Controversy Erupts Over Delay in Subnautica 2 Release Date Announcement

Krafton has come under scrutiny after the abrupt layoff of the entire leadership team at Unknown Worlds, the studio behind Subnautica 2. Allegations suggest that this move was made in bad faith to sidestep a $250 million earnout tied to the game’s performance. On July 2, reports revealed that Krafton had severed ties with leading figures such as co-founders Charlie Cleveland and Max McGuire, alongside CEO Ted Gill.

The company also announced a significant delay in the early-access release of Subnautica 2, now pushed back to 2026, supposedly to meet the developer’s standards. However, some believe there are ulterior motives behind this decision. Just two days after the layoffs, Cleveland spoke out, asserting that Subnautica 2 was ready for its intended early access launch.

He expressed disbelief over Krafton’s handling of the situation, which only fueled speculation about the company’s true intentions. Reports now indicate that Krafton’s acquisition terms included a hefty earnout contingent on the game’s sales in 2025; by delaying the launch, Krafton might avoid paying this bonus altogether. This context has led to assertions that the layoffs were merely a strategy to escape financial obligations to Unknown Worlds.

The controversy has incited a call for boycotts among the Subnautica 2 community. Following the Bloomberg report, thousands of fans took to Reddit to express their anger, urging others not to buy the game and to remove it from their Steam wishlists. Despite being one of the most anticipated titles on the platform, Krafton’s moves have sparked outrage and hesitance among players.

In response, a Krafton spokesperson contended that the delay was unrelated to contract issues, while also sharing new gameplay footage to reassure the audience that development is still actively progressing. As events unfold, it will be intriguing to observe the repercussions of these decisions and whether more evidence regarding the alleged bad faith termination will surface.

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