Subnautica 2 Delayed to 2026 Amid Allegations of Contractual Avoidance by Krafton, Despite Official Denials

The highly anticipated sequel Subnautica 2 has officially been delayed into 2026, as confirmed by developer Unknown Worlds in a public statement following a bombshell report from Bloomberg alleging deeper financial motivations behind the delay. While the studio cited internal playtest feedback as the reason for postponement, former developers and internal sources suggest the delay may have more to do with avoiding a $250 million bonus payout tied to revenue targets, a clause embedded in the 2021 acquisition agreement between Unknown Worlds and parent company Krafton.

According to Bloomberg’s report, the decision to delay the game was made by Krafton after the removal of the studio’s founders, Charlie Cleveland, Max McGuire, and Ted Gill, earlier this month. The timing has raised questions among developers, as the early access version of Subnautica 2 was reportedly ready for release before the end of 2025. Under the existing agreement, Unknown Worlds stood to receive a $250 million bonus if it hit certain revenue targets by the end of 2025. Developers now believe that reaching those targets may be “unattainable” due to the delay, which conveniently pushes the game’s commercial release beyond the bonus deadline.

In its official announcement, Unknown Worlds stated that while early feedback from playtests was overwhelmingly positive regarding the game’s direction, atmosphere, and design, it also indicated that further improvements were needed. "Our community is at the heart of how we develop, so we want to give ourselves a little extra time to respond to more of that feedback before releasing the game into early access," the studio noted.

Accompanying the delay was a newly released gameplay trailer, showcasing vibrant underwater environments, alien creatures, and the haunting serenity that fans of the original Subnautica have come to expect. Despite the positive reception to the trailer, the controversy surrounding the delay has overshadowed the development update.

Krafton, in response to the report, told Bloomberg that the delay “was not influenced by any contractual or financial considerations.” The publisher also claimed that discussions regarding a delay were already underway prior to the removal of the studio’s founding leadership. However, these statements are directly contradicted by Cleveland himself, who posted on Reddit, asserting that Subnautica 2 was ready for early access.

Insiders from the development team also reported that Steve Papoutsis—formerly of Striking Distance Studios and now head of Unknown Worlds—told staff in an internal meeting that the delay was due to Krafton's belief that the game lacked sufficient content. This rationale, while perhaps valid in some respects, stands at odds with the purpose of early access releases, which are inherently iterative and developed in conjunction with community input.

The discrepancy between Krafton’s official position and the allegations of financial maneuvering is already stoking tensions within the gaming community. Many fans see this as an example of corporate priorities interfering with creative momentum and honest development practices.

Whether the delay ultimately results in a more polished and expansive Subnautica 2 or serves as a cautionary tale about corporate acquisition and bonus structuring remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: the waters surrounding this game’s development are far from calm.

Do you think the delay of Subnautica 2 was truly about quality, or was Krafton avoiding that massive bonus payout? Let us know in the comments.