Subnautica 2 Set to Launch in May Following Legal Disputes

Subnautica 2 is finally breaking free from its legal entanglements. Following a lengthy court dispute between Krafton and Unknown Worlds, the game is set to launch in early access on Xbox and PC this May.

On March 17, a message from Unknown Worlds head Steve Papoutsis revealed that the studio’s leadership and Krafton had reached a unanimous decision to move forward with the early access release. While no specific date was mentioned, the excitement is palpable.

“Thanks to your dedication and talent, we’ve added more story chapters, built new creatures, and created new biomes along with many other features,” Papoutsis shared in his message. “With this significant progress, we have passed Krafton’s milestone review last week and are now ready to start our open development journey alongside our community. We have full confidence that we have reached a point where we can deliver an experience our players will love.”

In a recent ruling, a Delaware judge sided with Unknown Worlds after a protracted legal battle involving the studio’s co-founders and Krafton. The judge ordered the reinstatement of fired CEO Ted Gill and granted him and the studio control over Subnautica 2’s early access plans. Additionally, the court extended the timeline for Unknown Worlds to potentially earn a $250 million bonus based on the game’s launch success. This hefty payout and the increasing likelihood of meeting the criteria for it had prompted Krafton’s CEO to seek advice on how to prevent it, which ultimately led to the game’s delay and the firing of the studio’s co-founders in 2025.

“We look forward to working with Ted Gill to support a smooth transition and work toward a successful launch,” Papoutsis stated. “Our priority is getting this game into the hands of the community that has been eagerly waiting for it—and that means honoring the work you have already done to make that possible.”