Subnautica: Below Zero System Requirements Show This is More Than a Simple Expansion

Written by Jon Sutton on Mon, Jan 28, 2019 3:43 PM
System Requirements Optimum 1080p PC Build Low vs Ultra Screenshots GPU Performance Chart CPU List That Meet System Requirements GPU List That Meet System Requirements

Over the weekend, Unknown Worlds revealed Subnautica's standalone Below Zero expansion would be with us in just a matter of days. Subnautica: Below Zero hits Early Access on January 30th. Details are scarce but we can tell you the system requirements for Below Zero are a definitive leap beyond the base game.

Subnautica: Below Zero Minimum System Requirements

  • OS: Windows 7 64-bit
  • CPU: Intel Core i3-530 2.9 GHz or AMD Phenom II X3 720 2.8 GHz
  • RAM: 8 GB System Memory
  • GPU RAM: 1 GB Video Memory
  • GPU: GeForce GTS 450 or Intel HD Graphics 530
  • DX: DirectX 11
  • HDD: 20GB Available Hard Drive Space

Subnautica: Below Zero Recommended System Requirements

  • OS: Windows 10 64-bit
  • CPU: Intel Core i5-4670 3.4 GHz or AMD Ryzen 5 1400 3.5 GHz
  • RAM: 8 GB System Memory
  • GPU RAM: 4 GB Video Memory
  • GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti or AMD Radeon RX 570
  • DX: DirectX 11
  • HDD: 20GB Available Hard Drive Space

Now,  these system requirements for Below Zero are subject to change so who knows, they may eventually end up sliding down to the same specs as the original Subnautica. In reality, though, we think Below Zero is going to be much more than a simple add-on for Subnautica. It's got the whiff of being a sequel in all but name only.

That being said, these preliminary specs for Subnautica: Below Zero aren't exactly going to trouble most folks. The minimum system requirements for Below Zero are pretty true to the name. Subnautica: Below Zero will run on just about any system provided you've got DX11 video card and a dual-core processor.

But, if you're wanting to enable all of those lovely water effects and whatnot, and get really immersed in Subnautica's aquatic world,  then you'll be a relatively modern low to mid-range system. The official recommendation is a graphics card with at least 4GB VRAM, along with a decently clocked 3.0GHz+ quad-core CPU. Subnautica: Below Zero will be launching in early access so performance could be spotty though and S:BZ will almost definitely be unoptimised. 

As always, you can check out how well your PC can run Subnautica: Below Zero System Requirements here, where you can check benchmarking and performance from other users. Compare your graphics card to Subnautica: Below Zero GPU benchmark chart and we also have a Subnautica: Below Zero Frames Per Second system performance chart for you to check.

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20:54 Jan-28-2019

given how "beautifully" the original game runs, das a yikes from me chief

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21:38 Jan-28-2019

I liked the visuals.

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00:06 Jan-29-2019

But you'd expect an overclocked 5960X and a 2080Ti to run the game pretty well at 1440p, right? And yet...it stutters and it drops fps.

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00:28 Jan-29-2019

its like all versions are like that. whether on pc or one x, its a stuttering mess.

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05:19 Jan-29-2019

I can barely run the game at max settings at 1080p

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11:33 Jan-29-2019

I'm happy my crap laptop can run it without any problems. Casual 15 FPS gamer here. XD

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12:01 Jan-29-2019

I mean I can't think of a survival game that actually runs well for what it is, so I guess it's law.

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16:07 Jan-29-2019

Perhaps

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16:51 Jan-28-2019

Oh no... my missis already plays the game at 800x600 low settings and LOVES the game. A bump in requirements will certainly not fly O_O
I wonder if the expansion will come to the Epic store? We're playing the free version we got from Epic.

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16:58 Jan-28-2019

Yeah it's on there now as 'Coming Soon'. You not got any of that 2080 ti love to share around lol

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16:58 Jan-28-2019

But it is also standalone so I guess it won't make too much difference where it's bought?

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17:07 Jan-28-2019

We shall see. My missis is on a laptop. GT 555M GPU in there, I think. The CPU is fine (I think it's a i7-4710MQ or something around that), it's the GPU that has no grunt to run any modern games. We've been thinking of those GPU expansions via wireless PCI port, but she actually uses her laptop as a laptop to move around a bit, so I can't even give her my spare 1080Ti :/

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20:11 Jan-28-2019

Buy her a new laptop already.

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21:40 Jan-28-2019

Not to be disrespectful or anything, but how's her relationship with tech?

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00:08 Jan-29-2019

@ItsTheGamerEdit the amount of gaming she does on PC these days, bar Subnautica now, does not warrant it yet.
@Gankutsuou - not great. She lacks patience, she gets frustrated. I get to set up and fix everything :D

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05:19 Jan-29-2019

It doesn't have to be a gaming laptop.

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11:35 Jan-29-2019

@Xquatrox I'm all to familiar with that. I'm basically the family tech support.
Had to factory reset my nephews phone because he forgot the phones pin.

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Can They Run... |

| 60FPS, Low, 1080p
Ryzen 5 5500U 6-Core 2.1GHz GeForce GTX 1650 16GB
100% Yes [1 votes]
| 60FPS, Ultra, 1080p
Ryzen R5 1600 Radeon RX 580 Sapphire Nitro+ 8GB 16GB
0% No [2 votes]