After getting an unsettling radio message from your uncle, you’ll go out on an adventure where you arrive at the remote N.A.U.T.U.S. research station only to find the local scientists have lost their memories and developed a paralyzing phobia of the ocean. As the only one brave enough to face the deep, you must take the helm of an upgradable submarine, encounter and, at times, fight off mutant creatures and recover hidden, mysterious artifact stones to restore the inhabitants’ memories and uncover the truth.

Between riveting yet fascinating expeditions into the underwater abyss below, you'll return to the vibrant surface to catch your breath, befriend quirky scientists, and manage your resources. Blending exploration, action, and deep crafting, you’ll gather materials to upgrade your submarine and gear so you can plunge even deeper into the unknown—with the option to develop on the island to customize your home base over time.  Take on this charmingly quirky journey solo, or team up with up to three friends in online co-op. Prepare to enter a dual-layered world that is full of adventure, mystery and wonder!

Nautus is set to launch in Steam Early Access in 2027, but interested fans can now sign up for a Closed Beta Playtest which will be coming to Steam soon.

The Closed Beta Playtest will begin August 31, at 7 AM PDT. Magic Design Studios is looking for fans of Dave the Diver, Subnautica, Terraria, and SteamWorld Dig to join the playtest and provide valuable feedback via Discord to help shape the game and be part of its development journey from the very beginning.

ABOUT THE CLOSED BETA PLAYTEST

Sign up for the Closed Beta Playtest and get ready to dive into Nautus for the first time ever via Steam starting on Monday, August 31, at 7 AM PDT! This playtest gives players a proper introduction to the game to experience its unique dual-layered gameplay loop:

• On the Surface: Catch your breath, meet and help quirky amnesiac locals, customize your tropical home base, manage resources, and engineer specialized submarine upgrades.
• Below the Surface: Pilot your upgradeable submarine into a beautiful yet dangerous underwater abyss, encounter mutant marine life, navigate environmental hazards, and gather rare materials to craft advanced machinery and gear.

During the playtest, you’ll create your own character, step into the world of Nautus and begin your adventure. You’ll meet eccentric locals, like the mayor and Mr. Golden, unlock your own submarine, explore the game's first biome, tackle main and secondary quests, and dive deep into core progression systems. Players can brave the ocean depths entirely on their own, or team up with up to three friends in four-player online co-op to uncover the mysteries of Nautus together!

Key Features

• Explore the Deep Unknown: Navigate breathtaking coral reefs, sunken pirate shipwrecks, and uncharted underwater anomalies that even the local N.A.U.T.U.S. scientists refuse to approach. Make sure to be ready to fight and capture strange creatures that should never have existed!
• Pilot Your Own Upgradable Submarine: Craft specialized modules, protective equipment, and vital weaponry as you take control and update your own submarine. Advance your tech to dive deeper into hostile trenches and defend against aggressive, mutant marine life.
• Adventure Solo or Dive into Online Co-Op Multiplayer: Uncover the mystery of Nautus and brave the ocean depths entirely on your own, or team up with up to three players in four-player online co-op and dive into this offbeat adventure together.
• Meet, Befriend and Uncover the Mysteries of a Quirky Cast of Inhabitants: Meet eccentric, amnesiac locals like a tanning-obsessed diver and a quirky expedition chief. Collaborate with them on unique and useful projects and recover lost artifact stones to cure their bizarre phobia of the ocean and restore them to their true selves.
• Solve a Sunken Mystery: Investigate the sudden disappearance of your uncle, Bernard Torpedo, by hunting for ancient relics, hidden clues, and secrets buried in the abyss. Will you uncover the mysteries of your uncle and this mysterious island?
• Develop and Customize a Unique Outpost: Transform a secluded tropical outpost into a thriving home base of your own. Set up vital crafting machinery to refine rare materials gathered from the deep, manage your resources strategically, and build the essential infrastructure needed to fuel your next sub-aquatic expedition.

Nautus is in development for PC (Steam).