Yes—if your PC has at least a GTX 1660 or Radeon RX 5500 XT with 6GB VRAM, a Core i5-8400 or Ryzen 5 2600, and 12GB of RAM, it meets the current Steam minimum for Subnautica 2 Early Access. For a more comfortable High/Epic starting point, Unknown Worlds lists an RTX 3070 or RX 6700 XT, a Core i7-13700 or Ryzen 7 7700X, and 16GB of RAM. The game is still in development, so these requirements and frame rates can change with patches.
The fastest first adjustment is not texture quality or resolution. On the current PC Gamer test build, lowering global illumination, shadows, view distance, shading, and effects from Epic to High produced the clearest performance gain while retaining a high-quality image. Upscaling also matters: TSR is the broad option for AMD and Intel graphics, while Nvidia hardware can use DLSS features where the build exposes them.
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Can your PC run Subnautica 2 Early Access?
Use the Steam minimum specification as the floor, not a promise of a fixed frame rate. A system that matches the minimum should be able to launch and play the Early Access build at a reduced quality target, but the final result depends on resolution, scene complexity, drivers, background programs and future patches. The recommended specification is a better target if you want to begin at High or experiment with Epic settings.
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The current listing requires a 64-bit processor and operating system, DirectX 12, broadband internet and 50GB of available storage. Windows 10 or Windows 11 is accepted at minimum; the recommended tier specifies Windows 11. These are the requirements published for the 2026 Early Access build and can be revised as development continues.
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Official PC requirements
| 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 |
| Memory | 12GB RAM | 16GB RAM |
| Graphics card | Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 6GB or AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT 6GB | Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 8GB or AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT 8GB |
| Graphics API | DirectX 12 | DirectX 12 |
| Storage | 50GB available space | 50GB available space |
| Other requirement | Broadband internet; 64-bit processor and operating system | Broadband internet; 64-bit processor and operating system |
Unknown Worlds Entertainment and the Steam listing published these specifications in 2026. They describe supported hardware classes, not a guaranteed “60 FPS” setting. The listing does not state a target resolution, preset, or frame rate for either tier.
What the minimum tier tells you
The GTX 1660 and RX 5500 XT are both 6GB graphics cards. That VRAM capacity is part of the minimum definition; an older card with similar raw speed but less memory is not automatically equivalent. The Core i5-8400 and Ryzen 5 2600 represent the minimum CPU class, and 12GB is the listed system-memory requirement. If your machine has exactly 12GB, close browsers, launchers and overlays before playing so the game has as much uncontended memory as possible.
What the recommended tier tells you
The RTX 3070 and RX 6700 XT each provide 8GB of VRAM in the listed models. The Core i7-13700 and Ryzen 7 7700X are substantially newer CPU classes than the minimum parts, and the recommendation raises system memory to 16GB. Treat this combination as the sensible baseline for testing High and then selectively trying Epic, especially at 1440p.
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Compare in this order: graphics performance and VRAM, processor generation and cores, system RAM, then your resolution target and available upscaling features. Matching one component does not make the whole system equivalent; the slowest major part can determine frame time.
1. Check the GPU class and VRAM
Start with the graphics card because the game’s lighting, shadows, view distance and effects are the first settings recommended for reduction. Check the exact model and its dedicated VRAM in Windows Task Manager or your graphics driver panel. A card listed with 6GB should be compared with another 6GB card in the same broad performance class, not with an integrated GPU that borrows system memory.
For a 1080p target, the minimum 6GB cards are the reference point. For 1440p, the recommended 8GB class gives more headroom, but resolution and scene complexity still determine the result. VRAM capacity is not the same as rendering speed: both must be considered.
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2. Check CPU generation and cores
Use the exact processor model rather than only its clock speed. The minimum Core i5-8400/Ryzen 5 2600 pair and the recommended Core i7-13700/Ryzen 7 7700X span several CPU generations. A newer processor with fewer advertised cores can behave differently from an older part with more cores, so compare the model family and generation as well as the core count. CPU limits commonly appear as uneven frame times when the GPU is not fully busy, particularly in simulation-heavy or densely populated scenes.
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12GB is the official floor and 16GB is the recommendation. If Windows and other applications consume several gigabytes before the game starts, a 12GB machine can experience paging or stutter even when its GPU is adequate. Reducing background tasks is a free first step; adding memory is a hardware change, not a graphics-setting fix.
4. Confirm the platform requirements
- Use a 64-bit installation of Windows 10 or Windows 11; Windows 11 is the recommended operating-system target.
- Ensure DirectX 12 support is available through the installed operating system and graphics driver.
- Keep at least 50GB free for the current listing. Future updates can alter the space needed, so leaving additional headroom avoids an update failure.
- Plan for broadband internet, which the Steam listing includes as a requirement.
What frame rates have been measured?
