Subnautica 2, the highly anticipated sequel to the popular underwater survival game, is making headlines — but not for its gameplay. Instead, the drama surrounding its development has taken center stage. With a massive $250 million performance bonus on the line, legal battles, leadership firings, and delays, the future of Subnautica 2 is now tangled in controversy.
Let’s break it down in the easiest possible language so you can understand what’s really going on — and what this all means for the game.
What is Subnautica 2?
Subnautica 2 is the sequel to the beloved underwater exploration and survival game Subnautica, made by a studio called Unknown Worlds. The first game came out in 2018 after a successful early access period. It became a favorite among gamers because of its open world, beautiful ocean settings, and deep survival gameplay. A follow-up title, Subnautica: Below Zero, launched in 2021.
In 2021, Unknown Worlds was bought by a much bigger game publisher called Krafton, best known for making PUBG (PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds). Krafton bought Unknown Worlds for $500 million and offered up to $250 million extra if certain goals were met by the end of 2025.
Why Is Subnautica 2 Delayed?
Originally, Subnautica 2 was planned to come out in early access in 2025. But on July 9, 2025, Krafton delayed the game’s early access release to 2026. This delay came just days after Krafton fired the original founders of Unknown Worlds — Charlie Cleveland, Max McGuire, and Ted Gill.
This move shocked fans and industry insiders alike. Krafton didn’t say exactly why it delayed the game but said they wanted to ensure it would be “the right game at the right time.”
What Sparked the Lawsuit?
After being fired, the original founders of Unknown Worlds filed a lawsuit against Krafton on July 10, 2025. In the lawsuit, they claimed Krafton:
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Wrongfully removed them from the company
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Delayed Subnautica 2 on purpose
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Wanted to avoid paying the $250 million bonus
They also said they planned to share the bonus with the rest of the team, not just keep it for themselves.
Krafton responded by saying the founders stopped doing their jobs, especially after their side game Moonbreaker failed. They accused the leaders of focusing on personal projects — including Cleveland’s film company — instead of Subnautica 2.
The $250 Million Bonus Explained
When Krafton bought Unknown Worlds, they agreed on a performance-based bonus of up to $250 million. Here's how that money was supposed to work:
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$25 million would go to employees if Subnautica 2 launched on time
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$225 million would go to the founders and leaders
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The leaders said they planned to share more than required with the full team
But now, with the delay pushing the launch to 2026, it seems very unlikely the studio will hit the goals needed to unlock the bonus.
Krafton did say on July 15, 2025, that it would extend the bonus window by a year and give employees an advance from a separate profit-sharing pool in 2025. That might have been a move to calm things down — or to protect itself legally.
Who’s Right? Who’s Wrong?
This is where things get complicated. On one side, you have the studio founders who say they were removed unfairly and that Krafton is trying to avoid paying the bonus. On the other side, Krafton says the founders weren’t doing their jobs and that the game wasn’t ready.
So who’s telling the truth?
The reality is likely somewhere in the middle. It’s possible the game had some issues and needed more time. It’s also possible Krafton saw the bonus deadline coming and decided to act in its own financial interest. Either way, the fans and developers caught in the middle are the ones suffering the most.
What Happens Next?
The lawsuit filed by Cleveland and his team is now moving through the courts. They’re asking for:
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The full $250 million bonus to be paid
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To be reinstated as leaders of Unknown Worlds
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Krafton to fulfill its original publishing promises
Meanwhile, Subnautica 2 is still in development, but with a new team leading the project. Krafton put Steve Papoutsis, former head of The Callisto Protocol studio, in charge of the game.
Fans will likely have to wait until sometime in 2026 to play Subnautica 2 in early access. And even then, it's unclear if the final product will reflect the original vision of the team that started it.
Why This Matters
This situation isn’t just about one game. It’s a cautionary tale about what happens when creative studios are bought by large corporations. Deals like this can create tension between artistic freedom and business goals — especially when huge sums of money are involved.
The lawsuit will also set a precedent for how similar acquisitions and bonus agreements are handled in the gaming world moving forward.
Final Thoughts
Whether you're a longtime fan of Subnautica or just someone interested in video game development, the Subnautica 2 drama is a wild ride. There’s leadership drama, legal fights, big money, and a delayed game that millions of players were excited to play in 2025.
In the end, we can only hope that Subnautica 2 still delivers the deep-sea survival adventure that fans love — and that the developers who worked hard on it are treated fairly.