Subnautica 2, one of the most anticipated titles on gaming platforms, is caught in a whirlwind of controversies following the announcement of a delay in its early access until 2026, restructuring within the development team at Unknown Worlds, and a lawsuit against Krafton, the parent company. This drama has captured the attention of the community, which has expressed itself with attempts to boycott and growing concern about the direction of the game.
Many things to explain
Recently, a leak from an internal document of Krafton has revealed the company’s expectations regarding the quality and content of Subnautica 2. According to the leak, which originated from a presentation in May 2025, Krafton has urged Unknown Worlds to enrich the game’s content to align with the demands of a broader and more competitive market. It was detailed that the anticipated version should include new creatures, gameplay mechanics, and a playtime of 16 hours in normal mode, extending to 30 hours in sandbox mode.
However, the document also notes that significant cuts have been made to the original game plan, such as the removal of two biomes and several customization elements. This discordance between Krafton’s vision and that of the original creators became evident after the South Korean developer’s decision to part ways with key figures of the team like Ted Gill and Charlie Cleveland, who expressed their astonishment at seeing how the project diverged from their initial ideas.
Krafton has stated that the leak is part of a normal internal review process, aimed at assessing progress and ensuring that projects meet their quality standards. Amid this uncertainty, the community remains anxious and expectant, highlighting the intense pressure to make Subnautica 2 a resounding success at the time of its launch.
