Krafton Steps Back from Subnautica 2: What Does It Mean for Gamers?

Krafton has made an interesting move by removing its name from the Steam page of Subnautica 2. Instead, the studio behind the game, Unknown Worlds, is now listed as both the developer and publisher. This shift has led to some curious speculations about the relationship between the two companies, which has been anything but straightforward.

For those who don’t know, Krafton, the publisher of PUBG, acquired Unknown Worlds back in 2021. However, things took a dramatic turn last year when the leadership at Unknown Worlds was dismissed right before the planned early access launch of Subnautica 2. The studio’s CEO, Ted Gill, even took Krafton to court, claiming that the leadership changes were just a way to dodge a massive $250 million bonus tied to the game hitting specific performance metrics. A judge sided with Gill, forcing Krafton to reinstate him as CEO.

Now, with Krafton’s name gone from Subnautica 2’s Steam and Xbox listings, many are wondering if this hints at a potential split between the two entities. But let’s not jump to conclusions just yet; Krafton still holds ownership of Unknown Worlds, so this could simply be a cosmetic change.

When asked for a statement, a Krafton representative assured that they are still committed to supporting the early access launch of Subnautica 2, though they had no further updates to share. Following the legal setback, Krafton announced that the game is set to release in May, which caught Gill off guard as he hadn’t approved this timeline, leading to accusations of confusion.

The exact early access release date for Subnautica 2 is still under wraps, but thanks to the judge’s extension, Gill has until September 15 to launch the game and remain eligible for that hefty bonus. Interestingly, reports suggest that if Subnautica 2 meets its revenue targets to trigger the bonus, a portion will be distributed among some of Unknown Worlds’ staff.

As it stands, Subnautica 2 is topping the charts as the most wishlisted game on Steam. We’ve reached out to Unknown Worlds for more clarity on the situation, and we’ll keep you updated if we hear back. For now, let’s keep our fingers crossed for an exciting launch!