The highly anticipated Subnautica 2 has officially been delayed to 2026, Krafton confirmed to IGN. This confirmation follows a damaging report that suggests the delay will prevent the development team from receiving a $250 million bonus. 
The news is stirring up further drama in the already turbulent waters surrounding the game’s future.
Krafton, the parent company of PUBG developer Striking Distance, acquired Unknown Worlds, the creator of Subnautica, in October 2021 for $500 million. At the time, Krafton promised that Unknown Worlds would remain independent, but recent events have shaken the studio to its core. Subnautica 2 was originally set for an early access release in late 2025, but that plan is no longer possible.
Last week, major changes took place at Unknown Worlds, with founders Charlie Cleveland and Max McGuire, along with CEO Ted Gill, being replaced by Steve Papoutsis, the former CEO of Striking Distance. This reshuffle was unexpected and raised concerns about the direction of the much-anticipated sequel. Cleveland revealed on Reddit that although the team believed Subnautica 2 was “ready for early release,” the decision ultimately rested with Krafton.
In a community update, Krafton hinted that a delay was imminent, and just days later, Bloomberg reported that Subnautica 2 would now be pushed to 2026. This delay means that the studio will likely miss a crucial revenue target set to trigger a $250 million bonus payment to the development team. Bloomberg’s report noted that the decision to delay was made “against the wishes of the studio’s former leadership,” further fueling suspicions that the delay could be financially motivated.
While Krafton has officially confirmed the delay, the company maintains that the decision was based on feedback from playtests and not any financial considerations. According to a statement from Krafton, the delay discussions were already in motion before the shake-up in leadership took place. The company insists the delay is necessary to improve the game based on player feedback.
As the Subnautica 2 saga continues, fans can only wait and wonder whether the game will live up to its massive potential – and if the bonus will ever see the light of day.
2 comments
This feels like a classic case of the higher-ups making money decisions without actually caring about the game or the fans. Just delaying it for profit. 😒
Who even thought a game that isn’t even released could get a $250 million bonus? It’s like they were just counting on making a ton of money with no real plan