Krafton delays Subnautica 2 to 2026 as rumors circulate that the delay is to avoid paying a $250 million bonus for dev team

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As a dedicated gamer, I’m sharing some news that might affect the gaming community. According to today’s reports from Bloomberg, Krafton has decided to push back the release of Subnautica 2 until 2026. This announcement comes hot on the heels of a significant change in leadership at Subnautica’s developers, Unknown Worlds Entertainment.

The report suggests that Krafton dismissed the former founders and CEO of the studio, replacing them with Steve Papoutsis, who previously led Striking Distance Studios, known for creating The Callisto Protocol. Sources close to Jason Schreier at Bloomberg mention that our studio was anticipating a generous financial reward for hitting revenue milestones this year. However, with this delay, it seems that bonus might not materialize anymore.

Subnautica 2 delayed to 2026, rumors suggest it was to avoid paying a $250 million bonus

The upcoming game, Subnautica 2, appears poised for a triumphant debut. The original Subnautica, launched by an independent studio in 2018, has since sold more than six million copies, making it a significant success. Interestingly, on Steam, the sequel ranks as the second most anticipated game, surpassed only by Hollow Knight: Silksong. Regardless of when it’s released, given its massive fanbase, it’s certain to garner attention. Originally, plans were in place to introduce Subnautica 2 in Steam’s Early Access later this year. However, that strategy has been revised.

In 2021, Unknown Worlds was bought by Krafton, a South Korean publisher, and promptly announced the sequel to Subnautica. According to Bloomberg’s analysis of the acquisition contract, Unknown Worlds stood to receive a $250 million bonus if they achieved specific revenue goals by the end of 2025. If Subnautica 2 had been launched, even in Early Access, prior to this year’s end, those revenue targets could have already been met.

It seems like many are interpreting Krafton’s decision to delay the release of Subnautica 2 as a cost-cutting measure to save approximately $250 million. During a recent company town hall meeting, the new CEO, Steve Papoutsis, reportedly stated that the game was not yet ready for release this year and the delay was to enhance the content. This is peculiar given that additional content is typically added during an early access period. When directly questioned about potential bonuses, Papoutsis responded, “The specifics of the acquisition are currently beyond my comprehension.” (Bloomberg)

At the very least, this is a troubling series of occurrences. Fans on social media have expressed their displeasure with the news, criticizing Papoutsis for lacking grasp over his new responsibilities and accusing Krafton of questionable business practices. A user on Bluesky even suggested that the bonus was meant to encourage the developers to work excessively, only to have it withdrawn just before completion.

This perspective could potentially be influenced by one of the founders of Unknown Worlds, who posted a detailed message on social media platforms recently. A crucial point in his statement was when he expressed, “…the recent events have left us quite stunned. We believe that our game is prepared for an early access launch… and originally, we assumed this would be a choice we’d make; however, for now at least, that decision lies with Krafton.” This suggests a possible mix-up or misinterpretation between the team at Unknown Worlds and Krafton, making the delay in release seem more puzzling.

At present, we’re in a position where we can only anticipate what lies ahead since Krafton and Unknown Worlds haven’t shared their thoughts yet on the matter. The sequel to Subnautica, titled Subnautica 2, is scheduled for an Early Access launch on Steam in 2026. Once we get our chance to play the game, we might gather some clues as to whether it was indeed prepared for release this year or if the delay was a necessary step. However, the full story behind the situation may remain shrouded in mystery.

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2025-07-09 23:02