Subnautica 2 Steam Page Removes Krafton as Publisher Amid Ongoing Legal Battle
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Krafton has been removed as the publisher on the Subnautica 2 Steam page, marking the latest development in an ongoing legal and corporate battle with developer Unknown Worlds Entertainment ahead of its May Early Access release.
The turbulent development of Subnautica 2 has taken another sharp turn as publisher Krafton has been quietly removed from the game's official Steam page, leaving developer Unknown Worlds Entertainment listed as the sole publisher. Eagle-eyed players on platforms like Reddit and Bluesky spotted the change, which follows a messy legal dispute that began last summer when Krafton delayed the game's release and ousted key studio leadership. Although a judge recently ordered the reinstatement of Unknown Worlds CEO Ted Gill and protected his authority over the upcoming launch, tensions between the developer and publisher clearly remain high.
This corporate fallout places the community in a difficult position as the game approaches its planned Steam Early Access debut in May. Following his reinstatement, Gill criticized Krafton for announcing the May release date without consulting him or assessing the studio's readiness, leaving the team to manage back-end publishing logistics and marketing under immense pressure. While Krafton still owns Unknown Worlds, the removal of their publishing credit on Steam raises major questions about the game's distribution and the true state of their relationship. Whether this change is merely a cosmetic shift for public relations or the precursor to a larger structural split remains to be seen as the launch window fast approaches.
For players who treat survival crafting games as long-term social spaces and look forward to diving into early access builds with creators and friends, this backstage drama is deeply concerning. The community wants a polished, complete experience rather than a rushed launch driven by corporate friction. As the industry watches how this high-profile dispute unfolds across PC and Xbox Series X, the priority for players is ensuring the development team has the stability needed to deliver the sequel the community has been waiting for. You can read the original reporting over at Polygon.
Tags: Subnautica 2, Unknown Worlds, Krafton, Steam, PC Gaming
Original article: Polygon