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Subnautica 2 vs Dying Light 2 Stay Human
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| shopping_cart Where to Buy | |
| info General Information | |
| Release Date | |
| May 14, 2026 | Feb 4, 2022 |
| Developer | |
| Unknown Worlds Entertainment | Techland |
| Publisher | |
| Krafton | Techland Publishing |
| Genre(s) | |
| Survival, Action-Adventure, Open World | Action RPG, Open World, Survival Horror, Parkour, First-Person |
| Engine | |
| Unreal Engine 5 | C-Engine (Techland's in-house engine) |
| stars Ratings & Price | |
| Content Rating | |
| Teen | Mature 17+ |
| Avg. User Rating | |
| 4.6 / 5.0 | 4.0 / 5.0 |
| Current Price (USD) | |
| $29.99 | $59.99 |
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| tune Key Specs | |
| Quick Highlights | |
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| sports_esports Gameplay & Mechanics | |
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| colorize Combat & Gear | |
| Weapons Overview | |
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| Armor / Gear Sets | |
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| Outfits/Customization | |
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| trending_up Progression & Upgrades | |
| Skills & Progression | |
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Progression in Subnautica 2 is driven by a deep, rewarding crafting and upgrade system rather than traditional character leveling. You begin with a basic fabricator and a survival knife, scrounging for titanium and organic materials to craft essential life-support gear. As you scan fragments of destroyed Alterra technology scattered across the ocean floor, you unlock blueprints for advanced equipment. Key upgrades include high-capacity O2 tanks, thermal-resistant diving suits, and reinforced depth modules for your vehicles. The base-building aspect has been massively expanded; players can now construct intricate underwater habitats complete with functional dive elevators, multi-tier moonpools, and automated resource gatherers. Co-op integration means that upgrades can be shared or specialized, allowing one player to focus on base engineering while another upgrades their combat and exploration tools. Mastery of the tech tree is the only way to conquer the abyssal depths. |
Aiden has two main skill trees: Combat (unlocking new melee moves, weapon proficiency, and toughness) and Parkour (unlocking advanced traversal abilities like wall runs, slides, and improved jumps). Skill points are earned by performing combat actions and parkour maneuvers respectively. Inhibitors, found in GRE containers, are used to upgrade Health and Stamina, which also gate access to higher-tier skills. Crafting allows Aiden to create weapon mods, consumables (medkits, boosters), and throwable items using scavenged resources. Blueprints for crafting are found or earned. |
| public World & Exploration | |
| World & Level Design | |
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Subnautica 2 introduces a map significantly larger and denser than its predecessors, fully leveraging the power of Unreal Engine 5. The underwater topography is designed with extreme verticality in mind, featuring sprawling shallow coral reefs that serve as safe havens, giving way to plunging, lightless trenches where the true horrors lie. Biomes are incredibly diverse, featuring dense kelp-like forests, volcanic thermal vents, and bioluminescent crystalline caves that provide essential resources. The transition between these zones is seamless, requiring players to constantly upgrade their pressure suits and submersibles to survive the crushing depths. New environmental hazards, such as shifting underwater currents, toxic brine pools, and sudden temperature drops, make map traversal a puzzle in itself. The map also includes intricate cavern systems and alien facilities hidden deep beneath the sea floor, encouraging meticulous exploration while instilling a constant sense of claustrophobia and thalassophobia. |
The City of Villedor is significantly larger than Harran from the first game, divided into two main districts: Old Villedor (a more classic European-style area with smaller buildings, easier for early parkour) and the Central Loop (a modern downtown area with skyscrapers, requiring advanced parkour tools like the grappling hook and paraglider). There are also surrounding areas, GRE Quarantines, and Dark Hollows. The map is dense with verticality, encouraging rooftop traversal. |
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| book Story & Characters | |
| Main Characters | |
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| people Multiplayer | |
| Multiplayer Details | |
