Subnautica 2 set for early access release in May as Krafton signals surrender: ‘We look forward to working with Ted Gill to support a smooth transition and work toward a successful launch’
Simply in the future after taking a really arduous L by the hands of the as soon as and future management of Unknown Worlds, Krafton says Subnautica 2 will launch into early entry in Could. The discharge goal was revealed in a press release shared with IGN that additionally seems to point that Krafton is not going to problem the order that former Unknown Worlds CEO Ted Gill be restored to the function.
“We need to take a second to sincerely thank each member of the Unknown Worlds crew and our companions,” present Unknown Worlds chief Steve Papoutsis wrote in a message to studio workers. “Over the previous 9 months, you’ve gotten labored extremely arduous to convey Subnautica 2 near the end line. That effort has resulted in a recreation we’re really happy with, one that every of us and our companions at Krafton unanimously decided is prepared for Early Entry launch in Could.
“Due to your dedication and expertise, we have added extra story chapters, constructed new creatures, and created new biomes together with many different options. With this vital progress, now we have handed Krafton’s milestone overview final week and are actually prepared to start out our open improvement journey alongside our group. We’ve full confidence that now we have reached some extent the place we are able to ship an expertise our gamers will love.”
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Krafton confirmed with PC Gamer that the interior assertion attributed to Papoutsis, and the early entry launch goal, are correct.
“The crew has made significant progress following the milestone overview authorised earlier this month, and has been working towards an early entry launch in Could,” Krafton mentioned.
“Whereas we respectfully disagree with this week’s court docket ruling and intend to discover all authorized avenues, our objective is to reduce disruption to the crew and to the discharge plan. We stay dedicated to an open improvement strategy, working carefully with the group as improvement continues, and are targeted on delivering the very best expertise to gamers.”
There isn’t any lacking the not-exactly-subtle suggestion that Krafton was proper all alongside, and it was solely by way of the tireless efforts of Unknown Worlds builders that Subnautica 2 is lastly, simply now, nearly prepared for early entry launch. And that could be the case—however there’s additionally no denying that Gill, Unknown Worlds co-founder Max McGuire, and Subnautica designer and director Charlie Cleveland have been able to pop the cork on the sport in 2025, so there’s a minimum of the chance that Krafton is doing a bit of face-saving because it bows to the inevitable.
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And bowing to the inevitable does appear to be what’s occurring right here. Together with teeing up Subnautica 2 for Could, Papoutsis additionally mentioned, “We look ahead to working with Ted Gill to assist a easy transition and work towards a profitable launch,” strongly suggesting that Gill can be again within the large chair quickly.
And if Subnautica 2 is successful in early entry, Krafton can even should signal the large cheque: Together with ordering Gill’s full restoration, the ruling additionally extends the deadline on the $250 million bonus on the heart of the dispute to a minimum of September 15, 2026.
