While the highly anticipated survival sequel Subnautica 2 is still scheduled for a Steam Early Access launch this May, the intense corporate power struggle between developer Unknown Worlds Entertainment and their parent company, Krafton, continues to escalate behind the scenes.
As of April 7, Krafton has been scrubbed from the Subnautica 2 Steam page as the official publisher, leaving Unknown Worlds as the sole entity listed. While this shift was quietly implemented last week, it has only recently garnered significant attention across platforms like Bluesky and Reddit. We have reached out to Krafton for a statement and will provide updates as new information emerges.
This development marks the latest chapter in a turbulent saga that ignited last summer when Krafton moved to delay the project, sparking a legal conflict centered on a potential $250 million payout. During the initial fallout, Krafton terminated the studio’s CEO and several key leadership figures.
The situation turned further last month when a judge ordered the reinstatement of Ted Gill as CEO, explicitly directing Krafton to refrain from interfering with his authority over the game’s release. However, Krafton seemingly ignored this instruction by announcing a May launch window shortly thereafter. Gill challenged this move in court, arguing that the announcement was made without regard for the team’s development cycle, the community, or the court’s own mandate, as he had not been given proper time to audit the studio’s progress upon his return.
Gill now finds himself in a precarious position. Legal filings indicate he must manage critical publishing logistics and promotional planning while facing the threat of immense fan backlash should the launch schedule be altered. Currently, Subnautica 2 remains set for its May Early Access release on Windows PC and Xbox Series X.
Given that Krafton maintains ownership of Unknown Worlds, the implications of this publisher status change remain ambiguous. Whether this is a purely aesthetic attempt to distance the brand from the ongoing legal turmoil or a precursor to further organizational shifts, it is clear that the underlying friction between the two parties remains unresolved.
Source: Polygon
