Subnautica 2 has been for years the game on the most wanted lists on Steam and at its launch, on May 14, it was an absolute sales success. Sweeping among critics and the public, managing to captivate an audience eager for more Subnautica, they have achieved what seemed impossible: it is the fastest-selling game of 2026. This translates into spectacular figures. Subnautica 2 is sweeping. A week after its release, according to Rhys Elliot, market analysis director at Alinea Analytics, Subnautica 2 has sold 4.1 million copies and has generated 100 million […]
Subnautica 2 has been for years the most wished game on Steam and at its launch, on May 14, it was an absolute sales success. Sweeping among critics and the public, managing to captivate an audience eager for more Subnautica, they have achieved what seemed impossible: it is the fastest-selling game of 2026. This translates into spectacular figures.
Subnautica 2 is taking the world by storm
One week after its release, according to Rhys Elliot, market analysis director at Alinea Analytics, Subnautica 2 has sold 4.1 million copies and generated 100 million dollars in revenue. In comparison, on Xbox it has sold a much more modest 100,000 copies, demonstrating the problem Microsoft has in attracting audiences to its platform.
That said, there is a reason for it. According to Elliot, “many Xbox players accessed Subnautica 2 through Game Pass,” so the total number of players is “well above six million.” This makes Subnautica 2 the best-selling and most played game of 2026 so far.
Something that didn’t seem so likely just a few months ago. The company that was going to publish it, Krafton, tried to cancel it to avoid paying 200 million in profits to its creators if they met the objectives. Finally, although the game has been self-published by its developers, Unknown Worlds, the judge in the trial where it was decided to return the rights stated that, if the conditions for their bonus are met, Krafton will still have to pay them the same. Something that seems to be more than sealed already.
For all these reasons, it points out that Subnautica 2 is one of the great games of the year. And Unknown Worlds is one of the big winners of 2026 in the video game industry. While they started poorly, it seems they are going to end this year very well.
All games are a miracle. The development of a video game is a very long process that involves a lot of people who need to row in the same direction and it is difficult for it to go well. But some are more miraculous than others. Because for every project that goes out without any notable incidents that warrant being made public, there is at least another that never even sees the light of day. And then there is the case of Subnautica 2. A rare bird where, after signing a tremendous success, it seemed that everything was going well, until news started to come out without […]
All games are a miracle. The development of a video game is a very long process that involves many people who need to row in the same direction, and it is difficult for it to go well. But some are more miraculous than others. Because for every project that comes out without any notable incidents that warrant public attention, there is at least one other that never even sees the light of day.
And then there is the case of Subnautica 2. A rare bird where, after signing a tremendous success, it seemed that everything was going well, until endless news started to emerge about the disaster of its development. Followed by lawsuits, negligent uses of AI, and truly surreal stories about its development. All while it is discovered that it is the game on the most wishlists on Steam, making it a serious candidate to hold its own even against GTA6. But what is its story? That’s what we are going to talk about today.
A little context
To understand everything else, we first need to understand where the first Subnautica comes from. An adventure and survival game with action elements where we embody the only survivor of a space expedition on an entirely oceanic alien planet. With no way to escape from there, we will have to do the only thing we can do: catalog the flora and fauna of the place, find resources to survive, and look for a way to escape the planet by diving through its vast oceans.
Inspired by Minecraft, but with a strong emphasis on the underwater aspect, the game was a modest critical success. Released in January 2018, it seemed like it was going to be a title that wouldn’t go unnoticed, winning the award for best PC game of the year at the Golden Joystick Awards, but it also wouldn’t be revolutionary. But players thought otherwise. Selling over 5 million copies in less than two years.
With these excellent numbers, they decided to release an early access sequel in January 2019, Subnautica: Below Zero. And although the critics did not respond enthusiastically, seeing it as excessively continuist, the game has ended up finding its audience. Today considered a spinoff, it would lead to a true sequel, Subnautica 2. In addition to the initial problems of its studio, Unknown Worlds Entertainment.
Huge Problems
In October 2021, Krafton, the Korean multinational, acquires Unknown Worlds Entertainment after the success of Subnautica. For a few years, there is hardly any new or relevant information. Subnautica: Below Zero leaves early access on May 14, 2021, but for a while, they continue to not announce their next project. Until on April 7, 2022, they confirm from Unknown Worlds Entertainment that they are working on “the new game in the Subnautica universe”.
