Stop Losing FPS to Subnautica 2’s Ocean Rendering: Best PC Settings by GPU Tier

Subnautica 2 has been in Early Access on PC and Xbox Series X/S since 14 May 2026 — and it is built on Unreal Engine 5, unlike the Unity-based original and Below Zero [1][2]. This guide sticks to what the developer and the official store page confirm: the real system requirements, which upscalers exist today, and how to approach the in-game graphics menu without chasing numbers nobody has measured.

Verified against: the Steam store page and the official Subnautica 2 wiki, October 2026. Unknown Worlds states that system requirements may change during Early Access, so check the Steam page before you buy hardware [1][2].

System Requirements — What the Numbers Mean

The published specs do not come with frame-rate targets, so treat them as a floor and a comfortable baseline, not a promise [1][2]:

Both tiers require a 64-bit Windows system (Windows 10 or 11 for minimum, Windows 11 for recommended), DirectX 12 and a broadband connection [1][2]. DirectX 12 is mandatory, so a GPU that cannot run it is excluded regardless of its other specs. The store page does not list a frame-rate target for either tier.

The jump from the minimum to the recommended GPU is large, so if you sit near the minimum, expect to lower settings and use upscaling rather than aim for the highest presets. Installing the game on an SSD is sensible for any modern open-world title, although the official requirements do not state it as a requirement.

Best PC Settings by GPU Tier

No official or independently measured per-GPU settings table exists for the current Early Access build, so this guide does not give one. What the published specs do support is a starting point by hardware class [1][2]:

• Around the minimum (GTX 1660 / RX 5500 XT, 6 GB): start at 1080p, turn on an upscaler, and expect to lower several options.
• Around the recommended (RTX 3070 / RX 6700 XT, 8 GB): start from the higher presets at 1080p and adjust only if you see dips.
• Well above the recommended: try a higher resolution first, then raise quality options while watching frame rate.

How to Approach the Graphics Menu

Early Access builds change often, and the exact names and options in the menu can differ from patch to patch. Instead of copying a table of values, work through the menu in this order:

1. Set your monitor’s native resolution and pick a target frame rate you can live with.
2. Turn on an upscaler (see below) before you lower anything else. It usually costs less visible quality than dropping several settings.
3. Lower the most expensive options one step at a time. Lighting, shadow and effects quality are the usual suspects in UE5 games, but check the effect in your own save, in a busy underwater scene, rather than trusting a rule of thumb.
4. Keep texture quality as high as your VRAM allows. Textures mostly cost video memory, not frame rate. The minimum and recommended GPUs have 6 GB and 8 GB respectively, so watch for stutter if you push resolution and textures together.

Change one setting, test in the same spot, and keep what helps. That is slower than copying a preset, but it is the only method that matches your own hardware and the current build.

For broader PC-level improvements that apply to every game, our complete PC optimization guide covers Windows settings, driver configuration, and hardware scheduling in detail.

DLSS, FSR, and Upscaling in Early Access

Upscaling is where the situation has changed since the pre-launch announcements. DLSS and Unreal Engine’s Temporal Super Resolution (TSR) were confirmed as available from the start of Early Access. FSR was not available at launch; the developers said they were looking into adding it in a future update [3].

In practice that means:

• NVIDIA GeForce owners can use DLSS.
• AMD Radeon and Intel Arc owners can use TSR, which is part of Unreal Engine 5 and does not need dedicated hardware.
• FSR is not a confirmed option. Players on the Steam forums discuss a possible later FSR addition, but that is community talk, not an announcement, so check the patch notes before relying on it.

Upscalers render at a lower internal resolution and reconstruct the image, which is why they raise frame rate. How much you gain depends on your GPU and the mode you choose, so test the quality and performance modes yourself.

Early Access Performance — Setting Honest Expectations

Subnautica 2 is an Early Access game, and Unknown Worlds expects Early Access to last roughly two to three years [1][3]. Performance will change across that period. Treat any frame-rate figure, including ones you find in forums, as tied to a specific build and a specific PC.

If your frame rate looks fine on the counter but feels uneven, enabling G-Sync or FreeSync on a compatible monitor usually helps more than chasing a higher average. If the first session stutters, give the game a little time before changing everything: many modern PC games compile or cache shaders on first runs, so judge performance after a few sessions.

Quick Wins Before Touching In-Game Settings

• Update GPU drivers — NVIDIA and AMD typically release game-ready drivers around major launches that include per-title performance fixes
• Enable Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling (Windows 11: Settings → Display → Graphics → Change default graphics settings) — can reduce CPU overhead on GPU command submission
• Close background applications — browsers and video calls compete for GPU and RAM, and the game asks for 12 GB at minimum [1]
• Use G-Sync or FreeSync over V-Sync for smoother perceived frame delivery without the input lag penalty

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Subnautica 2 support DLSS or FSR?

DLSS and TSR were confirmed for the start of Early Access. FSR was not available at launch, and the developers said they are looking into adding it in a future update [3]. Check the current patch notes for any change.

What PC do I need for Subnautica 2?

The minimum is an Intel Core i5-8400 or AMD Ryzen 5 2600, a GeForce GTX 1660 6 GB or Radeon RX 5500 XT 6 GB, and 12 GB RAM. The recommended spec is an Intel Core i7-13700 or Ryzen 7 7700X, a GeForce RTX 3070 8 GB or Radeon RX 6700 XT 8 GB, and 16 GB RAM. Both need DirectX 12 and 50 GB of free storage [1][2].

Why does FPS drop in busy underwater scenes?

Dense scenes ask more of both the GPU and the CPU at once. Turn on an upscaler first, then lower the heaviest graphics options one step at a time and compare in the same location. The exact cost of each option depends on your hardware and the current build.

Will performance improve during Early Access?

Possibly, as the developers patch the game, but no performance targets or timelines have been published. Check the patch notes for optimisation changes rather than assuming a gain.

Related guides

• Stop Losing Runs: R.E.P.O. Co-op Roles, Callouts, and Extraction Timing for 2–6 Players

Sources

[1] Subnautica 2 — Steam store page (release date, Early Access, system requirements): https://store.steampowered.com/app/1962700/Subnautica_2/

[2] Subnautica 2 — Official Subnautica 2 Wiki (system requirements, Unreal Engine 5): https://wiki.subnautica.com/sn2/Subnautica_2

[3] “Subnautica 2 Early Access Price, Game Pass, Platforms & What’s Included” — Game Rant (DLSS, TSR and FSR status at launch): https://gamerant.com/subnautica-2-buyers-guide/

Michael R.

I've been playing video games for over 20 years, spanning everything from early PC titles to modern open-world games. I started Switchblade Gaming to publish the kind of accurate, well-researched guides I always wanted to find — built on primary sources, tested in-game, and kept up to date after patches. I currently focus on Minecraft and Pokémon GO.