TL;DR
Unknown Worlds has released the official PC system requirements for Subnautica 2, and the most demanding spec calls for 16GB of RAM just to achieve 30 frames per second at 1080p resolution. This marks a significant jump from the original game's 8GB requirement, potentially locking out a large portion of mid-range and older gaming PCs just as the sequel approaches its Early Access launch.
What Happened
Unknown Worlds Entertainment dropped the system requirements for Subnautica 2 on Friday, May 1, 2026, and the headline figure is a 16GB RAM minimum for even the "Recommended" tier — a spec that targets only 30FPS at 1080p. For a game that isn't launching a full release until later, this requirement has already sparked debate about whether the studio is optimising for current-gen hardware or leaving older systems behind.
Key Facts
- The minimum system requirement demands 8GB of RAM and targets 30FPS at 1080p on Low settings, using a GTX 1060 or RX 580.
- The recommended configuration requires 16GB of RAM, a RTX 2060 or RX 5700, and targets just 30FPS at 1080p on Medium settings.
- The Ultra spec calls for 32GB of RAM and a RTX 3080 or RX 6800 XT to reach 60FPS at 4K.
- The original Subnautica (2018) required only 8GB of RAM for its recommended spec and could run on a GTX 550 Ti.
- Subnautica 2 is scheduled to enter Early Access on May 14, 2026, giving players less than two weeks to assess their hardware.
- The game uses Unreal Engine 5, which is known for demanding memory and GPU resources, especially with its Nanite and Lumen technologies.
- Unknown Worlds has not yet published a console version's system requirements, but the PC specs suggest a significant gap between current-gen and last-gen console performance.
Breaking It Down
The most striking figure in these requirements is not the GPU tier — it's the RAM. Sixteen gigabytes of system memory as a recommended spec for 1080p/30FPS is unusually high for a game that isn't a full-scale open-world simulator. For comparison, Cyberpunk 2077 at launch recommended 12GB of RAM for 1080p/60FPS on High settings. Subnautica 2 is asking for 33% more memory for half the framerate at the same resolution.
16GB of RAM for 30FPS at 1080p is a 100% increase over the original game's recommended 8GB requirement — and the original Subnautica ran at 60FPS on that same 8GB configuration.
This suggests that Unreal Engine 5's overhead is the primary culprit. The engine's Nanite geometry system streams high-detail assets directly from storage into memory, and Lumen global illumination requires significant compute resources. Unknown Worlds appears to be trading performance for visual fidelity, but the result is a baseline that effectively excludes anyone still using 16GB of RAM as their ceiling — which, according to the Steam Hardware Survey as of early 2026, still represents roughly 35% of active PC gamers.
The GPU requirements are less shocking. The RTX 2060 is a five-year-old card, and the GTX 1060 minimum is generous. But pairing those GPUs with a 16GB RAM floor creates a bottleneck: many players with a GTX 1060 likely have only 8GB or 12GB of system memory, especially in pre-built PCs from 2018-2020. These players will be forced into the Minimum spec, which runs at 30FPS on Low — a far cry from the smooth underwater exploration the series is known for.
What Comes Next
The immediate focus is on the Early Access launch on May 14, 2026. Players will have a two-week window to test their hardware against these requirements, and Unknown Worlds will face pressure to clarify whether these specs are final or subject to optimisation.
- Early Access launch (May 14, 2026): The first wave of player feedback will reveal whether the 16GB RAM target is realistic for stable 30FPS, or if even that is optimistic in dense biomes.
- Performance patch cadence: Unknown Worlds has a history of post-launch optimisation (the original Subnautica received multiple performance updates). Expect a patch within the first 30 days addressing the most common crashes and stutters.
- Console spec reveal: Sony and Microsoft will likely require Unknown Worlds to publish Subnautica 2's console requirements within the next month, which will clarify whether the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S can hit 60FPS or if they, too, will be locked to 30FPS.
- Steam Deck verification: The handheld device's 16GB of shared RAM and custom APU may struggle. Unknown Worlds has not mentioned Steam Deck support, but a community-driven compatibility report will emerge within days of launch.
The Bigger Picture
This story sits at the intersection of two trends: Unreal Engine 5's hardware inflation and the RAM price cycle. Since Epic Games launched UE5 in 2022, a growing number of titles have pushed minimum RAM to 16GB — STALKER 2, Hellblade 2, and Black Myth: Wukong all set that floor. Subnautica 2 is the first major survival game to join that club, and it signals that the era of 8GB as a viable gaming standard is ending.
Simultaneously, RAM prices have dropped by roughly 20% year-over-year since 2024, meaning a 16GB DDR4 kit now costs under $40. Unknown Worlds may be betting that hardware is cheap enough that most players can upgrade. But the installed base of PCs with 8GB soldered RAM (common in budget laptops and older desktops) cannot be upgraded, effectively locking those users out of the game entirely.
Key Takeaways
- [RAM Floor Raised]: Subnautica 2 requires 16GB of RAM for 1080p/30FPS, double the original game's spec and higher than many AAA titles from 2023-2025.
- [Unreal Engine 5 Tax]: The shift to UE5's Nanite and Lumen is the primary driver of the higher memory and GPU demands, not the game's own scope.
- [Early Access Risk]: With a May 14 launch date, players have limited time to test their hardware, and Unknown Worlds faces pressure to optimise quickly or face negative reviews on performance grounds.
- [Console Uncertainty]: The lack of console specs leaves a question mark over whether last-gen machines or even current-gen consoles can hit 60FPS, potentially fragmenting the player base.
