Subnautica 2 Dives Deep with 1 Million Sales in an Hour – But Krafton’s in for a Costly Swim!

Gamers, get ready to be amazed! The highly anticipated underwater survival sequel, Subnautica 2, has just made an absolutely massive splash on Steam. We’re talking about a launch so powerful, it sold over a million copies in its very first hour of Early Access! Talk about hitting the ground swimming!

This isn’t just a big number; it’s a testament to how hyped players were for this game. Within just 30 minutes of going live, Subnautica 2 saw over 370,000 concurrent players exploring its mysterious depths. That number quickly climbed past the 470,000 mark before settling down – a truly phenomenal start for any game, let alone one launching on a regular Thursday.

The developers themselves couldn’t hold back their excitement, confirming the incredible milestone: “Over 1 million Subnauts have already dived into Subnautica 2! We can’t thank you enough for your support!” And honestly, who can blame them? This kind of success in such a short timeframe is rare and speaks volumes about the game’s appeal.

It’s not entirely surprising, though, considering Subnautica 2 was Steam’s most wishlisted game, boasting over 5 million players eagerly waiting to add it to their libraries. With a “Very Positive” rating already pouring in from early players, it seems like the game is living up to expectations, convincing many to jump in without waiting for the full release.

Now, here’s where things get a bit spicy. While Unknown Worlds (the developers) are celebrating, their parent company, Krafton, might be having a slightly less joyous moment. You see, Subnautica 2’s journey to launch came with its fair share of behind-the-scenes drama and legal battles.

It turns out, a court ruled that Krafton’s dismissal of Unknown Worlds’ key founders – Ted Gill, Charlie Cleveland, and Max McGuire – was motivated by a desire to avoid paying them a colossal $250 million bonus. This bonus was tied to Subnautica 2 hitting specific sales targets. Documents from 2025 even showed Krafton’s internal projections aimed for 2-3 million copies sold by the end of that year, which would have easily triggered the full payout for the founders.

With Subnautica 2 already hitting over a third of that higher target in just its first hour, and a judge extending the bonus deadline by nine months, it’s looking increasingly likely that Krafton will have to cough up that quarter-billion dollars. What a twist, right? It seems the game’s massive success is now turning into a significant, albeit self-inflicted, financial obligation for the corporate giant.

Despite all the corporate drama, one thing is clear: Subnautica 2 is a hit, and gamers are loving their return to the alien ocean. It’s a fantastic reminder that a great game will always find its audience, no matter what happens behind the scenes!