• Gigletter
  • Posts
  • Is Subnautica Multiplayer? Here’s What You Need to Know

Is Subnautica Multiplayer? Here’s What You Need to Know

Author

Gigletter
April 05, 2025

If you’ve ever played Subnautica, you know how easy it is to lose yourself in its vast, alien ocean world. You crash-land on this mysterious planet, surrounded by nothing but water, and your mission is to survive by exploring the depths, collecting resources, crafting gear, and dodging some pretty terrifying sea creatures. It’s an incredibly immersive solo experience, and honestly, I would enjoy this game more with friends. So naturally, one big question keeps coming up: Is Subnautica multiplayer?

Well, the short answer is no, at least not in any official way.

|Why Isn’t Subnautica Multiplayer?

Subnautica was built from the ground up as a single-player survival game. The developers at Unknown Worlds Entertainment have been pretty open about the fact that making it multiplayer would require a complete overhaul of how the game works behind the scenes. The systems just weren’t designed to support multiple players exploring and building at the same time.

So if you were hoping to dive with friends officially in the original game, that feature simply doesn’t exist (yet).

|But… There’s a Mod for That!

Good news for PC players: the community stepped in where the devs couldn’t. There’s a fan-made mod called Nitrox that actually adds multiplayer to Subnautica. It’s completely open-source and still being worked on, but it works surprisingly well.

With Nitrox, you can host or join servers and explore the deep ocean together with a friend. You can build bases, discover the story, and survive side-by-side, just like you’ve always imagined. It even has synchronized worlds and in-game chat to make things smoother.

Of course, since it’s a mod, there are some limitations. It’s only available on PC, and there might be bugs or performance issues since it’s not an official feature. Still, if you’re craving a multiplayer Subnautica experience right now, Nitrox is the way to go.

|What About Console Players?

Unfortunately, Nitrox isn’t available for consoles like PlayStation, Xbox, or Switch. So if you’re playing on those platforms, there’s no way to play co-op yet.

You May Like

|Is Subnautica below zero multiplayer?

Just like the original game, Subnautica: Below Zero is also a single-player experience only. There’s no official multiplayer or co-op mode, so you won’t be able to dive beneath the icy waters with friends. While some players were hoping the sequel might introduce multiplayer features, the developers at Unknown Worlds stuck to their single-player roots at least for now.

That said, just like with the first game, PC players can still try out the Nitrox mod.

|Subnautica 2 Is Bringing Official Co-op!

Here’s where things get exciting. Unknown Worlds is currently working on Subnautica 2, and this time they’re building multiplayer right into the game! That’s right, Subnautica 2 will have official co-op for up to four players.

You and your friends will be able to explore the ocean together, build bases, share resources, and take on whatever creepy creatures lurk in the depths. It’s not just a rehash of the first game either—the sequel will have a new story, new biomes, and some cool new mechanics like DNA modification to help you adapt and survive.

Subnautica 2 is set to enter early access in 2025 on PC and Xbox Series X/S, and it’ll even be available on Game Pass at launch. No word yet on PlayStation or Switch support, but fingers crossed!

|Final Thoughts

So, is Subnautica multiplayer? Not officially, but thanks to the Nitrox mod, PC players can enjoy a pretty solid co-op version. And if you’re waiting for the real deal, Subnautica 2 is shaping up to be everything we’ve wanted and more.

Personally, I can’t wait to dive back in with friends and see what new mysteries the ocean holds. Whether you’re going solo or teaming up, Subnautica remains one of the most unique survival games out there.