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Subnautica 2 completely revolutionizes the franchise by introducing fully integrated, but entirely optional, 4-player cooperative multiplayer. Built from the ground up for multiplayer functionality, the game utilizes a drop-in/drop-out system where friends can join your hosted world at any time. There are no multiplayer-exclusive features; the entire narrative campaign and all base-building mechanics are accessible whether you are solo or grouped. Co-op gameplay allows for synergistic survival: players can operate multi-station submersibles together, coordinate complex resource-gathering expeditions, and utilize new mechanics like the expanded dive elevators. The developers have brilliantly blended first-person and third-person animations, ensuring that watching your friends swim, build, and panic feels natural and immersive. However, for purists who prefer the crushing isolation of the original game, the solo experience remains perfectly intact and highly recommended. |
Features a 4-player online cooperative mode, allowing players to experience the entire main story campaign and most side activities together. Players can join a host's game, and progression is largely tied to the host, though players retain their character progression and inventory. Co-op enhances combat and exploration with team tactics. |
| extension Editions & DLC | |
| Available Editions | |
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Subnautica 2 launches initially into Early Access on May 14, 2026, across PC (Steam and Epic Games Store) and Xbox Series X/S. The Early Access edition is priced very competitively at $29.99, providing players with the core survival experience, initial biomes, and fully functional 4-player co-op from day one. Unknown Worlds Entertainment has been explicitly clear regarding their monetization strategy: despite confusing reports from publisher Krafton, the game is absolutely not a 'Games-as-a-Service' title. There are zero battle passes, no seasonal subscriptions, and no microtransaction stores for crucial gameplay elements. Instead, the developers are adopting the same highly praised model used in previous games: a flat entry fee followed by years of continuous, massive free updates that expand the story, add new leviathans, and refine mechanics based heavily on community feedback during the Early Access phase. |
Available in Standard, Deluxe, and Ultimate Editions. Deluxe Edition included digital artbook, soundtrack, exclusive weapon charms, wallpapers, comic, and the first story DLC ('Bloody Ties'). Ultimate Edition included all Deluxe content, plus the second story DLC (yet to be released as of mid-2024), 2h Night XP Boost, crafting items, and two more outfit/weapon skin packs. A Collector's Edition with physical items was also available. |
| Post-Launch Content / DLC | |
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The Early Access period for Subnautica 2, projected to last between two to three years, acts as a continuous stream of post-launch content. Unknown Worlds has laid out a comprehensive roadmap detailing major biome additions, vehicle introductions, and narrative expansions. The very first major post-launch update will introduce 'The Collector,' a massive, terrifying squid leviathan, and open up its abyssal lair for players brave enough to explore it. Future updates will progressively unlock the mysteries of the rogue CICADA AI and introduce new tiers of base-building components. The developer has firmly rejected the 'live service' moniker; all of these massive content drops will be entirely free for anyone who owns the base game. Paid DLC expansions, similar to 'Below Zero,' will only be considered years after the 1.0 release is fully polished and delivered. |
Techland has committed to 5+ years of post-launch support. The first story DLC, 'Bloody Ties' (arena combat themed), has been released. A second major story DLC is planned. Numerous free updates have added new content, features (like transmog, new parkour challenges, graphics options), seasonal events, and cosmetic packs (Chapter Agents, skin bundles). |
| help_outline FAQ | |
| Frequently Asked Questions | |
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| build Technical Details | |
| Graphics & Visual Fidelity | |
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Subnautica 2 abandons the Unity engine of its predecessors in favor of a full leap to Unreal Engine 5, resulting in a staggering generational jump in graphical fidelity. The implementation of UE5's Lumen global illumination completely transforms underwater lighting; sunlight realistically diffuses and scatters through the water column, creating authentic depth and darkness in the abyssal zones. Bioluminescent flora and fauna cast dynamic, terrifying shadows across the ocean floor. The Nanite geometry system allows for incredibly dense coral reefs and intricate alien ruins without suffering from texture pop-in. Fluid dynamics have been entirely rewritten, meaning water displacement, bubble physics, and vehicle wakes look remarkably realistic. The volumetric fog effectively simulates the terrifying murkiness of the deep ocean, ensuring that you never truly know what is lurking just beyond your field of vision. |
