Subnautica 2 System Requirements

Official minimum and recommended PC specs for Subnautica 2 — pulled from the Steam store page on May 9, 2026.

Side-by-Side Comparison

	Minimum	Recommended
OS	Windows 10 / 11 (64-bit)	Windows 11
CPU	Intel Core i5-8400 / AMD Ryzen 5 2600	Intel Core i7-13700 / AMD Ryzen 7 7700X
RAM	12 GB	16 GB
GPU	GeForce GTX 1660 6GB / Radeon RX 5500 XT 6GB	GeForce RTX 3070 8GB / Radeon RX 6700 XT 8GB
Storage	50 GB	50 GB
DirectX	12	12

What These Numbers Actually Mean

The 12 GB / 16 GB RAM Jump

Most modern survival games ask for 8 GB minimum — Subnautica 2 going to 12 GB hints at the streaming demands of the new ocean planet's biome system. 4-player co-op sessions push memory usage further, which is why the recommended spec jumps to 16 GB.

GTX 1660 6 GB Floor

The minimum GPU is a 2019-era card. Anything older — GTX 1060 6 GB, RX 580 — is technically below spec, though they may still run on Low. Critically, the GPU memory minimum is 6 GB, which rules out 4 GB cards regardless of compute power.

Recommended-Tier RTX 3070

Recommended is an RTX 3070-class card from late 2020. That's a comfortable target for 1440p high settings or 4K medium. RTX 4070, 4070 Super, and 5070 will all run the recommended preset effortlessly.

Steam Deck and Handheld PCs

The Deck's GPU sits below the GTX 1660 6 GB requirement, and there is no Verified rating yet. Expect:

Steam Deck (LCD or OLED): Likely playable on Low at 720p, 30 FPS cap recommended. Long sessions will stress the cooling.
ROG Ally / Legion Go: Officially listed (the Xbox version targets ROG Ally). Expect Low–Medium 720–900p at 30 FPS, Medium 1080p with TDP raised.

Recommended Settings by Hardware Tier

Hardware	Resolution	Preset	Target FPS
GTX 1660 / RX 5500 XT	1080p	Low–Medium	50–60
RTX 2070 / RX 5700 XT	1080p	High	60
RTX 3070 / RX 6700 XT	1440p	High	60
RTX 4070 / RX 7800 XT	1440p	Ultra	80–100
RTX 4080 / 4090	4K	Ultra	60+

⌖ Knowledge Base

Frequently Asked Questions

Q.01 Can my PC run Subnautica 2?

If you have at least an Intel Core i5-8400 or Ryzen 5 2600, 12 GB of RAM, and a GTX 1660 (6 GB) or Radeon RX 5500 XT (6 GB), you meet the minimum and the game will run.

Q.02 What graphics card do I need for Subnautica 2?

Minimum: GTX 1660 6GB / Radeon RX 5500 XT 6GB. Recommended: RTX 3070 8GB / Radeon RX 6700 XT 8GB.

Q.03 How much storage does Subnautica 2 take?

50 GB. The same number applies to both minimum and recommended specs — there is no separate "high-res texture pack."

Q.04 Will Subnautica 2 run on Steam Deck?

Steam Deck has no Verified rating yet. The minimum spec asks for a GTX 1660 6 GB, which exceeds the Deck's GPU power. Expect Low–Medium settings at sub-720p resolutions, or 30 FPS caps.

Q.05 Is 12 GB of RAM really enough for Subnautica 2?

Yes — that is the official minimum. 16 GB is recommended for the deeper biomes and 4-player co-op sessions, where memory pressure rises noticeably.

Q.06 Does Subnautica 2 support DLSS / FSR / XeSS?

Unknown Worlds has not confirmed upscalers in the public spec sheet. The recommended-tier RTX 3070 supports DLSS 2/3, so DLSS support is plausible at launch but unverified.

Q.07 Can I run Subnautica 2 on integrated graphics?

Not officially. Even the most recent integrated GPUs (Iris Xe, Radeon 780M) sit below the GTX 1660 6 GB requirement. Expect single-digit framerates at best.