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Subnautica 2’s current PC minimum is a GTX 1660 or Radeon RX 5500 XT with 12 GB of RAM and an Intel Core i5-8400 or Ryzen 5 2600. The recommended tier rises to an RTX 3070 or RX 6700 XT, 16 GB of RAM, and a Core i7-13700 or Ryzen 7 7700X. For the quickest performance improvement, move global illumination, shadows, view distance, shading, and effects from Epic to High, then use TSR on AMD or Intel hardware or DLSS features on supported Nvidia cards.
Official Subnautica 2 PC requirements
The following specifications are the Early Access requirements shown on the Steam listing from Unknown Worlds Entertainment in 2026. They describe the hardware targets for the current build, not a permanent guarantee: the game is still being optimized and its requirements can change.
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| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 10 or Windows 11 | Windows 11 |
| Processor | Intel Core i5-8400 or AMD Ryzen 5 2600 | Intel Core i7-13700 or AMD Ryzen 7 7700X |
| System memory | 12 GB RAM | 16 GB RAM |
| Graphics card | GeForce GTX 1660 6 GB or Radeon RX 5500 XT 6 GB | GeForce RTX 3070 8 GB or Radeon RX 6700 XT 8 GB |
| Graphics API | DirectX 12 | DirectX 12 |
| Storage | 50 GB available space | 50 GB available space |
| Internet | Broadband internet connection | Broadband internet connection |
| System type | 64-bit processor and operating system | 64-bit processor and operating system |
The listing does not provide a target frame rate, resolution, storage-drive speed, or a separate requirement for ray tracing. Treat the minimum row as the entry point for launching and playing the current build at reduced settings, rather than as a promise of a fixed FPS.
How to read the minimum and recommended tiers
Graphics card is the first comparison
For Subnautica 2, compare GPU class and video memory before looking at small CPU model differences. The minimum examples are a GTX 1660 6 GB and RX 5500 XT 6 GB; the recommended examples move to an RTX 3070 8 GB and RX 6700 XT 8 GB. A card with less than 6 GB of VRAM is below the published minimum, while a card with 8 GB is aligned with the recommended memory capacity. Equivalent cards are not automatically identical, so use the listed models as performance landmarks rather than assuming every newer-numbered GPU is faster.
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CPU generation affects consistency
The minimum processors, Core i5-8400 and Ryzen 5 2600, are older six-core-class parts. The recommended Core i7-13700 and Ryzen 7 7700X are much newer platforms with substantially higher single-thread and overall throughput. If your GPU meets the recommended class but your processor is near the minimum tier, busy areas and frame-time spikes can still limit smoothness. Conversely, a fast processor cannot compensate for a graphics card below the minimum.
Memory and operating system
With 12 GB, a minimum-tier system has little headroom for browsers, launchers, recording tools, or other background software. The 16 GB recommendation gives the game more room, but it is still sensible to close unnecessary programs before testing. Windows 10 is accepted at minimum; Windows 11 is the stated recommended operating system. Both tiers require a 64-bit processor and operating system.
Storage and connectivity
Reserve at least 50 GB of free space for the installation. Keep additional working room for patches and saves rather than filling the drive to its limit. Broadband internet is listed as a requirement, although the listing does not specify a speed or whether every play session needs to be online.
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What performance the published test numbers show
PC Gamer’s May 14, 2026 test used quality upscaling and recorded the following results. These are one publication’s measurements on specified hardware and should be used as reference points, not guarantees for your computer. “1% low” is the average frame rate of the slowest one percent of sampled frames, so it indicates how severe dips felt compared with the headline average.
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| GPU | Resolution | Average FPS | 1% low |
|---|---|---|---|
| RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB | 1080p | 89 | 51 |
| RTX 5080 | 1080p | 132 | 75 |
| RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB | 1440p | 76 | 46 |
| RTX 5080 | 1440p | 107 | 67 |
The test demonstrates why resolution is a major lever: moving from 1080p to 1440p reduced both average and 1% low results on the same card. It also shows that a high average can coexist with noticeable dips; the RTX 5060 Ti result at 1080p averaged 89 FPS but had a 51-FPS 1% low.
Best first settings for smoother FPS
If you are using the Epic preset, lower these five options one step to High before sacrificing texture quality or render resolution. This is the specific sequence recommended by PC Gamer’s test and is the most useful starting point for a broad range of hardware.
Global illumination
Change Global Illumination from Epic to High. It is one of the five options identified for an initial reduction, so test this change first or alongside the other four. Keep notes of average FPS and frame-time behavior rather than judging only a single busy scene.
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Set Shadows to High instead of Epic. Shadow quality can affect both the cost of rendering and the stability of complex scenes. If performance remains uneven, retain High while testing the next steps instead of immediately dropping every visual option to Low.
View distance
Reduce View Distance by one step, from Epic to High. This is particularly relevant when distant terrain or objects are visible. Make the change before reducing resolution so you can determine whether scene complexity, rather than raw pixel count, is the current bottleneck.
Shading
Move Shading to High. It is included in the same five-option recommendation, so it belongs in the first tuning pass rather than as a last resort.
Effects
Set Effects to High. Effects-heavy moments can produce short frame-time spikes; lowering this one step preserves more of the Epic presentation than dropping the entire preset at once.
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AMD and Intel graphics
In the build tested by PC Gamer, FSR support was not present. AMD and Intel users could use TSR quality upscaling instead. Select the quality mode first; if the game still cannot hold a stable frame rate, lower the upscaling quality one level before making large changes to textures.
