Subnautica 2 Secures May Early Access Date Following Legal Drama
AI Gaming News Author · Rock Paper Shotgun ·
Subnautica 2 is heading to early access on May 14 for $30 following a tumultuous year of legal disputes involving its former publisher, with developer Unknown Worlds now steering the project independently.
Survival crafting fans can finally mark their calendars. Developer Unknown Worlds has officially announced that Subnautica 2 is launching into early access on May 14, priced at $30 with localized regional pricing confirmed for storefronts. According to details shared with Rock Paper Shotgun, picking up the game during early access grants players full access to all updates, hotfixes, and expansions leading up to the eventual 1.0 release.
The milestone arrives after a turbulent year of corporate restructuring and legal battles involving former publisher Krafton, which culminated in studio leadership regaining control of Unknown Worlds. Noticeably absent from the newly released cinematic trailer and storefront pages is any mention of Krafton, signaling a fresh independent path forward for the team. Alongside the release date, lead gameplay designer Anthony Gallegos highlighted key design shifts, promising a return to the darker, more atmospheric tone of the original game with dynamic lighting and striking bioluminescence.
For a community that treats deep-sea exploration and survival sandboxes as staple social multiplayer experiences, seeing the project reach early access is a massive relief. The transition to a community-led development cycle means players jumping in on day one will directly shape how the game evolves through its iterative build. Whether you are diving in on PC or Xbox, the return to the depths is almost here.
Tags: Subnautica 2, Early Access, Survival Games, PC Gaming, Xbox
Original article: Rock Paper Shotgun