Subnautica 2 will enter Early Access on May 14, 2026, at 08:00 PDT. This launch is overshadowed by a contentious legal battle between its developer, Unknown Worlds Entertainment, and publisher Krafton.
The price of Subnautica 2 during Early Access will be $30. The phase is expected to last two to three years. Players can look forward to co-op multiplayer from the start, allowing up to four players. The early access version will feature several biomes and some narrative elements, but the full story will not be available at launch.
The legal dispute centers around the release date of Subnautica 2. Krafton has been accused of intentionally delaying the game to avoid a $250 million payout. Ted Gill was reinstated as CEO of Unknown Worlds by the Delaware State Court of Chancery. Krafton has also been removed as publisher from the game’s Steam page.
Key quotes:
- “It’s going to be extremely hard to repair the relationship between Unknown Worlds leadership and Krafton… especially after such a humiliating court defeat.” — Michael Futter
- “A court case can take a considerable amount of time.” — René Otto
- “Krafton essentially made up its reasons for their dismissal to avoid the payout.” — René Otto
- “A successful Early Access launch requires careful planning and preparation to foster authentic fan participation and support.” — Ted Gill
Unknown Worlds has been a leader in ocean exploration games since Subnautica launched in 2018. The ongoing legal tensions have raised uncertainties about the future relationship between Krafton and Unknown Worlds.
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