Subnautica 2’s early entry launch delayed to 2026 amid developer drama

Subnautica 2 is among the most extremely anticipated video games round. It is the second-most wishlisted sport on Steam behind (you guessed it) Hole Knight: Silksong. Nonetheless, you will want to attend longer than anticipated to attempt Subnautica 2 in four-player co-op, because the survival sport’s early entry launch has been delayed till early 2026.

Developer Unknown Worlds mentioned that neighborhood members who took half in playtests offered constructive suggestions in regards to the story, creatures, setting and normal course of the sport. Nonetheless, the studio said, they “additionally offered some perception that there are just a few areas the place we wanted to enhance earlier than launching the primary model of Subnautica 2 to the world. Our neighborhood is on the coronary heart of how we develop, so we wish to give ourselves a bit of further time to answer extra of that suggestions earlier than releasing the sport into early entry. With that in thoughts, we’ve made the choice to delay Subnautica 2’s early entry launch to 2026.”

The delay will afford Unknown Worlds an opportunity so as to add extra biomes, instruments, car upgrades and creatures whereas increasing the story, the studio mentioned. Gamers can count on extra particulars within the coming months.

However information of the delay comes amid behind-the-scenes drama at Unknown Worlds. Bloomberg studies that the studio had been in line for a $250 million bonus (which the management group deliberate to share with staff) from Krafton if it hit income objectives by the tip of this 12 months. The delay reportedly means Unknown Worlds may be very unlikely to hit these targets. As such, Bloomberg‘s sources recommend meaning the crew of round 100 individuals is probably not eligible for the payout.

Final week, Krafton — which purchased Unknown Worlds in 2021 — turfed out the studio’s management crew of CEO Ted Gill and co-founders Charlie Cleveland and Max McGuire. The writer brought in Steve Papoutsis, a former government at The Callisto Protocol developer Hanging Distance, as the brand new CEO of Unknown Worlds.

“There may be nothing extra vital than the gamer expertise. Given the anticipation round Subnautica 2, we owe our gamers nothing lower than the very best sport, as quickly as attainable,” Krafton CEO CH Kim said in a statement, “We’re thrilled Steve is becoming a member of us in our shared dedication at Krafton and Unknown Worlds to ship Subnautica 2 as a extra full and satisfying entry within the collection — one that actually lives as much as participant expectations.”

Per Bloomberg, Papoutsis informed staff this week that Krafton did not consider Subnautica 2 was prepared for an early entry launch and claimed he did not know the specifics of the contract concerning the quarter-billion-dollar bonus. “It’s by no means been informed to me that we’re making this variation particularly to affect any earnout or something like that,” he reportedly informed workers.

In response to Cleveland, nevertheless, Subnautica 2 is definitely “prepared for early entry launch.” The studio’s co-founder wrote in a lengthy X post on July 5 that “whereas we thought this was going to be our resolution to make, a minimum of for now, that call is in Krafton’s arms.”

A Krafton spokesperson informed Eurogamer that the choice to delay Subnautica 2 was “primarily based solely on our dedication to high quality and to delivering the very best expertise for gamers” and it was not “influenced by any contractual or monetary concerns.” They added that “the choice had already been beneath dialogue previous to latest management adjustments on the studio.”

Replace, July 10, 3:15PM ET: Krafton shared an announcement with Engadget offering further context across the phrases of the $250 million bonus fee and reiterating its dedication to Unknown Worlds going ahead. The studio mentioned the present model of Subnautica 2 falls in need of expectations.

“The previous management deserted the obligations entrusted to them,” the assertion mentioned. “Subnautica 2 was initially deliberate for an Early Entry launch in early 2024, however the timeline has since been considerably delayed. Krafton made a number of requests to Charlie and Max to renew their roles as Recreation Director and Technical Director, respectively, however each declined to take action. Specifically, following the failure of Moonbreaker, Krafton requested Charlie to dedicate himself to the event of Subnautica 2. Nonetheless, as an alternative of collaborating within the sport growth, he selected to concentrate on a private movie venture. Krafton believes that the absence of core management has resulted in repeated confusion in course and vital delays within the total venture schedule.”

Krafton’s full assertion reads as follows: