated the studio’s CEO and extended the eligibility for a potential bonus for the developers, the game received its new early access launch date. The studio anticipates that this early access phase will last for approximately two to three years.