Magic Design Studios announces Nautus: Echoes from Below, a submarine exploration game for PC

Magic Design Studios — the team behind 2022's Have a Nice Death — has announced its next game: Nautus: Echoes from Below, a dual-layered exploration title heading to Steam Early Access in 2027.

The concept splits neatly into two tones. On the surface, you're managing a cozy island outpost — crafting, gathering resources, befriending locals, and building up your base. Dive beneath the waves in your upgradeable, customizable submarine and the mood shifts entirely: mutant creatures, mysterious artifact stones, and a creeping mystery surrounding a research station called N.A.U.T.U.S. The setup kicks off when your character receives an unsettling radio message from their uncle, then arrives at the station to find the scientists have lost their memories and developed a paralyzing fear of the ocean. You're the only one willing to go under. The game supports solo play or four-player co-op, and the full loop involves piloting your sub, fighting off mutant creatures, recovering ancient relics, and piecing together what happened to both the researchers and your missing uncle.

Magic Design Studios built a strong reputation with Have a Nice Death, a hand-animated roguelite that earned genuine praise for its art direction and tight gameplay. Nautus looks like a deliberate pivot — trading the roguelite structure for a more open-ended exploration and base-building experience, while keeping that sense of a world with dark secrets underneath a polished surface. The co-op angle also suggests the studio is aiming for a broader audience than its previous solo-focused title.

A first trailer and screenshots are already out, and the game is live on Steam for wishlisting. The 2027 Early Access window is the only timing confirmed so far — no pricing or specific launch date has been announced yet.