Subnautica 2: Release date delay and Krafton bonus allegations

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For over a decade now, Subnautica has immersed gamers in its underwater realms. As development on Subnautica 2 progresses, enthusiasm among fans is growing about the future of this captivating aquatic adventure.

Unfortunately, the launch of the game has encountered a setback due to a delay, as well as rumors about conflicts between its creator and distributor.

In summary, you should be aware that the planned release date for Subnautica 2 has been postponed due to some issues between Unknown Worlds and its publishing partner, Krafton. This delay is intended to ensure the game delivers an exceptional experience when it’s finally launched.

Subnautica 2 release date window: Why has it been delayed?

According to a recent announcement by its publisher, Krafton, Subnautica 2 is set for launch in the year 2026.

Originally scheduled for release in 2025, the launch of Subnautica 2 was later postponed following the dismissal of several key personnel from its development team, Unknown Worlds.

On the official Unknown Worlds site, Krafton shares that the postponement is a result of player test feedback, which offered valuable insights about parts that required improvement prior to releasing the initial version of Subnautica 2 globally.

In our case, the community plays a crucial role in shaping our work, so we’d like to take a bit more time to address more of your valuable feedback before making the game available for early access testing.

Unknown Worlds and Krafton bonus allegations

According to Bloomberg’s latest report, it seems that the delay in Subnautica might not have been due to internal game issues as Krafton stated, but rather because of a potential $250 million bonus allegedly owed to Unknown Worlds.

As per Bloomberg’s report, when Krafton bought Unknown Worlds back in 2021, the deal contained a provision for a $250 million bonus that would become due if the studio managed to reach specific revenue milestones by the close of 2025.

As a gamer, I’d put it this way: “I heard that the top brass were planning to dish out some major cash rewards to roughly 100 team members at our game studio. These bonuses could potentially run into hundreds of thousands, or even millions, for each lucky recipient.

The report indirectly suggests that since Subnautica 2 has been pushed back to 2026, it’s highly unlikely that Unknown Worlds will meet their stated goals. As a result, Krafton would no longer be obligated to pay the bonus under those circumstances.

It seems possible that Krafton may have intentionally postponed the release of the game in order to avoid paying out the bonus, even though they argue that the delay is meant to enrich the game with more content and improve its overall quality before launch.

According to a statement given to PC Gamer, a representative from Krafton explained that this decision was solely driven by their dedication to quality and delivering an exceptional player experience. They clarified that it wasn’t influenced by any contractual or financial factors, and added that these discussions had already begun before the studio underwent recent leadership changes.

As one of the gaming community members eagerly anticipating Subnautica 2, I couldn’t help but notice the recent announcement from Charlie Cleveland, a co-founder of Unknown Worlds, on Reddit. In his statement, he suggested that Subnautica 2 has reached a stage where it could be released for early access, which seems to contradict Krafton’s current stance on the matter.

At a recent company gathering, I overheard questions about a delay, directed towards our new CEO, Steve Papoutsis. When asked if the hold-up was to avoid bonus payments, he clarified that he wasn’t privy to the specifics of the agreement, but assured us that “no one has ever informed me that we’re making this change specifically with the intention of affecting any earnout or similar arrangements.

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2025-07-10 19:34