Subnautica 2 will be in early access May 14, at long last

Source: Engadget

Announcement

The long‑awaited underwater survival game Subnautica 2 will be playable as an early access title on May 14. The sequel was first announced over four years ago, but a serious legal dispute appears to have held things up (Engadget).

Gameplay

Subnautica 2 is the third entry in the franchise, following the original Subnautica and Subnautica: Below Zero. Like its predecessors, it is an exploration‑focused survival simulation set primarily underwater, but this time on a new planet. The game introduces co‑op support for up to four players (Polygon) and is described as “extremely easy on the eyes.”

Legal and Development Issues

Unknown Worlds and Krafton are co‑publishing the title. Krafton purchased Unknown Worlds in 2021, and development proceeded smoothly until last year, when the company delayed early access and dismissed key Unknown Worlds executives (Game Developer).

• The purchase contract stipulated that executives and staff would share in a $250 million bonus if certain revenue targets were met by 2025. Delaying early access jeopardized those targets.
• According to a pre‑trial brief, Krafton CEO Chang‑ham Kim allegedly canceled the payout, citing embarrassment, and reportedly consulted ChatGPT for ways to avoid paying the bonus (80 LV).
• In March, a judge ordered Krafton to rehire the fired CEO, Ted Gill (Engadget). The court also extended the revenue‑window for Unknown Worlds employees to receive part of the $250 million bonus until September 17, with an option to extend further to March 15, 2027 (IGN).

Release Timeline

It may seem surprising that the game will be playable in just two weeks, but the original Subnautica spent three years in early access before its full release (Wikipedia).