Powered by Techland's C-Engine, the game showcases a detailed and dilapidated urban environment. It features advanced lighting, dense geometry, volumetric fog, and detailed character/infected models. Ray tracing options (Global Illumination, Shadows, Reflections, Ambient Occlusion) are available on PC and current-gen consoles, significantly enhancing visual fidelity but also being very demanding. |
| Audio & Soundtrack | |
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Audio is the most critical element of terror and immersion in Subnautica 2. The soundscape is meticulously crafted to exploit the human fear of the unseen deep. Ambient audio shifts dynamically based on depth and biome; the comforting sounds of shallow water splashing give way to oppressive, low-frequency hums and the groaning of metal under immense pressure as you descend. The roar of a distant leviathan is directionally mapped using advanced spatial audio, creating a sense of dread long before the creature appears on screen. The soundtrack seamlessly blends atmospheric synth-wave with tense, pulsating orchestral scores that react to player actions, such as entering a new biome or triggering an aggressive predator. The voice acting for the rogue CICADA AI adds a chilling, psychological layer to the isolation, making the auditory experience an absolute masterpiece. |
Original score composed by Olivier Deriviere, featuring a dynamic system that adapts the music to gameplay intensity and player actions (e.g., during parkour sequences or intense combat). Sound design emphasizes visceral melee impacts, distinct infected vocalizations, and the atmospheric tension of night-time exploration. The Biomarker's ticking sound adds to the infection mechanic's urgency. |
| User Interface (UI/UX) | |
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The User Interface in Subnautica 2 remains highly diegetic, utilizing the player's PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) as the central hub for inventory management, blueprints, and lore databanks. The HUD is designed to be as minimalist as possible, ensuring the breathtaking underwater vistas of Unreal Engine 5 are never obscured. Health, oxygen, hunger, and thirst meters sit discreetly in the corner, with dynamic visual and audio warnings triggering as levels deplete. The quick-slot system has been refined to allow for faster, more intuitive tool swapping, which is crucial during sudden leviathan attacks. Base building menus have received a massive overhaul, featuring a holographic projection system that allows players to visualize and snap together complex habitat modules before committing resources. Accessibility options also allow for extensive UI scaling and colorblind modes to accommodate all players. |
First-person HUD displaying health, stamina, infection timer (biomarker), equipped weapon/tool, and objective markers. A compass aids navigation. Crafting and inventory menus are accessible. Skill trees are visually represented. The day-night cycle and infection status are prominent UI elements. |
| Accessibility Options | |
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Unknown Worlds has made significant strides in ensuring Subnautica 2 is accessible to a wide audience without compromising its survival mechanics. The game features highly customizable difficulty settings; players can toggle hunger and thirst requirements independently of oxygen constraints, or utilize a full Creative Mode to focus purely on base building without fear of death. Subtitles are robust, offering speaker identification, size scaling, and background opacity adjustments. For players with thalassophobia, there are options to adjust the water's clarity and reduce the intensity of sudden predator jump-scares, though the developers note this fundamentally alters the intended experience. Comprehensive colorblind filters adjust the UI and important resource nodes to ensure visibility, and full control remapping is available on both keyboards and controllers to accommodate various physical mobility needs. |
Offers a range of accessibility options: customizable controls (key remapping on PC), subtitle customization (size, background, speaker names), colorblind modes, options to change QTEs from taps to holds, aim assist, adjustable FOV (PC), motion blur toggle, head bob toggle, and various audio/visual cues. |
| video_library Media Links | |
| Gameplay Video | |
| launchWatch | launchWatch |
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| launchView | launchView |
| settings_applications System Requirements | |
| 1080p (Full HD) - Recommended RT (1080p ~60 FPS, High RT Preset) (Ray Tracing High Preset (likely with DLSS/FSR Quality/Performance)) CPU: CPU for 1080p/60FPS with RT. CPU (Laptop): High-end laptop CPUs. GPU: Recommended desktop GPU for 1080p/60FPS with High RT. GPU (Laptop): High-end RT capable laptop GPUs. 8GB+ VRAM crucial, upscaling vital. RAM: 16GB RAM required. Storage: NVMe SSD strongly recommended. | |
