Subnautica 2 Steam Listing Points to Publisher Split Between Krafton and Unknown Worlds
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
Recent Steam backend changes suggest that Unknown Worlds may be self-publishing Subnautica 2 following a bitter legal battle and leadership dispute with publisher Krafton.
The turbulent development of Subnautica 2 has taken another unexpected turn. A recent update to the game page on Steam indicates that developer Unknown Worlds Entertainment may be taking over publishing duties entirely, removing major corporate backer Krafton from the listing. Industry trackers caught the backend updates, which went live earlier in April and have remained uncorrected, signaling a major structural shift for the upcoming early access survival title.
This backend change follows a lengthy and very public legal battle between the studio and its corporate parent. Last summer, studio leadership faced sudden departures over disputes regarding developer bonuses and milestone targets. Following a court ruling that ordered the reinstatement of Unknown Worlds CEO Ted Gill, tensions remained high over release windows and operational control. While Krafton previously stated it was exploring a new path forward while supporting the launch, this latest storefront update strongly implies that the two companies are parting ways before the game reaches players.
For a community that has spent years eagerly anticipating the next chapter in the underwater survival franchise, corporate boardroom drama is the last thing anyone wants to see overshadowing the work of the developers. Subnautica carved out its legendary status through pure atmosphere and dedicated community support, and players want to know the core team retains creative freedom. As we watch to see how this publishing shakeup unfolds, we will keep track of how it impacts the eventual early access rollout. You can read the original reporting over at Eurogamer for a full breakdown of the timeline.
Tags: Subnautica 2, Krafton, Unknown Worlds, Steam, PC Gaming
Original article: Eurogamer