Subnautica 2 OST: Where to Buy the Ben Prunty Soundtrack

July 16 update: the wait is over — the Subnautica 2 Original Soundtrack released on Steam the same day as Early Access (May 14, 2026), and it has stayed live and growing ever since. This page originally tracked pre-launch rumors; it now covers the real product: what is in it, what it costs, and how the pricing model works while the game is still in Early Access.

The Soundtrack, in Short

• Where: Steam, as standalone DLC (App 3803320)
• Price: $4.99 at launch
• Track count: 24 tracks in the initial release
• Composer: Ben Prunty
• Released: May 14, 2026 — the same day Early Access opened
• Format: standard-quality download (~400 MB) or a high-quality audio option (~1.4 GB total)

Unknown Worlds has been explicit that this is a living product, not a finished album: more tracks will be added at regular intervals across the same 2-3 year Early Access window covered in how long Early Access will last, with the price rising step by step as the track list grows, until a complete edition ships alongside the eventual 1.0 release.

The Composer

The soundtrack for Subnautica 2 is composed by Ben Prunty.

Ben Prunty is a legend in the indie gaming scene, best known for composing the iconic synth-heavy soundtrack for FTL: Faster Than Light. He also previously worked with Unknown Worlds, composing the soundtrack for Subnautica: Below Zero — the direct precedent for what shipped here.

His return delivers the blend fans expected: ambient pads for the safe shallow biomes and terrifying, pulse-pounding synth beats once a Leviathan enters the mix.

How to Get It

1. Open the Subnautica 2 Original Soundtrack page on Steam.
2. Purchase it as DLC — it installs alongside the base game, no separate launcher needed.
3. Play it back through Steam’s built-in music player, or extract the files if you prefer a standalone music app.
4. Re-check the store page after major content updates (EA 1.1 Adaptive Measures shipped July 8, 2026) — new tracks tend to land alongside new biome and Biolab content, and the listed price increases each time the tracklist grows.

Why It’s Priced This Way

Unknown Worlds is using the same growth-along-with-Early-Access model for the OST that it uses for the game itself: ship something real on day one, then expand it — and raise the price in step with the content — rather than holding the full score back until 1.0. If you want the cheapest possible entry point, buying now at the 24-track, $4.99 tier is the way to do it; waiting means paying more per track later for the same early compositions, plus whatever ships after.

What to Expect as the Score Grows

Based on Ben Prunty’s confirmed body of work — FTL, Subnautica: Below Zero, and Cosmoteer — the score leans into:

• Synth-driven ambient pads for shallow biomes — long sustained chords with subtle modulation, designed to fade into the background while you scan and gather.
• Percussion-led tension cues for predator encounters — sharp staccato hits layered over a low rumble. Listen carefully to the trailer’s worm Leviathan reveal sequence for an early sample.
• Melodic motifs tied to story beats — Ben Prunty consistently uses recurring themes for major characters and locations. Expect to hear the same musical phrase reappear when you uncover key narrative moments.
• Diegetic environmental sound design woven into the score — the line between music and ocean ambience will blur intentionally.

Ben Prunty’s Subnautica Track Record

The composer’s history with the franchise is exactly why fans are excited:

• Subnautica: Below Zero (2021) — full OST, widely praised for emotional range
• Several individual tracks for the original Subnautica’s update DLC
• Collaboration with Unknown Worlds on Natural Selection 2 sound design

Below Zero’s OST is available on Ben Prunty’s Bandcamp — a good preview of what Subnautica 2 will sound like.

Where the OST Is Available Right Now

As of this update, Steam is the only confirmed storefront. Unlike Below Zero — whose OST spread quickly to Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube Music — Unknown Worlds has not announced a wider streaming rollout for the Subnautica 2 score while it is still an in-progress Early Access product. That could change once the tracklist is closer to complete, but do not assume a Spotify or Bandcamp listing exists yet; search results claiming otherwise are usually pointing at Below Zero’s older catalog by mistake.

If you want to listen without buying, the official Subnautica 2 trailer and the videos hub carry Ben Prunty’s music in the background of official footage — a preview, not a substitute for the 24-track release.

OST FAQ

Is the Subnautica 2 soundtrack out yet? Yes. It released May 14, 2026, alongside Early Access, as a $4.99 Steam DLC with 24 tracks.

Will more tracks be added? Yes. Unknown Worlds has said the soundtrack grows with the game across the same 2-3 year Early Access window, with the price increasing as tracks are added, building toward a complete edition at 1.0.

Is the soundtrack sold separately from the game? Yes — it is optional DLC on Steam, not bundled with the base $29.99 purchase. See the release date and pricing page for the base game’s own pricing.

Is the music dynamic or adaptive in-game? Subnautica 1 used adaptive layering, with different stems playing based on biome, depth and threat level. Subnautica 2’s UE5 audio pipeline is expected to extend that approach, though Unknown Worlds has not published a dedicated adaptive-audio breakdown yet.

Is the soundtrack available on Spotify or Apple Music? Not as of this writing — Steam is the only confirmed storefront. Treat any third-party listing elsewhere as unverified until Unknown Worlds confirms a wider release.