Subnautica 2 Experimental Build on Steam for Early Access

Subnautica 2 is expanding its Early Access testing pipeline with a new Experimental Build, letting players try upcoming mechanics before the next updates hit the main release. Steam players can opt into the beta, but the preview requires an Xbox Insider Hub account and comes with one important caveat: saves from the standard version won’t carry over.

Key takeaways

Subnautica 2 added an Experimental Build so players can test future changes ahead of release.
The Experimental Build is available via Steam beta selection under “experimental.”
To access it, you must be part of the Insider Hub and be at least 18 years old.
Update 1.2 is the current focus, with improvements planned for co-op plus HUD signal and recipe pinning changes.
Experimental saves are not compatible with the standard version, so you’ll need to start a new game.

How to join the Subnautica 2 Experimental Build

Steam players can switch to the Experimental Build using the beta settings in their game properties. The process is:

Right-click Subnautica 2 in your Steam game list.
Select Properties, then go to Game Versions and Betas.
Choose experimental, then let Steam download the updated version.
Launch the game normally.

You’ll also need to meet the access requirements: you must be in the Insider Hub and be at least 18 years old.

To get access, install the Xbox Insider Hub on your PC or console, sign in with your Xbox account, open the Previews area, select “Subnautica 2 Experimental (Public Test),” and choose to participate. After enrolling, the game should download the Experimental Build, though a restart may be required.

What’s being tested now—and what comes later

The Experimental Build is used to test content from the next scheduled update. At the moment, attention is on Update 1.2, which is expected to bring co-op improvements along with changes to HUD signals and better recipe pinning.

Later in the year, additional tests are planned to roll into the Experimental Build for what is described as the biggest update so far, with new areas, monsters, and more.

Save compatibility and switching back to release

While the Experimental Build is designed for early feedback, your progress won’t transfer cleanly. Save files from the standard version are not compatible with the Experimental Build, meaning you must start a completely new game to test changes.

If you later move back to the release version, your original save progress from the standard edition should return, so your main progression won’t be lost—just temporarily separated while you test the Experimental Build.