The Subnautica 2 community recently found itself navigating treacherous waters, as developer Unknown Worlds issued a warning regarding fraudulent links purporting to offer access to a playtest of the eagerly awaited sequel. The alert was first communicated via a post on X, where the developer informed fans that it had “been made aware” of these deceptive invitations circulating among community members on Steam. They emphasized a crucial point: “we will never contact anyone by Steam DM for any potential playtests.”
We’ve been made aware that fraudulent links to a Subnautica 2 playtest are being sent to our community on Steam. Please be aware that we will never contact anyone by Steam DM for any potential playtests. Stay safe out there, Subnauts! 🐟February 10, 2025
In a follow-up communication on the official Discord channel, community manager Donya Abramo reiterated this message, clarifying that any legitimate outreach concerning studies or playtests would only be conducted via email from an Unknown Worlds address. Recently, the developer did extend an invitation for players to join a “User Research Participant Pool,” aimed at gathering community feedback. However, the link to this initiative is exclusively available on their Discord server, underscoring the importance of vigilance against misinformation.
For those who may have inadvertently clicked on these fraudulent links, Abramo advised taking immediate action by changing their passwords and enabling two-factor authentication to safeguard their accounts.
This incident is not isolated to Subnautica 2; similar scams have emerged targeting other titles as well. In January, TechRadar Gaming reported that Steam users received phishing links disguised as playtest invitations for Mafia: The Old Country. A discerning Reddit user even captured a screenshot of one such link, which appeared convincingly legitimate, featuring a preview image of the game’s logo and a URL that mimicked the official Steam link format.
As a general precaution, it is wise to refrain from clicking on links sent directly to you unless the sender is clearly identified. The allure of participating in a Subnautica 2 playtest is understandable, especially given the original game’s popularity and the success of its spinoff, Subnautica: Below Zero. The sequel promises exciting new features, including the ability to explore its vibrant aquatic world in co-op mode, as teased in a trailer released late last year. While the game is set to enter early access later this year, a specific release date remains unannounced.
