Subnautica 2’s Upcoming Release Sparks Quick Launch for Another Highly Anticipated Steam Title

After a tumultuous legal struggle, the team behind Subnautica 2 is gearing up to launch the eagerly awaited underwater survival game into early access on Steam. The release date is just around the corner: May 14. This announcement has prompted a shift in plans for another highly anticipated indie title, Outbound, which will now debut on PC a few days earlier to steer clear of Subnautica 2’s splash.

On April 30, the developers of the cozy RV simulator Outbound shared their decision to avoid a direct competition with Subnautica 2’s release. In a blog post on Steam, they stated, “The highly anticipated title Subnautica 2 just revealed their release date – which falls exactly on our planned release date May 14th. Even though we are very hyped for their game and big fans of the franchise, we think that it is best to not compete with such a highly anticipated title on that day.”

The team expressed their need to “dodge the Leviathan,” leading to Outbound’s new launch date of May 11 on PC and Xbox, the same platforms where Subnautica 2 will soon be available. However, for PS5, Nintendo Switch, and Switch 2, Outbound will still launch on the original date of May 14, as Subnautica 2 will not be available on those consoles. Additionally, the developers confirmed that the demo for Outbound will be taken down on May 8.

Currently, Outbound, which boasts over 1 million wishlists on Steam, appears to be the only notable indie game adjusting its release to avoid the impact of Subnautica 2. It raises the question: will other titles scheduled around May 11 also shift their dates to avoid being overshadowed? Could this lead to a situation similar to the Silksong scenario, where more games opt for new release dates? Time will tell, and updates will follow if any changes occur.