Subnautica 2 has added an opt-in experimental beta branch on Steam, allowing players to test upcoming updates before they reach the main Early Access version. The move gives developers a way to identify problems ahead of wider releases, but players are warned that these builds may contain serious bugs and that progress made there cannot be transferred back.

Players can enable the branch through the game’s Steam Properties menu and must download a separate update. Experimental and main-version saves are kept in separate locations and are incompatible; unlike earlier games in the series, the branch will receive preview builds shortly before release rather than daily updates, with occasional smaller fixes also possible.