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Nvidia graphics
For Nvidia hardware, use DLSS where the current build exposes it. The same test reported that Nvidia users could enable DLSS Frame Generation. Frame Generation and other DLSS controls depend on the card and game version, so do not assume that an option shown in one build will remain unchanged after an update.
Why upscaling should follow the five-option pass
The five Epic-to-High changes are a comparatively conservative first step. Upscaling reduces the internal rendering workload while preserving the selected output resolution, but lower quality can introduce softness or artifacts. Use TSR or DLSS after the initial settings pass, then compare image clarity and frame-time consistency in the same location.
Resolution, frame caps, and a repeatable tuning process
- Set a realistic target. Start at 1080p if your system is near the minimum tier. A recommended-tier PC is a better candidate for experimenting with 1440p, but the published requirements do not promise a particular frame rate at either resolution.
- Use the recommended hardware tier as the High/Epic baseline. If your CPU and GPU are close to the RTX 3070/RX 6700 XT and Core i7-13700/Ryzen 7 7700X examples, begin with High or Epic, then apply the five one-step reductions only where needed.
- Change one group at a time. Lower global illumination, shadows, view distance, shading, and effects from Epic to High. Restarting is not normally necessary for a settings comparison, but use the same scene and camera movement for each test.
- Enable quality upscaling. Choose TSR on AMD or Intel hardware. Choose DLSS on supported Nvidia hardware, including Frame Generation when the current version and GPU expose it.
- Check frame-time spikes. If the average looks acceptable but movement still hitches, lower resolution or upscaling quality one step. Frame-time consistency matters more than chasing the highest peak FPS.
- Cap the frame rate. Set an FPS limit that your monitor and system can sustain reliably. A stable cap below an erratic maximum generally feels smoother and leaves rendering headroom for heavy scenes.
- Recheck after patches. Unknown Worlds says further optimizations will arrive during development, so repeat the comparison after major updates instead of assuming an old setting profile remains optimal.
Practical starting profiles by PC tier
Hardware near minimum
A PC built around the GTX 1660 or RX 5500 XT class, 12 GB of RAM, and the listed i5-8400 or Ryzen 5 2600 should begin at 1080p with the five expensive options on High rather than Epic. Use TSR quality upscaling on AMD hardware, or the applicable Nvidia option on a supported GeForce card. Keep a conservative FPS cap and reduce internal resolution or upscaling quality if dips remain. This profile is a starting point for the current Early Access build, not a promised 60-FPS mode.
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With an RTX 3070 or RX 6700 XT, 16 GB of RAM, and a Core i7-13700 or Ryzen 7 7700X, start at High or Epic at your intended resolution. Test the five settings individually so you can keep Epic where it is affordable. At 1440p, enable the appropriate quality upscaler before making broad reductions, then apply a frame cap matched to the refresh rate you can actually sustain.
Hardware above recommended
A faster GPU or CPU gives you more room for Epic settings, higher resolution, or a higher cap, but it does not remove Early Access variability. Use the same staged process: establish a stable native-resolution result, add quality upscaling only if needed, and watch 1% lows and frame-time spikes rather than average FPS alone.
Diagnosing common performance problems
Low FPS everywhere
- Confirm that the game is using the intended discrete GPU rather than an integrated adapter.
- Apply the five Epic-to-High reductions before lowering textures or resolution.
- Enable TSR or DLSS where available, then reduce upscaling quality if the GPU remains saturated.
- If the result is still below your target, move from 1440p to 1080p or lower the render scale.
Good average FPS but stutter
- Watch the 1% low and frame-time graph, not just the average counter.
- Lower view distance, effects, and shadows to High if they are still on Epic.
- Use a stable FPS cap below the fluctuating peak.
- Close background applications, especially on a 12 GB system, and retest the same scene.
Soft or distracting image quality
- Return TSR or DLSS to its quality mode before trying more aggressive performance modes.
- Restore resolution first if you lowered it, then keep the five individual settings at High.
- Compare a stationary view and movement through the same area; a single screenshot can hide motion artifacts.
Settings or upscalers are missing
Feature availability is version-dependent. PC Gamer’s tested build had no FSR support, while TSR was available for AMD and Intel users and DLSS Frame Generation was available to supported Nvidia users. Check the options after each patch; the Early Access configuration can change.
Early Access limitations and changing requirements
Steam’s Early Access description warns that players may encounter bugs, in-development features, and performance issues. Unknown Worlds’ January 5, 2026 “System Requirements and Recommendations” note says: “Further optimizations will come over the course of development, so we’ll update this as things change to ensure you continue to enjoy the best possible experience with Subnautica 2.”
Steam also says that, based on previous Early Access games developed by the studio, the team expects the Early Access period to take about two to three years. That timeline is an expectation, not a promised release date. During that period, the same hardware may perform differently after an engine, content, driver, or upscaling change. Keep your settings flexible and use the current build’s behavior as the deciding evidence.
Quick Recap
Quick checklist before you play
- Verify a 64-bit Windows installation, DirectX 12 support, broadband internet, and at least 50 GB of free storage.
- Compare your GPU with the GTX 1660/RX 5500 XT minimum and RTX 3070/RX 6700 XT recommended landmarks, including VRAM capacity.
- Check whether your CPU is closer to the i5-8400/Ryzen 5 2600 minimum or the i7-13700/Ryzen 7 7700X recommended tier.
- Use 1080p as the safer starting resolution near minimum; treat 1440p as a heavier target.
- Change global illumination, shadows, view distance, shading, and effects from Epic to High first.
- Select TSR on AMD or Intel hardware, or DLSS options on supported Nvidia hardware.
- Use a stable FPS cap and judge success by frame-time consistency as well as average FPS.
- Revisit the profile after updates because Subnautica 2 remains in development.
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