Subnautica 2 devs could miss out on $250 million bonus after surprise delay

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As a passionate gamer eagerly awaiting the release of Subnautica 2 by Unknown Worlds, I can’t help but feel a pang of concern. It seems that due to unforeseen circumstances, the game has been pushed back to 2026, which might just cost them a whopping $250 million payout they were supposed to receive. This delay appears to have gone against the founders’ initial plans.

The highly anticipated follow-up to the 2014 game was initially set for release in 2025; however, publisher Krafton delayed it until 2026 instead. As per a Bloomberg report, this postponement could potentially result in substantial financial losses for the development team and a significant portion of the studio, amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars each.

It appears that the payment was connected to specific income targets for this year, which Unknown Worlds may no longer meet due to the delay in releasing Subnautica 2.

Subnautica 2 delayed to 2026 against wishes of studio founders

This news breaks out just following the dismissal of studio co-founders Charlie Cleveland and Max McGuire, along with CEO Ted Gill. Their roles have been taken over by Striking Distance (The Callisto Protocol)’s CEO, Steve Papoutsis.

After his termination, Cleveland clarified that the hold-up wasn’t due to the development team but rather from the publishing company.

He announced on Reddit that our game has reached an early access stage and we’re excited for you to start playing it. However, surprisingly, the decision about its release now lies with Krafton, not us as expected. After dedicating so many years to this company I founded, learning that I can no longer work there is a painful realization.

As reported by Bloomberg from a recorded meeting, the incoming CEO, Steve Papoutsis, was asked about the delay in the project and clarified that the delay had no connection to avoiding the bonus payout.

He mentioned that although the software they had developed was in a strong position and it seemed appropriate to release it, there wasn’t a consensus on that point. Moreover, he clarified that the decision to make changes was not motivated by any specific impact on an earnout or similar matters.

As a passionate Subnautica 2 fan, I’ve noticed a lot of buzz within our community about the recent controversy surrounding the game. Some enthusiasts are even considering removing it from their Steam wishlist. Yet, at this moment, Subnautica 2 remains the second most anticipated game on the platform, with only Hollow Knight: Silksong standing between us and the top spot.

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2025-07-10 14:20