New #1 Steam Seller Dethrones Xbox Game After Biggest Launch Since Crimson Desert

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This week saw a major video game release, and figuring out which game had the biggest opening day in 2026 is proving tricky. Not all companies share their sales numbers openly. We know Crimson Desert sold two million copies within 24 hours. Resident Evil Requiem sold five million copies in its first week, though its 24-hour sales haven’t been revealed – it’s likely higher than two million, though. Similarly, Slay the Spire 2 sold three million copies in a week, but we don’t know how many it sold on launch day.

One of the year’s biggest video game releases is undoubtedly Subnautica 2. It’s already sold 2 million copies in just 12 hours, potentially making it the biggest game launch of the year so far. This is particularly remarkable because the game is currently only available in early access on PC and Xbox Series X. Sales would likely be even higher if it were also on PlayStation 5 and the Nintendo Switch 2. Currently, Subnautica 2 is proving most popular on Steam, where it’s now the #1 best-selling game, surpassing Forza Horizon 6, which previously held the top spot through pre-orders and early access.

Steam Best Seller and Fan Favorite

Since launching on May 14th, Subnautica 2 is proving to be a commercial and critical success on both Steam and Xbox Series X. On Steam, it currently has a 93% approval rating based on over 16,000 user reviews. While user reviews aren’t immediately available for the Xbox Series X version, early signs suggest similar positive reception, given the games are nearly identical across platforms.

As a huge fan, I’m blown away by how well Subnautica 2 is doing! It’s incredible that it hit two million copies sold in just 12 hours, especially since it’s still in early access and only available on a few platforms. What’s even more impressive is that it’s selling so many copies even though it’s included with PC and Xbox Game Pass – that number could be way higher! The first Subnautica was a big hit, so I expected the sequel to do well, but so far it’s actually surpassing the original in sales. And honestly, the $30 price tag is a smart move – it’s much more affordable than a lot of other big games out there, which definitely helps!

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2026-05-16 02:40