Subnautica 2 Gets First Gameplay Teaser As Krafton Confirms Delay, Issues Statement

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The unveiling of the initial gameplay previews for the long-awaited Subnautica 2, expected to hit early access this year, has been overshadowed by reports and accusations about the reasons for its delay until 2026. However, fans had begun to worry last week upon hearing that the original creators of the series were no longer part of the sequel’s development team.

On July 9th, the official Subnautica YouTube channel posted a one-minute long gameplay trailer for Subnautica 2, which is narrated and called “Take a Deep Breath.

The trailer highlights the comeback of the well-known female robot voice that gamers recognize, as well as introducing an entirely new realm called Zezura, where players can embark on a fresh journey. In this world, fans will find some old items and locations they’re familiar with, but also new, exciting places to discover. Additionally, it offers a sneak peek at base-building features and multiplayer mode – elements that the original game didn’t have but have been eagerly anticipated by fans. Lastly, it hints at Early Access for the game arriving soon, although no precise date is provided other than a general release year of 2026.

Although the trailer appeared intriguing, it was overshadowed by other significant news that broke simultaneously – the surprising and possibly abrupt postponement of the game’s release.

Internalized Soup, a YouTube user, commented that it’s typical for Alterra to postpone director spending and reduce costs, but they appreciate the increased realism in the new levels.”

Or more informally:
“User Internalized Soup mentioned that Alterra often saves money by delaying directors and cutting costs, but they still love the improved immersion in the new levels.

The delay in releasing the game, which had an ominous feel, was addressed by Jason Schreier from Bloomberg, who revealed that the primary cause of the postponement might be to dodge the large financial incentives promised to the development team. It’s said that these rewards were contingent on revenue goals for 2025 and would have been due if Subnautica 2 was launched this year.

News Flash: Subnautica 2, eagerly awaited by gamers, has been pushed back to 2026 by Krafton, a move that could result in the development team forfeiting a $250 million bonus. The leadership at the studio had aimed for a release this year, but they were recently replaced by Krafton last week. For more details, check out this intriguing tale: www.bloomberg.com/news/article…

— Jason Schreier (@jasonschreier.bsky.social) 2025-07-09T17:58:36.195Z

The line of doubt appears reasonable given that Charlie Cleveland, one of the former co-creators of Subnautica 2, recently posted on Reddit claiming the game is advanced enough for Early Access release last week.

As a dedicated follower of Unknown Worlds and Flayra online (Cleveland), this week’s developments have come as an unexpected jolt for Max, Ted, our team, and our community. We’ve been eagerly preparing for the early access release of the game, and we were anticipating making that decision ourselves. However, it appears that decision is now in Krafton’s hands. After all the years invested in building this company from scratch, it’s disheartening to find myself no longer part of it.

Just now, I’ve got some exciting news to share as a gamer and follower of game development updates. Johnathan Blow, on Bluesky today, confirmed he’s seen evidence of a $250 million payout. Out of this whopping sum, 10% is earmarked for 40 Unknown Worlds team members – that’s us! The rest goes to other hardworking folks in the studio. Can’t wait to see what this means for our favorite games!

Schreier posted on Bluesky that the entire sum was contingent upon achieving revenue goals. It is uncertain if Krafton will modify the agreement to extend the deadline for Unknown Worlds to meet these sales targets, despite delaying Subnautica 2 until 2026. Moreover, there could be legal issues arising in this scenario. This tale definitely hasn’t reached its conclusion yet.

Today, Krafton announced a statement concerning the leadership changes and game status. In a direct manner, Krafton expressed that the previous leadership had neglected their assigned duties. Originally planned for early access launch in 2024, Subnautica 2 is now anticipated to release in 2026 due to recent delays.

I’m sorry that events unfolded as they did, given how eagerly gamers have been anticipating a worthy follow-up to Subnautica for quite some time now. What’s been revealed about the gameplay thus far certainly appears enjoyable.

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2025-07-10 23:43