Subnautica 2 PC Requirements — Complete Guide for All Tiers

TL;DR

• Subnautica 2 has four PC spec tiers — Minimum, Recommended, Ultra, and Ultra++.
• Minimum requires a GTX 1660 and 12 GB RAM for 1080p at 30 FPS.
• Recommended needs an RTX 3070 and 16 GB RAM for 1440p at 60 FPS.
• Ultra++ targets 4K at 60 FPS and needs an RTX 5070 Ti or RX 7900 XTX.
• You need 50 GB of free storage and DirectX 12 on all tiers.
• The game is Steam Deck Verified and runs on the ROG Xbox Ally.
• No hardware ray tracing is required.

Subnautica 2 launched in Early Access on May 14, 2026. It is built on Unreal Engine 5, which means the requirements are a noticeable step up from the original game. But the good news is the minimum specs are still very manageable for older PCs. This guide covers every tier, what performance to expect, and how to pick the right settings for your hardware.

If you are also looking for where to buy or play the game, check out our full guide: Subnautica 2 Release Date, Platforms, and Price.

Subnautica 2 PC Requirements — All Four Tiers

Unknown Worlds has published four performance profiles. Each one targets a specific resolution and frame rate. Here is the full breakdown.

Minimum Requirements — 1080p / Low / 30 FPS

This is the entry-level setup. It will get you into the game. Do not expect high graphics — this is for older PCs that just want to play.

• OS: Windows 10 or Windows 11 (64-bit)
• CPU: Intel Core i5-8400 or AMD Ryzen 5 2600
• RAM: 12 GB
• GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 6GB or AMD RX 5500 XT 6GB
• VRAM: 6 GB
• DirectX: Version 12
• Storage: 50 GB available space
• Internet: Broadband connection (required for multiplayer)
• Target: 1080p, Low preset, 30 FPS

Note the 12 GB RAM requirement. Most games ask for 8 GB at minimum, so this is slightly higher than average. If you only have 8 GB, you will need an upgrade before playing. Also, keep in mind that DirectX 12 is mandatory — there is no DX11 fallback at all.

Recommended Requirements — 1440p / Medium / 60 FPS

This is the sweet spot for most players. You get smooth 60 FPS gameplay at 1440p with medium detail. It is a solid step up from minimum, but nothing extreme.

• OS: Windows 11 (64-bit)
• CPU: Intel Core i7-13700 or AMD Ryzen 7 7700X
• RAM: 16 GB
• GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 8GB or AMD RX 6700 XT 8GB
• VRAM: 8 GB
• DirectX: Version 12
• Storage: 50 GB available space
• Internet: Broadband connection
• Target: 1440p, Medium preset, 60 FPS

Notice that the CPU requirement jumps significantly here — from an i5-8400 all the way to an i7-13700. This is partly because of Unreal Engine 5, which puts more demand on modern CPU features. If your processor is from 2021 or earlier, you may see some CPU bottlenecking even if your GPU is strong enough.

Ultra Requirements — 1440p / High / 60 FPS

Ultra keeps the same CPU as the Recommended tier but requires a much more powerful GPU and more RAM. It is designed for players who want high detail at 1440p without moving to 4K.

• OS: Windows 11 (64-bit)
• CPU: Intel Core i7-13700 or AMD Ryzen 7 7700X
• RAM: 32 GB
• GPU: Nvidia RTX 4070 12GB or AMD RX 6900 XT 16GB
• VRAM: 12 GB
• DirectX: Version 12
• Storage: 50 GB available space
• Target: 1440p, High preset, 60 FPS

At this tier, 8 GB VRAM cards start to feel less comfortable. Unknown Worlds treats 12 GB VRAM as the safer target for High settings at 1440p. If your GPU only has 8 GB of VRAM, stick with the Recommended settings rather than pushing into Ultra.

Ultra++ Requirements — 4K / High / 60 FPS

This is the top tier. It is built for players with premium 4K setups. It demands some of the most powerful consumer GPUs available in 2026.

• OS: Windows 11 (64-bit)
• CPU: Intel Core i9-14900K or AMD Ryzen 9 7900X3D
• RAM: 32 GB
• GPU: Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti or AMD RX 7900 XTX
• VRAM: 16 GB+
• DirectX: Version 12
• Storage: 50 GB available space
• Target: 4K, High preset, 60 FPS

If your GPU does not match this tier, do not try to force 4K High settings. Drop to 1440p High instead — you will get a much better experience than a stuttery 4K one. The RTX 5070 Ti and RX 7900 XTX are high-end cards. Most players will never need to reach this tier.