The information will not be fluid or constant from this point on. The next thing we will know will be in November 2023, when Krafton, at its shareholders’ meeting, states that its intention is to launch the game sometime in 2025. On February 8, 2024, during another shareholders’ meeting, they reveal more details, stating that it will be a multiplayer game as a service, which causes Subnautica fans to strongly oppose the project. In response, the studio claims that “there will be no season passes, battle passes, or subscriptions.”
But problems arose in 2025. In July of that year, Krafton announced that the founders of Unknown Worlds, Charlie Cleveland and Max McGuire, and the company’s CEO, Ted Gill, had left the company and were replaced by Steve Papoutsis, CEO of Striking Distance Studios. Moving the game’s release to 2026, they did not provide further explanations about what was behind that moment. Until a journalist decided to investigate.
Jason Schreier, an investigative journalist specializing in the video game industry, discovered that they did not leave, but were fired. What was the reason? If Subnautica 2 reached early access status on time, during the year 2025, Krafton would have to pay Unknown Worlds a bonus of 250 million dollars. According to Cleveland and McGuire, the game was ready to be launched in early access throughout the year. That’s why they were fired. To avoid having to pay the bonus.
Of Trials and AIs
All of this led to Cleveland and McGuire suing Krafton. This is when everything behind the scenes started to come to light. Krafton’s legal defense was that the game did not have enough material to “drive the growth and expansion of the IP,” needing to create 30% more content. And they made this known to Unknown Worlds. The problem, in Krafton’s eyes, is that Cleveland and McGuire were only focused on the $250 million bonus, offering an unpolished product, which led Krafton to decide to delay its release, saving them $250 million, “to protect the interests of the game’s fans.” This was something Unknown Worlds refused, which led Krafton to replace its founders and its CEO.
This could have been upheld in a trial were it not for an important detail. There were 250 million at stake. And the CEO of Krafton himself stated in writing that he wanted to do whatever it took to avoid paying them.
In one of the most surreal twists in the recent history of the video game industry, the trial revealed all the conversations about Chang-han Kim’s attempt, the CEO of Krafton, to avoid paying those 250 million. First, he consulted his lawyers who told him the obvious: there is no legal way to avoid paying them. They have a contract. It is binding. If they comply, he must pay. But since the answer was not satisfactory to him, he did what all executives in the world currently do when they want to hear the answer they want: he consulted ChatGPT. And ChatGPT, after insisting that there had to be a way to avoid paying them, told him that he could always replace them. And that’s what he did.
With the records being read in court, that was enough for Krafton to lose the lawsuit. It was demonstrated beyond any doubt that they had made a business decision not to fulfill a legal contract, the judge in the case, in March 2026, reinstated Cleveland and McGuire at the studio and Gill as CEO of Unknown Worlds and gave him control over the early access launch, extending the date associated with the bonus until September 2026.
After all this, on April 7 of this year, Krafton has completely distanced itself from the project. Unknown Worlds is the distributor and publisher of the game. Does that mean they won’t have to pay the 250 million anymore, in exchange for granting them the studio’s freedom? It seems most likely, but we still don’t know for sure. What does seem certain is that Subnautica 2 will be released in early access this year. And it has everything to be a hit. Because it certainly hasn’t lacked publicity.
The launch of Subnautica 2, scheduled for May of this year in early access, has been embroiled in a significant conflict between Unknown Worlds and its former publisher Krafton. Recently, a substantial change was observed in the Steam product page, where Krafton is no longer listed as the publisher of the game. Instead, it is Unknown Worlds that is now responsible for both development and distribution, a move that seems to have been deliberate and not an administrative error. The situation is becoming increasingly complicated. Discontent between the two companies intensified following the layoffs of the […]
The launch of Subnautica 2, scheduled for May of this year in early access, has been embroiled in a significant conflict between Unknown Worlds and its former publisher Krafton. Recently, a substantial change was observed in the Steam product page, where Krafton is no longer listed as the publisher of the game. Instead, it is Unknown Worlds who is now in charge of both development and distribution, a move that appears to have been deliberate and not an administrative error.
