Subnautica 2 is formally delayed to 2026, writer Krafton has confirmed to IGN. The information follows a report that claimed the delay could value the event staff a $250 million bonus.
Krafton, the Korean firm behind smash hit battle royale PUBG, acquired the $500 million-valued Subnautica developer Unknown Worlds in October 2021. On the time, Krafton insisted Unknown Worlds would proceed to function as an unbiased outfit. Following its announcement, the hotly anticipated Subnautica 2 was set for an early entry launch later in 2025.
Nevertheless, final week, Unknown Worlds founders Charlie Cleveland and Max McGuire, and CEO Ted Gill, had been changed by former Putting Distance CEO, Steve Papoutsis, in a shakeup that shocked the Subnautica group and sparked concern over the sequel’s future.
Cleveland subsequently revealed on Reddit that whereas he and his colleagues believed Subnautica 2 was “prepared for early launch… that call is in Krafton’s palms.” Krafton issued a group replace of its personal, suggesting a delay was incoming.
Then, earlier this week, Bloomberg reported that Subnautica 2 was delayed to 2026 — simply months earlier than it was as a result of pay a $250 million bonus to the event staff. Bloomberg added that the delay was “in opposition to the desires of the studio’s former management,” and that the $250 million bonus would have kicked in if Unknown Worlds hit sure income targets by the tip of 2025. With out Subnautica 2 popping out this 12 months, hitting these income targets is unlikely, and the bonus received’t be paid out.
Per Bloomberg:
Unknown Worlds’ management deliberate to share the extra cash with the entire studio’s staff, which quantity round 100. Employees who had been on the firm on the time of the acquisition had been advised they had been eligible for bonuses starting from lots of of hundreds of {dollars} to seven figures, the folks stated.
Now, Krafton has made Subnautica 2’s delay to 2026 official, however in an announcement to IGN, it insisted the choice had nothing to do with “any contractual or monetary issues.” As an alternative, Krafton claimed, the delay was about responding to suggestions from playtests, and delay talks had been already below dialogue earlier than Cleveland, McGuire, and Gill had been outed.
Right here’s Krafton’s assertion in full:
Throughout playtests for Subnautica 2, we acquired precious suggestions from our group that strengthened our confidence within the recreation’s route. On the similar time, the suggestions highlighted a number of areas that might profit from additional refinement earlier than launch.
As group voices play a central function in how we form our video games, we’ve made the choice to offer the event staff extra time to implement that suggestions and ship a extra full expertise. In consequence, Subnautica 2’s Early Entry launch has been rescheduled for 2026.
This determination was primarily based solely on our dedication to high quality and to delivering the absolute best expertise for gamers. It was not influenced by any contractual or monetary issues. Moreover, the choice had already been below dialogue previous to latest management adjustments on the studio.
For followers, the look ahead to Subnautica 2 goes on.
Wesley is Director, Information at IGN. Discover him on Twitter at @wyp100. You’ll be able to attain Wesley at [email protected] or confidentially at [email protected].