Ocean survival sim Subnautica 2 now features an experimental beta branch on Steam, giving PC players a way to preview upcoming content and patches before they launch publicly. Developer Unknown Worlds introduced the opt-in branch to help catch bugs and issues early, though the update comes with strict save file limitations.
Quick Facts
- Platform: PC (via Steam)
- New Feature: Experimental beta branch for testing upcoming patches
- Save Compatibility: Saves do not carry over between the experimental branch and the main release
How Saves Work on the Beta Branch
While testing upcoming updates on the experimental branch, players should expect bug-prone builds and avoid getting attached to their progress. Unknown Worlds confirmed that savegames created on the beta branch are specific to that version of the game and cannot be imported or exported back to the main release.
To prevent accidental overwrites, the game stores experimental saves in a separate location. This means standard save files will temporarily disappear from view while playing the experimental version, but they will reappear once you switch back to the main branch.
Update Frequency and Access Steps
Unlike previous experimental branches for the original Subnautica and Subnautica: Below Zero, the new beta branch will not receive daily updates. Instead, Unknown Worlds will upload builds shortly before wider public releases, alongside smaller patches and fixes between major content drops.
To join the test on Steam, right-click Subnautica 2, navigate to Properties, select Game Versions & Betas, and choose the Experimental branch from the list to download the required update.