The situation is getting more complicated every day
Discontent between both companies intensified after the layoffs of the co-founders of Unknown Worlds, as well as Krafton’s refusal to pay a $250 million bonus that depended on the sales of the sequel. These tensions led to a back-and-forth that resulted in a lawsuit. As a result, a judge ordered the reinstatement of Ted Gill, CEO of Unknown Worlds, with full control over the launch of Subnautica 2.
Despite legal advancements, the situation seems far from resolved. No clear details have been provided regarding the reasons behind this conflict, which has generated speculation and discomfort within the industry. This uncertainty fuels rumors that the issues between Unknown Worlds and Krafton may continue to surface as the game’s release date approaches.
The gaming community is closely watching this development, as Subnautica 2 is one of the most anticipated titles of the year. With the saga’s story and the impact its release may have on the survival genre, it is expected that the events surrounding this conflict will continue to make headlines and news until and beyond the scheduled release date.
Inzoi, the highly anticipated life simulation title developed by Inzoi Studio and published by Krafton, has managed to sell over a million copies in its first week, although it has not met the high expectations of genre fans. Hyungjun ‘Kjun’ Kim, the studio director, acknowledged that the ambitions for the game were “too much” and that creating life simulation games has proven to be a greater challenge than he anticipated. A moment of hindsight The game was released in early access, allowing players to act as beta testers. Without […]
Hyungjun ‘Kjun’ Kim, the studio director, acknowledged that the ambitions for the game were “too” high and that creating life simulation games has proven to be a greater challenge than he anticipated.
“The game had many issues,” said Kim, a common phenomenon in early access launches. Since its release, the number of concurrent players on Steam has decreased significantly, raising concerns in the community.
Despite this situation, Inzoi Studio recently shared an anniversary message announcing plans for a new content map, improvements in mod support, and a user-generated content ecosystem. This reflects the studio’s intention to continue evolving the game and addressing the needs of its player base. Kim emphasized the importance of understanding what made The Sims so successful over the decades, suggesting that the path to excellence in the life simulation genre is more complicated than it seems.
While the team works on future improvements, the players continue to hope that Inzoi can fully meet their expectations and establish itself as a benchmark in the life simulation genre, a field where competition is fierce and comparisons are inevitable.
Kim’s inspiration for developing InZOI, the life simulation game, comes from her experiences playing The Sims with her son, who has shown a growing interest in video game development. However, Kim has expressed her concern about her son’s lack of talent in this area, although the young man has started working on mods for InZOI. It seems that talent is beginning to emerge Recently, an update for InZOI was released, known as the “GTA 6 update,” which introduced a series of new features and elements to the game. This update has been well […]
Kim’s inspiration for developing InZOI, the life simulation game, comes from her experiences playing The Sims with her son, who has shown a growing interest in video game developments. However, Kim has expressed her concern about her son’s lack of talent in this area, although the young man has started working on mods for InZOI.
It seems that talent is emerging
Recently, an update for InZOI was released, known as the “GTA 6 update,” which introduced a series of new features and elements to the game. This update has been well received by players, who have described it as a significant addition that expands the possibilities within the game’s virtual world. With elements ranging from cozy flower shops to car theft, the new update has excited fans, reinforcing InZOI’s competitiveness against other titles like The Sims 4.
Kim, during a Q&A session at Krafton’s office in Seoul, shared how his son, despite his apparent lack of talent, has been motivated to get involved in mod development. “He used to ask why there weren’t more life simulators to play together,” Kim commented, which led him to create InZOI to offer that family experience. Although their father-son relationship has been a source of laughter, it is clear that Kim feels a deep commitment to his son’s education and creativity.
The dispute between Krafton and the co-founders of Unknown Worlds, creators of the acclaimed Subnautica franchise, has taken a significant turn following a court ruling that reinstates Ted Gill as CEO of Unknown Worlds. This controversy arose when Krafton sought to avoid paying a $250 million bonus intended for the studio, which depended on the commercial success of Subnautica 2. Krafton loses the battle The CEO of Krafton, Kim Chang-han, was questioned after it was revealed that he had consulted the artificial intelligence ChatGPT to find ways to evade this payment. Although Chang-han admitted to the interaction with the […]
The dispute between Krafton and the co-founders of Unknown Worlds, creators of the acclaimed Subnautica franchise, has taken a significant turn following a court ruling that reinstates Ted Gill as CEO of Unknown Worlds. This controversy arose when Krafton sought to avoid paying a $250 million bonus intended for the studio, which depended on the commercial success of Subnautica 2.