Subnautica 2 PC Requirements — Quick Comparison Table

• Minimum: GTX 1660 / i5-8400 / 12 GB RAM → 1080p Low @ 30 FPS
• Recommended: RTX 3070 / i7-13700 / 16 GB RAM → 1440p Medium @ 60 FPS
• Ultra: RTX 4070 / i7-13700 / 32 GB RAM → 1440p High @ 60 FPS
• Ultra++: RTX 5070 Ti / i9-14900K / 32 GB RAM → 4K High @ 60 FPS

Storage Requirements — How Much Space Does Subnautica 2 Need?

You need 50 GB of free storage on every tier. The actual preload download size is around 12.9–14.56 GB, but the game expands once fully installed.

The official spec sheet does not explicitly require an SSD. However, an SSD is strongly recommended. Subnautica 2 streams open-ocean environments constantly as you dive deeper into new biomes. On a mechanical hard drive, that streaming can cause hitching and stutters. If you have an SSD available, use it.

Because this is an Early Access game, keep some extra space beyond the 50 GB. Updates will arrive frequently, and some patches during Early Access can be large.

Does Subnautica 2 Need Ray Tracing?

No. Hardware ray tracing is not required to play Subnautica 2. The design lead at Unknown Worlds confirmed this directly, noting that the current spec sheet is just the starting point and the team plans to optimize the game further throughout Early Access. So even older GPUs that do not support ray tracing can run the game without any issue.

Does Subnautica 2 Support DLSS and FSR Upscaling?

Yes. The official spec sheet was published without upscaling enabled. That means the numbers above are based on native rendering. If you turn on DLSS, FSR, or TSR, your performance will be better than the listed targets — especially on the Minimum and Recommended tiers. This is good news for players who are close to but not quite at the Recommended spec.

Is Subnautica 2 on Steam Deck?

Yes. Subnautica 2 is Steam Deck Verified as of launch. Valve’s verification badge means the game’s text is legible on the small screen, the default controller layout works well, and the correct button icons show up for the Deck’s controls.

There is one small caveat: Bluetooth or USB controllers connected to the Deck may not activate by default. You may need to manually switch to the external controller in the Quick Access Menu (the three-dot button). It is a minor step, not a blocker.

The game is also confirmed to run on the ROG Xbox Ally and Xbox Series X|S.

Which PC Tier Is Right for You?

Here is a simple way to decide:

• GTX 1660 / RX 5500 XT class GPU: Use 1080p Low. Target 30 FPS. Enable FSR or DLSS if you have it to push closer to 60 FPS.
• RTX 3070 / RX 6700 XT class GPU: Use 1440p Medium. Target 60 FPS. This is the most balanced setup for the majority of players.
• RTX 4070 / RX 6900 XT class GPU: Use 1440p High. You have plenty of headroom for Ultra settings at 1440p.
• RTX 5070 Ti / RX 7900 XTX class GPU: Use 4K High if you have a 4K monitor. Otherwise stay at 1440p High and enjoy the extra frame rate.

As a general rule, always start at the preset that matches your hardware tier. Then lower individual settings if you cannot hold your target FPS — reducing shadow quality and draw distance tends to recover the most performance with the least visual impact in open-world exploration games.

Will the Requirements Change During Early Access?

Possibly. Unknown Worlds has said the requirements may rise as new content — more biomes, more creatures, more systems — is added during Early Access. The team has also committed to ongoing optimization work, which could improve performance over time. It is worth keeping an eye on patch notes throughout the Early Access period for any updates to the official specs.

Why Are the Requirements Higher Than the Original Subnautica?

There are two main reasons. First, Subnautica 2 was built from the ground up on Unreal Engine 5, which is far more demanding than the engine used for the original. Second, the new game features much larger biomes, denser underwater lighting effects, a new alien planet with more visual complexity, and co-op multiplayer support — all of which require more processing power than the first game.

Still, compared to other big Early Access launches in 2026, the Subnautica 2 minimum specs are considered accessible. You do not need a cutting-edge rig to get started.

Ready to Play?

Now that you know whether your PC can handle it, the next step is getting the game. You can buy it on Steam, the Epic Games Store, or the Microsoft Store, or access it through Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass at no extra cost. For a full breakdown of platforms and pricing, read our guide: Subnautica 2 — Where to Play, Release Date, Platforms and Price.