Subnautica 2's Deep Dive Gets Deeper: Krafton Delays Release Amidst Bonus Buzz
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
Krafton delayed Subnautica 2's early access, leading to speculation about a potential $250m bonus to developers after removing key leadership from Unknown Worlds. Is this delay about quality or cutting costs?
Right, so, the big fish at Krafton have decided to keep Subnautica 2 swimming in development waters for a bit longer. According to a report from Eurogamer, the early access release, initially slated for this year, has been pushed back to 2026. Now, on the surface, that's just another delay announcement, but the depths of this news are a tad murkier, mate.
Here's the twist: this delay comes just weeks after Krafton gave the ol' heave-ho to key figures at Unknown Worlds, the studio they acquired back in 2021 to helm Subnautica 2. Among those given the boot were Charlie Cleveland (game director on the original Subnautica), Max McGuire, and CEO Ted Gill. Ouch. Cleveland even took to Reddit to express his shock and disappointment. "And while we thought this was going to be our decision to make, at least for now, that decision is in Krafton's hands," he wrote. Bit of a salty situation, eh?
But the real kicker? Bloomberg reports that this delay arrives suspiciously close to a $250 million bonus payout that Unknown Worlds was supposedly due if they hit certain revenue targets by the end of the year. You reckon Krafton suddenly became *that* concerned with quality or is the bonus the whale in the room?
Krafton claims the delay is purely about polishing the game based on player feedback. "It was not influenced by any contractual or financial considerations," they stated. Yeah, right. (Though they also told Eurogamer the decision was "under discussion" *before* the leadership shakeup, which, if true, is a very convenient coincidence.)
Following the leadership departures, Steve Papoutsis, CEO of Striking Distance Studios (another Krafton-owned entity), is now calling the shots at Unknown Worlds. According to Bloomberg, Papoutsis has said Krafton felt Subnautica 2 needed more content before hitting early access. He reportedly dodged questions about whether the bonus played a role, saying he was unfamiliar with the specifics of the acquisition contract. Colour me skeptical, but it all smells fishy.
Look, game development is a wild beast. Delays happen, and sometimes they're genuinely for the best. But when a delay of a highly anticipated game gets announced right after the old guard is ousted and so close to a massive payout? Well, that's when this old wizard starts sniffing around for hidden motives. Hopefully, this won't sink Subnautica 2, but it sure throws a wrench into the gears. Let's hope the new management can deliver the deep-sea adventure we're all waiting for.
Tags: Subnautica 2, Krafton, Game Development, Delay, Unknown Worlds
Original article: Eurogamer