PC Gamer reported results from a May 14, 2026 test using quality upscaling. These numbers are one publication’s measurements on specified hardware, not a guarantee for your PC or for every Early Access patch.
| Graphics card | Resolution | Average FPS | 1% low FPS |
|---|---|---|---|
| RTX 5060 Ti 8GB | 1080p | 89 | 51 |
| RTX 5080 | 1080p | 132 | 75 |
| RTX 5060 Ti 8GB | 1440p | 76 | 46 |
| RTX 5080 | 1440p | 107 | 67 |
The 1% low is useful for judging smoothness because it shows how the slower moments behaved during the test. For example, the RTX 5060 Ti averaged 89 FPS at 1080p but recorded a 51 FPS 1% low; the average alone would hide those dips. The test used quality upscaling, so native-resolution performance will not necessarily match these figures.
PC Gamer’s tested build did not include FSR support. In that build, AMD and Intel users could select TSR, while Nvidia users could enable DLSS Frame Generation. Menu options can change when Unknown Worlds updates the game, so do not assume that a feature shown in one review build will remain identical in yours.
Best graphics settings for smoother performance
Start from the recommended tier
If your hardware is close to the recommended specification, begin with the High preset or use Epic as a short test. The recommended hardware is the official target for High/Epic experimentation, not a promise that every setting will hold a particular frame rate. Starting from a known preset makes each later change measurable.
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Lower these five options first
PC Gamer’s May 14, 2026 testing recommends changing the following five options from Epic to High:
- Global illumination: Lowering it reduces the cost of indirect lighting. It is one of the first changes to make when the GPU is saturated in scenes with complex lighting.
- Shadows: High-quality shadows require extra rendering work and can affect both average FPS and frame-time spikes. Move this one step down before touching textures.
- View distance: A shorter distance reduces how far the game draws detailed objects and effects. This can help when looking across large environments, although it may make distant geometry appear later.
- Shading: Reducing shading quality lowers per-pixel material and lighting work. It is a useful compromise when you want to preserve resolution and texture detail.
- Effects: Effects quality controls the cost of visual effects. Lowering it can help during visually busy moments while leaving the basic scene readable.
These are the clearest first gains identified by that test. Make the change one step at a time if image quality matters, and keep a note of which adjustment solved the problem. Do not lower every option blindly: a High setting in one category may have a better quality-to-performance trade-off than a Low setting elsewhere.
Preserve textures unless VRAM is the problem
The recommended tuning order places the five options above before textures or resolution. Textures primarily affect memory capacity and image detail; lowering them can make surfaces look softer without fixing a CPU-bound frame rate. If your card is running out of VRAM or showing texture-streaming problems, then texture quality becomes a logical secondary adjustment. The official list’s 6GB and 8GB VRAM figures are useful reference points when deciding whether your card has enough memory for the chosen resolution.
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Select quality upscaling after the five one-step reductions if you still need more headroom. On AMD and Intel hardware in the tested build, TSR was the available broad fallback because FSR was not supported there. On Nvidia hardware, use DLSS where the game exposes it; the test build also offered DLSS Frame Generation. Keep in mind that upscaling changes the internal render resolution, so compare readability and motion clarity rather than judging only the output resolution label.
Reduce resolution or upscaling quality only when necessary
If frame-time spikes remain after the first five changes and an appropriate upscaler is enabled, reduce the output resolution or move the upscaler from a higher-quality mode to a faster mode. This is a larger visual compromise than moving Epic to High in the five recommended categories, so make it later in the process. Test in the same area and camera direction after each change so you can tell whether the adjustment helped.
Cap FPS for consistent frame pacing
When the game can render much faster than your display can present, an FPS cap can prevent large swings and make the 1% lows feel steadier. Set the cap to a stable value your monitor can sustain rather than chasing a fluctuating peak. For example, a display that consistently handles 60 FPS may feel better with a stable 60-FPS cap than with an uncapped rate that repeatedly jumps above and below that level. Use the in-game limiter if available; otherwise a driver-level limiter is an alternative.
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Step-by-step setup for a smooth first run
- Confirm the baseline: Verify your CPU, GPU model and VRAM, installed RAM, Windows edition, DirectX 12 support and at least 50GB of free storage. If any item is below the minimum list, expect that settings changes may not solve the limitation.
- Update before testing: Install the current graphics driver and game update available to you. Early Access performance changes with patches, so record the game version when comparing results.
- Open the graphics settings: In the game’s Settings menu, open the Graphics or Video page. Labels can move between Early Access builds, but the relevant controls are the five named options, upscaling, resolution and an FPS limit.
- Choose a starting preset: Use High when your PC is near the recommended tier. If you exceed the recommendation by a wide margin, test Epic first and keep a repeatable location for comparison.
- Apply the five first changes: Set global illumination, shadows, view distance, shading and effects from Epic to High. Restart only if the build asks you to; otherwise test immediately in the same scene.
