Krafton Delays Subnautica 2 Release to 2026

The release of Subnautica 2 has been postponed until next year, with the development team requiring more time to incorporate community feedback. According to Eurogamer, Krafton, the parent company of Unknown Worlds, clarified that this decision was made prior to the recent changes in leadership. Krafton emphasized that the delay is driven by a commitment to delivering a high-quality experience, untainted by contractual or financial considerations. This announcement follows a review by Bloomberg of a purchase agreement that allegedly included a $250 million bonus if the studio met specific revenue targets by the end of the year. Sources indicated that the former leadership team had planned to distribute this bonus among all employees. New CEO Steve Papoutsis addressed these issues, stating that Krafton's goal is to have the best version of Subnautica 2 available for early access. Papoutsis also discussed the purchase agreement, saying he was unfamiliar with its specifics and that he had never been informed that the changes were intended to impact any earnout. Earlier this week, former creative director Charlie Cleveland expressed his surprise at leaving the company, describing it as a shock and stating that Subnautica 2 was ready for early access release.