Subnautica 2 Early Access Roadmap Revealed Patch 1.1 & 1.2 and Future Plans: New Region, Biome, Co-op Mode Update, and More
Category: Subnautica 2 Posted: Jun 09, 2026 Views: 9
Although it has been less than a month since Subnautica 2 early access launch, and there are still many unexplored regions and secrets awaiting discovery, you might be curious about the game's future direction to decide if it is worth a long-term commitment.
To address this, a preliminary roadmap for the early access phase of Subnautica 2 has been released. While specific release dates for each stage remain unconfirmed, the roadmap guarantees a wealth of new playable content.
Here, we outline the details of this roadmap and speculate on the future development of Subnautica 2.

Subnautica 2 gameplay overview
As the sequel to the 2018 title Subnautica, Subnautica 2 is set on an uncharted oceanic planet known as Proteus. You play as a Qualified Investigator (QI), an entity printed by Noetic Advisor (NoA), an AI aboard the spacecraft that brought humanity to this world.
Regarding the overarching narrative, your goal is to explore this entirely unfamiliar planet and unravel the secrets behind the conflicts between various factions.
In terms of actual gameplay, you must first establish a base to rest and store Subnautica 2 items you collect during your expeditions. As you progress, you will unlock new regions where you can construct additional, smaller outposts.
These collected items allow you to build facilities like fabricators, which you can then used to craft tools that boost your exploration efficiency or produce advanced materials essential for survival. Additionally, you can modify your own DNA to acquire new, special abilities.
At its core, Subnautica 2 is a survival game. To alleviate the sense of isolation while exploring this alien world, the game also supports cooperative play, allowing you to team up with up to three friends.
Roadmap overview
The roadmap divides the early access period into three initial stages: EA 1.1, EA 1.2, and a larger content expansion. Patch 1.1 is confirmed for release within the coming weeks.

EA 1.1 content
This patch will introduce a brand-new region. It is essentially the home of Collector Leviathan; inside, you will encounter new creatures and resources that will greatly enrich your farming experience and resource stockpile.
It is worth noting that Leviathan is a collective term for a specific type of massive underwater creature in the game. Currently known species include:
- Collector Leviathan
- Deepwing Brooder Leviathan
- Great Jaw
- Shiver Leviathan
Although they look intimidating, not all of them are dangerous; for instance, Deepwing Brooder Leviathan has a relatively docile temperament. If you wish to avoid conflict when encountering other Leviathans, it is best to stay inside your vehicle or behind cover.
Another highlight of Update 1.1 is the return of Prawn Suit mech. This is a wearable mech suit, previously featured in Subnautica, capable of withstanding immense underwater pressure and handling challenging combat situations.
More specifically, it shields you from damage caused by extreme heat and water pressure while replenishing your oxygen supply, provided it has power. Additionally, it features thrusters to help you move faster and includes extra inventory slots.
Of course, these were Prawn Suit's characteristics in Subnautica; it remains to be seen if any changes will be made for the sequel. However, one thing that is likely won't change is the requirement to gather materials and craft it to obtain it.
Furthermore, EA 1.1 will introduce an in-base sprinting function, along with refinements to details such as wreckage exploration and vehicle docking mechanics.
Once the initial post-launch maintenance phase is complete, Subnautica 2 development team is expected to shift its focus to Patch 1.1. Hopefully, it will launch soon!
EA 1.2 content
While Update 1.1 focuses on game content, the development priority for EA 1.2 is the co-op mode; it is also expected to include optimizations for HUD and other elements.
The game is currently available on Steam, Epic, Xbox, and PC Game Pass, supporting teams of up to four players with cross-platform play capabilities.
Patch 1.2 is expected to build upon this foundation by optimizing features crucial to the team-play experience, such as voice chat and in-team revival mechanics.
It is worth noting that the developers have stated Subnautica 2 likely won't launch on PlayStation 5 during the early access phase, though this could change once the full version is released.
Further update plans
The early access phase is expected to last two to three years. Following an initial period of frequent, small updates focused on bug fixes, the schedule will shift, starting with EA 1.1, to periodic, less frequent, but larger-scale updates aimed at continuously enriching and optimizing the gameplay experience.
Based on this, we can anticipate the gradual introduction of new biomes during early access, along with the new creatures and resources found within them.
This means you will be able to use these resources to craft new tools or vehicles and upgrade your gear, allowing you to venture deeper into unknown territories and uncover the many secrets hidden on Proteus.
From a narrative perspective, this will inevitably introduce new storylines, with the game's main plot receiving progressive updates. Once the core mechanics are refined and the story has sufficiently advanced, the launch of the 1.0 version won't be far off.
Throughout this process, it is crucial that the developers remain dedicated, ensuring that new content adds genuine value rather than serving as a perfunctory attempt to meet update schedules. Prompt responses to and fixes for serious bugs will also be essential.
Only by doing so can they retain a player base willing to stick with the game through early access and await the official release; otherwise, the development plan for Subnautica 2 risks falling apart midway.
That covers everything for now. Here's hoping Subnautica 2 progresses steadily according to its roadmap, ultimately delivering an underwater survival-adventure game that rivals its predecessor!







