Exploring the Multiplayer Features of Subnautica 2

Subnautica 2 has officially launched into early access, and one standout feature elevates it above its predecessor: multiplayer. Now, up to four players can dive into the alien ocean together, making exploration a shared adventure.

I had the chance to dive into Subnautica 2 a bit early and test out the multiplayer experience. While the system has its shortcomings, it also offers some generous aspects. Here’s a breakdown of how multiplayer functions in Subnautica 2.

I hosted a multiplayer session and invited a friend to join me. The best part? I could use my existing single-player save, which I had already invested around 10 hours into. This meant my base, gear, quest progress, and personal upgrades were all intact.

However, my friend had to start fresh with a new character, lacking any of the progress I had made. Unlike games like Valheim, where you can bring your established character and gear into another player’s world, Subnautica 2 doesn’t allow that. It’s a bit of a letdown, as it would have been great for my friend to join with their own gear and inventory.

On the plus side, there were no restrictions on permissions: my friend could access my resources and even modify my base. This is fantastic if you’re playing with someone you trust, but it could be risky if you invite someone you don’t know well. They could potentially wreak havoc on your base, though you could always exit without saving to undo any unwanted changes.

Co-op gameplay was generally smooth, but there was one notable downside: you can’t revive a fallen teammate. We both met our demise a couple of times, and upon dying, we were instantly respawned back at the lifepod, with no chance to revive each other.

The multiplayer system does offer flexibility in other areas, such as sharing worlds. After our session, I was able to give my friend a copy of the world we had been exploring together, allowing them to continue in that environment with my base and the progress they made during our playtime.

As Subnautica 2 continues its early access journey, I hope the multiplayer feature gets some enhancements. In the meantime, here’s how to set up multiplayer games with friends and share worlds.

You can either start a brand new multiplayer game, where you and your co-op partners begin from scratch in survival or creative mode, or you can use a previously saved single-player game.

To host a new multiplayer game:

To host a multiplayer game using an existing single-player saved game:

If you want to return to that saved game in single-player later, just select it and choose “Convert to Single Player.” This will make it reappear in your list of single-player saves.

You can also share a single-player saved game or a multiplayer saved game, giving your friends a copy of your world.

To share a single-player saved game:

You can share a multiplayer saved game as well, though there are a few extra steps: