If you’ve been waiting to dive into Subnautica 2 with friends, it’s going to take longer than expected. Unknown Worlds has pushed the early access launch to early 2026, moving it well beyond its original release window.
Subnautica 2 is currently the second-most wishlisted game on Steam — right behind Hollow Knight: Silksong — and fans were looking forward to the four-player co-op survival experience. According to the studio, playtesters had good things to say about the game’s direction, including the creatures, biomes, and story. But there were also enough critical notes that the team decided more time was needed.
In a recent public update, Unknown Worlds revealed they wanted to act on more of that player feedback before releasing anything. “Our community is at the heart of how we develop,” the post read. The extra time will allow them to expand the story, add more tools and vehicles, and refine biomes.
But this delay isn’t happening in a vacuum. Bloomberg reports that the team stood to earn a $250 million bonus from parent company Krafton — if they met revenue targets by year’s end. That’s no longer likely. In the wake of the delay, Krafton ousted CEO Ted Gill and co-founders Charlie Cleveland and Max McGuire, replacing them with Steve Papoutsis (formerly of The Callisto Protocol developer Striking Distance).
In a statement, Krafton CEO CH Kim said, “There is nothing more important than the gamer experience,” and described the delay as part of a shared goal to make Subnautica 2 a “more complete and satisfying” sequel.
Internally, the shift hasn’t gone over quietly. Papoutsis reportedly told staff he wasn’t aware of the details of the payout structure and insisted the leadership change wasn’t meant to block that bonus. Cleveland, however, posted on X that the game was ready for early access — but the decision is now out of the studio’s hands.
A Krafton spokesperson told Eurogamer the delay was “based solely on our commitment to quality” and not influenced by financial contracts. They also claimed the decision was already in motion before the leadership shake-up.
While we now have to wait a little longer to experience this much awaited sequel, now would be a good time to revisit Subnautica, and if you have not played it yet, you should pick it up ASAP!!
Check out the Subnautica 2 Gameplay footage below!!