- Select an upscaler: Choose TSR quality on AMD or Intel hardware in the tested configuration. Choose DLSS on supported Nvidia hardware; enable DLSS Frame Generation only if your build provides the option and the resulting motion feels acceptable.
- Measure both average and dips: Play long enough to encounter a demanding view, not just a quiet starting area. Watch for sustained stutter and frame-time spikes in addition to the headline FPS number.
- Escalate gradually: If performance is still unstable, reduce resolution or upscaling quality, then set an FPS cap at a stable value. Change one variable at a time so you know which step produced the improvement.
- Retest after patches: Keep your preferred settings written down, but revisit them after updates. Unknown Worlds says additional optimization will arrive during development, so the same hardware may perform differently later.
Choosing settings by hardware and display
Minimum-class 6GB GPUs at 1080p
A GTX 1660 or RX 5500 XT class system should begin conservatively. Use the minimum hardware as a compatibility floor, start below Epic, and prioritize the five Epic-to-High reductions before lowering output resolution. Keep background applications closed on a 12GB system. If frame-time spikes persist, TSR on AMD hardware is the broad fallback identified for the tested build; feature availability can vary by patch.
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An RTX 3070 or RX 6700 XT class PC has the official recommended GPU memory and performance tier. Start at High, then try Epic one option at a time. The five named settings remain the first levers when a demanding scene causes dips, while textures and resolution can stay higher until those changes are exhausted.
1440p targets
1440p places more work on the GPU than 1080p. The PC Gamer measurements show the same RTX 5060 Ti 8GB falling from an 89-FPS average at 1080p to 76 FPS at 1440p, with 1% lows changing from 51 to 46 FPS. If you are targeting 1440p, use quality upscaling and the five High settings before accepting a lower output resolution. The RTX 5080 results—107 FPS average and 67 FPS 1% low at 1440p in that test—illustrate the additional headroom of a faster card, but they are not a promise for other hardware.
Troubleshooting common performance problems
The average FPS is high but the game feels stuttery
Check the 1% lows and frame-time graph rather than the average alone. Apply the five Epic-to-High changes, especially shadows, global illumination and effects, then use a stable FPS cap. Close memory-heavy background programs on a 12GB machine. If the issue began after an update, retest because Early Access builds can alter streaming and optimization behavior.
GPU usage is near 100 percent and FPS is below your target
This is consistent with a graphics-bound workload. Lower the five named options one step, select TSR or DLSS as appropriate, and then reduce resolution or upscaling quality if necessary. Lowering textures first is less likely to solve a pure rendering-load limit unless VRAM is also exhausted.
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GPU usage is low while frame rate still drops
A CPU or frame-time limit may be holding the GPU back. Confirm that your processor is near the listed minimum or recommended class, close background tasks, and avoid judging performance from a single quiet location. View distance and effects can still help in complex scenes, but a graphics reduction cannot turn a processor below the minimum into a recommended-class CPU.
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- Cool Comfort: Enjoy a stable surface with our lap desk's dual bolster cushion, designed for comfort and airflow, keeping your lap cool during extended use.
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Textures look blurry after changing settings
Restore texture quality if it was lowered and instead test the five settings, upscaling quality or the output resolution. Upscaling can soften fine detail; use a higher-quality mode when the frame rate allows it. If the card is below the listed VRAM class for your target, some texture compromise may be necessary.
The expected DLSS or FSR option is missing
Feature availability is build-dependent. PC Gamer reported no FSR support in its tested build, with TSR available to AMD and Intel users and DLSS features available to Nvidia users. Check the current patch notes and the in-game menu rather than assuming that another build’s options are present. TSR is the broad fallback identified for the tested configuration.
Why Early Access requirements may change
Steam warns that players may encounter bugs, in-development features and performance issues. It also says, based on Unknown Worlds’ previous Early Access games, that development is expected to take about two to three years. Unknown Worlds’ January 5, 2026 system-requirements note adds: “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.”
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That means today’s minimum and recommended labels are a snapshot of the current build. Keep extra storage available for updates, record your settings when troubleshooting, and retest after major patches. A future optimization may improve a CPU- or GPU-limited scene, while a new feature may also change the cost of a particular setting.
Bottom line
For compatibility, target the GTX 1660/RX 5500 XT class, 12GB RAM and Core i5-8400/Ryzen 5 2600 minimum. For High/Epic experimentation, target the RTX 3070/RX 6700 XT class, 16GB RAM and Core i7-13700/Ryzen 7 7700X. Start tuning by moving global illumination, shadows, view distance, shading and effects from Epic to High, then use TSR on AMD/Intel or DLSS on supported Nvidia hardware. Lower resolution or upscaling quality and cap FPS only after those steps, and expect the best settings to evolve with Early Access updates.
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