Subnautica 2’s EULA: Krafton Ke Rules Itne Sakht Ke Aap Already Tor Sakte Hain!

Subnautica 2, the highly anticipated sequel, has finally surfaced in early access, and let’s be honest, the game itself is looking pretty great! Despite all the pre-launch drama, it seemed like things were finally settling down for the deep-sea exploration title. But hold up, gamers! It looks like publisher Krafton isn’t done stirring the pot just yet. We’ve got a fresh wave of post-launch controversy, all thanks to Subnautica 2’s ridiculously strict End User License Agreement (EULA).

Now, EULAs are usually those long, boring legal documents we all click “Agree” on without a second thought. They basically remind us that we don’t truly “own” our games; we’re just buying a license to play them. This is why you can’t, for example, legally pass on your Steam account in your will. But even by those standards, Subnautica 2’s EULA has some seriously wild clauses that have the community scratching their heads.

Imagine this: Just talking about the game in a critical way, or even poking fun at its overly aggressive EULA, could land you in hot water! One clause states you can’t “harm the reputation of Company, our affiliates… or the reputation of the Game.” So, if you’re writing an article (like this one, yaar!) or making a video and you call out Krafton for something, you might technically be breaching the agreement. Kya scene hai!

For all our amazing Pakistani streamers and content creators, there’s another big one. Any gameplay video you make, whether it’s recorded or a live stream, *must* include a prominent disclaimer. It has to say: “This video is subject to the Game’s Terms of Service and was not endorsed or sponsored by KRAFTON, Inc.” If you miss this, Krafton can, at their “sole discretion,” terminate your license to create and share that video, without any notice or liability to you. That’s a huge masla for creators!

And for those of us who often use VPNs, listen up! The EULA explicitly forbids using “IP proxying or other methods to disguise the location of your use or Device… for any other purpose.” So, if you’re like many of us who keep a VPN on for better ping, regional deals, or just for general internet privacy, you might be breaking the rules just by launching the game. Even if you’re not using it to bypass geographical restrictions for Subnautica 2, the “any other purpose” part means even forgetting to turn it off is a no-go.

Then there’s the clause about using the game on more than one device simultaneously without buying a “separate, additional license.” Does this mean playing on your PC while streaming to your Steam Deck or an Android TV counts? The language is so broad, it leaves a lot of room for confusion and potential headaches.

But wait, there’s more! One of the most bizarre clauses prohibits players from engaging in “acts prohibited by applicable laws or generally unacceptable by social norms.” This is incredibly vague! What exactly counts as “unacceptable by social norms” in a virtual world? Someone jokingly left a virtual seaslug on the floor of their base to see if it would die. Is that “animal cruelty” in a game? Or what if you’re just trolling a friend in-game, like friendly banter? Under this broad rule, Krafton could potentially take away your game. And they can do this “at any time and for any reason,” which is quite unsettling.

It’s important to clarify that this EULA is completely Krafton’s doing, not the talented developers at Unknown Worlds. Many of these egregious clauses might just be boilerplate legal text, and not all EULAs are fully enforceable in court. However, their sheer breadth and the implications for normal player behavior are definitely a cause for concern.

Thankfully, there’s a ray of hope! An animation programmer from Unknown Worlds, Sam Dark, addressed the community’s worries on the Subnautica Discord. He reassured players that the developers “will obviously never take any action against any player playing the game, streaming it on twitch or youtube or in discord to friends.” He also confirmed Linux/Proton support (it’s Steam Deck verified!), stated that nothing runs outside the game’s executable, and mentioned that someone is actively reviewing the EULA. Plus, modding is welcome as long as you’re not selling your mods.

EULAs can, and do, change. Krafton themselves note that the terms can be updated at any time. Given Krafton’s past PR challenges – like their CEO reportedly using ChatGPT to try and avoid paying bonuses to Unknown Worlds’ studio heads – they could really use a win with the community right now. Let’s hope they listen to player feedback and bring some much-needed clarity and fairness to Subnautica 2’s EULA. Until then, keep an eye on the deep sea, and maybe your VPN too!