| — | memoryCPU: Intel Core i7-9700K or AMD Ryzen 7 3700X developer_boardGPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 (10GB) laptop_macCPU (L): Intel Core i7-11800H / AMD Ryzen 7 5800H or better laptop_windowsGPU (L): NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti Mobile (8GB, Max TGP) / RTX 4070 Mobile (8GB, Max TGP). **An RTX 3080 Mobile or RTX 4080 Mobile would provide a more stable high RT experience.** layersRAM: 16 GB saveStorage (Tier): 60 GB NVMe SSD |
| 1080p (Full HD) - Recommended (High Settings, 60 FPS) CPU: Higher single-core speed provides better frame pacing. CPU (Laptop): Solid 8-core mobile CPU for stable physics. GPU: Sufficient for 1080p 60fps with moderate volumetric settings. GPU (Laptop): Comfortably handles 1080p high with DLSS Quality. RAM: Ideal for smooth texture streaming and base building. Storage: Fast loading and seamless biome transitions. | |
memoryCPU: Intel Core i7-8700K or AMD Ryzen 5 3600 developer_boardGPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 or AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT laptop_macCPU (L): Intel Core i7-11800H laptop_windowsGPU (L): NVIDIA RTX 3060 Mobile (85W+) layersRAM: 16 GB saveStorage (Tier): 50 GB NVMe SSD | — |
| 1080p (Full HD) - Minimum RT (1080p ~30 FPS, Low RT Preset) (Ray Tracing Low Preset (likely with DLSS/FSR Quality/Balanced)) CPU: CPU for 1080p/30FPS with RT. CPU (Laptop): Mid-to-high range laptop CPU. GPU: Minimum desktop GPU for 1080p/30FPS with RT. GPU (Laptop): Entry-level RT capable laptop GPUs. Upscaling essential. RAM: 16GB RAM required. Storage: SSD required. | |
| — | memoryCPU: Intel Core i5-8600K or AMD Ryzen 5 3600X developer_boardGPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 (8GB) laptop_macCPU (L): Intel Core i7-10750H / AMD Ryzen 7 4800H or better laptop_windowsGPU (L): NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile (6GB, High TGP) / RTX 4050 Mobile (6GB, High TGP). **An RTX 3070 Mobile or RTX 4060 Mobile would be significantly better for RT.** layersRAM: 16 GB saveStorage (Tier): 60 GB SSD |
| 1080p (Full HD) - Recommended (1080p ~60 FPS, High Preset, No Ray Tracing) (High Preset, Ray Tracing OFF) CPU: Recommended desktop CPU for 1080p/60FPS without RT. CPU (Laptop): Estimated mid-range to high-end laptop CPUs. GPU: Recommended desktop GPU for 1080p/60FPS High without RT. GPU (Laptop): Estimated performance-focused laptop GPUs. 6GB+ VRAM crucial. RAM: 16GB RAM strongly recommended. Storage: SSD strongly recommended. | |
| — | memoryCPU: Intel Core i5-8600K or AMD Ryzen 5 3600X developer_boardGPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 (6GB) or AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 (8GB) laptop_macCPU (L): Intel Core i7-9750H / AMD Ryzen 7 4800H equivalent or better laptop_windowsGPU (L): NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile (6GB, High TGP) / RTX 3060 Mobile (6GB, High TGP) or AMD Radeon RX 6600M. **An RTX 3060 Mobile (High TGP) or RTX 4060 Mobile is a good target for 1080p High 60FPS.** layersRAM: 16 GB saveStorage (Tier): 60 GB SSD |
| 1080p (Full HD) - Minimum (Low Settings, 30 FPS) CPU: Requires 6 cores to handle basic AI and physics calculations. CPU (Laptop): Entry-level mobile processors can handle the game at 30 FPS. GPU: Minimum 6GB VRAM needed for lower texture pools. GPU (Laptop): Will require DLSS to maintain smooth framerates. RAM: Absolute minimum to run the OS and game; expect some stuttering. Storage: HDD not supported due to high streaming demands. | |
memoryCPU: Intel Core i5-8400 or AMD Ryzen 5 2600 developer_boardGPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 or AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT laptop_macCPU (L): Intel Core i5-10300H laptop_windowsGPU (L): NVIDIA RTX 3050 Mobile (60W+) layersRAM: 8 GB saveStorage (Tier): 50 GB SSD | — |
| 1080p (Full HD) - Minimum (1080p ~30 FPS, Low Preset, No Ray Tracing) (Low Preset, Ray Tracing OFF) CPU: Minimum desktop CPU for 1080p at lower settings without RT. CPU (Laptop): Estimated laptop CPU equivalent. Newer i5/Ryzen 5 H-series recommended. GPU: Minimum desktop GPU for 1080p at lower settings without RT. GPU (Laptop): Estimated laptop GPUs. 4GB VRAM is absolute minimum. RAM: Minimum RAM requirement. Storage: HDD is absolute minimum, expect long load times. | |
| — | memoryCPU: Intel Core i3-9100 or AMD Ryzen 3 2300X developer_boardGPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti (4GB) or AMD Radeon RX 560 (4GB) laptop_macCPU (L): Intel Core i5-9300H / AMD Ryzen 5 3550H equivalent or better laptop_windowsGPU (L): NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Mobile (4GB) or AMD Radeon RX 5500M. **An RTX 3050 Mobile or RTX 4050 Mobile would be a much better entry point for stable 1080p Low/Medium.** layersRAM: 8 GB saveStorage (Tier): 60 GB HDD |
| 1440p (QHD/2K) - High RT (1440p ~60 FPS, High RT Preset with DLSS/FSR Performance) (Ray Tracing High Preset, DLSS/FSR Performance) CPU: Desktop CPU for 1440p/60FPS with RT. CPU (Laptop): Top-tier laptop CPUs. GPU: Desktop GPU for 1440p/60FPS with High RT. GPU (Laptop): Flagship laptop GPUs needed. 12GB+ VRAM essential. RAM: 32GB RAM strongly recommended. Storage: NVMe SSD required. | |
| — | memoryCPU: Intel Core i7-11700K or AMD Ryzen 9 5900X developer_boardGPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti (12GB) / RTX 4070 Ti (12GB) laptop_macCPU (L): Intel Core i9-12900H / AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX or better laptop_windowsGPU (L): NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile (12GB, Max TGP). **An RTX 4090 Mobile would be better. Even then, fine-tuning settings and upscaling will be essential.** layersRAM: 16 GB saveStorage (Tier): 60 GB NVMe SSD |
| 1440p (QHD/2K) - Recommended (High Settings, 60 FPS) CPU: Modern architecture reduces bottlenecks. CPU (Laptop): Provides excellent multi-core performance. GPU: Needed to push 1440p resolution alongside UE5 features. GPU (Laptop): Can sustain 1440p using upscaling technologies. RAM: Standard requirement for modern gaming. Storage: Crucial for asset streaming at higher resolutions. | |
memoryCPU: Intel Core i5-12400F or AMD Ryzen 5 5600X developer_boardGPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 or AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT laptop_macCPU (L): AMD Ryzen 7 6800H laptop_windowsGPU (L): NVIDIA RTX 3070 Ti Mobile (115W+) layersRAM: 16 GB saveStorage (Tier): 50 GB NVMe SSD | — |
| 2160p (UHD/4K) - Ultra (Epic Settings, 60 FPS) CPU: Top-tier CPUs needed to eliminate any stuttering. CPU (Laptop): Desktop-class mobile replacement processor. GPU: Mandatory for 4K rendering with Lumen enabled. GPU (Laptop): The only mobile GPU capable of native 4K Ultra in UE5. RAM: Ensures no memory swapping occurs during massive base loads. Storage: Maximum bandwidth for instant texture loads. | |
memoryCPU: Intel Core i7-13700K or AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D developer_boardGPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 or AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX laptop_macCPU (L): Intel Core i9-13900HX laptop_windowsGPU (L): NVIDIA RTX 4090 Mobile (175W) layersRAM: 32 GB saveStorage (Tier): 50 GB Gen 4 NVMe SSD | — |
| 2160p (UHD/4K) - Ultra RT (2160p/4K ~60 FPS, Medium/High RT Preset with DLSS/FSR Ultra Performance) (Ray Tracing Medium/High, DLSS/FSR Ultra Performance) CPU: Desktop CPU for 4K/60FPS with RT. CPU (Laptop): Flagship laptop CPUs absolute necessity. GPU: Top-tier desktop GPU for attempting 4K/60FPS with RT, heavily reliant on upscaling. GPU (Laptop): The absolute best laptop GPU available, and will still struggle without aggressive upscaling and optimized RT settings. RAM: 32GB RAM essential. Storage: NVMe SSD required. | |
| — | memoryCPU: Intel Core i9-12900K or AMD Ryzen 9 7900X developer_boardGPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 (24GB) laptop_macCPU (L): Intel Core i9-13900HX / AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX or better laptop_windowsGPU (L): NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile (16GB, Max TGP). **Achieving stable 4K/60FPS with high ray tracing settings on a laptop is extremely challenging. A hypothetical next-gen flagship (e.g., RTX 5090 Mobile or AMD equivalent) would be required for a more comfortable experience at this level. (Highly Speculative)** layersRAM: 32 GB saveStorage (Tier): 60 GB NVMe SSD |
| save Overall Storage | |
| Spec: 50 GB Available Space Note: An NVMe SSD is strongly recommended to eliminate texture streaming hitches when loading new biomes. Type: Unknown | Spec: 60 GB available space (SSD Recommended). Note: An NVMe SSD is recommended for the best experience due to asset streaming and fast loading. Type: SSD |
| desktop_windows Operating System | |
| Spec: Windows 10/11 64-bit Explanation: Required to handle modern DirectX 12 Ultimate APIs and memory allocation for UE5. | Spec: Windows 7 (No longer officially supported post-launch updates), Windows 10, Windows 11 (64-bit versions only) Explanation: 64-bit Windows 10 or Windows 11 is recommended for ongoing support and best performance. |
| gamepad DirectX Version | |
| Spec: DirectX 12 Explanation: Essential for Unreal Engine 5 features like Lumen and Nanite. | Spec: DirectX 11 (DirectX 12 recommended for ray tracing and potentially better performance on compatible hardware) Explanation: DX11 is minimum, DX12 offers advanced features. |
| info_outline Other Game Notes | |
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| laptop Laptop Considerations | |
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info_outline Feature details based on available data. System requirements and performance estimates may vary.
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info_outline Laptop recommendations are estimates based on available component benchmarks and game requirements. Actual performance may vary depending on settings, drivers, cooling, power limits, etc. Prices and availability subject to change. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.