Krafton loses the battle
The CEO of Krafton, Kim Chang-han, was questioned after it was revealed that he had consulted the artificial intelligence ChatGPT to find ways to evade this payment. Although Chang-han admitted to the interaction with the AI and reportedly tried to eliminate evidence of his consultation, the judge in the case determined that such actions did not justify the breach of contract.
The ruling also establishes that the tense relationship between Krafton and Gill could complicate the work environment, but it will not affect Gill’s authority in the game’s launch. According to the judge, Krafton must respect Gill’s control over the publication of Subnautica 2, and the deadline for the bonus payment has been extended to September 15, 2026.
Additionally, the judge indicated that the reinstatement of other executives from Unknown Worlds is not essential, trusting that Gill can handle the situation. However, he retains the power to reinstate them if he deems it necessary. As a result of this ruling, it is confirmed that Subnautica 2 will be released in early access in May, although the announcement of the exact date is still awaited, which represents a hopeful moment for fans of the series.
The development of Subnautica 2 has become a hot topic in the video game industry, caught in a legal dispute between Krafton, the South Korean parent company, and three former executives of Unknown Worlds, the studio behind the successful original title. As this conflict intensifies, a judge has ruled that Krafton breached agreements by unjustly firing these executives in an apparent attempt to avoid paying a $250 million bonus. ChatGPT was wrong According to the legal ruling published on March 16, the former CEO of Unknown Worlds, Ted Gill, […]
The development of Subnautica 2 has become a hot topic in the video game industry, caught in a legal dispute between Krafton, the South Korean parent company, and three former executives of Unknown Worlds, the studio behind the successful original title. As this conflict intensifies, a judge has ruled that Krafton breached agreements by unjustly firing these executives in an apparent attempt to avoid paying a $250 million bonus.
ChatGPT made a mistake
According to the legal resolution published on March 16, the former CEO of Unknown Worlds, Ted Gill, has regained his position and operational control over the project, allowing him to manage the early access of Subnautica 2. This is crucial, as the game still does not have a defined release date. Early access was expected to begin in 2026, but the effects of the dispute on this timeline remain uncertain for players.
The judge supported the accusations that Krafton acted improperly by dismissing these key employees, which could result in compensation if the game’s management leads to a drastic decrease in revenue. This outcome is significant, especially considering that internal forecasts indicated that Subnautica 2 could generate considerable revenue, which fueled Krafton’s fear of facing the corresponding bonus payment.
In a surprising turn, it was reported that the CEO of Krafton had consulted with an artificial intelligence chatbot about strategies to gain control of Unknown Worlds, adding a layer of intrigue to the case. Although no official statement has been issued regarding the current situation of the game, the community remains alert for any news that may arise in the coming days.
The video game industry is undergoing a considerable transformation thanks to the implementation of Artificial Intelligence in various aspects of game development. Companies like Square Enix and Krafton are heavily investing in the use of this technology in their production processes, seeking to improve both the quality of their titles and the player experience. The ghost player that helps you when you get stuck One of the most intriguing developments comes from Sony, which has registered a patent for an innovative system that offers assistance to players through an AI-controlled avatar. This system, called […]
The video game industry is undergoing a considerable transformation thanks to the implementation of Artificial Intelligence in various aspects of game development. Companies like Square Enix and Krafton are heavily investing in the use of this technology in their production processes, seeking to improve both the quality of their titles and the player experience.
The ghost player that helps you when you get stuck
One of the most intriguing developments comes from Sony, which has registered a patent for an innovative system that offers assistance to players through an AI-controlled avatar. This system, called AI-generated Ghost Player, allows users to choose between two operating modes: Guide Mode, which provides solutions to game challenges, and Complete Mode, where the AI takes full control of the character to overcome obstacles, preventing players from getting stuck in the gameplay.
It is important to note that although this patent has been filed, it does not guarantee the implementation of the technology in future games, and Sony has not yet revealed concrete plans to allow AI to play for users. The gaming community may see this as an optional tool designed to enhance the gaming experience, but it also raises debates about the impact it would have on game design and player satisfaction.
In addition, Sony has filed another patent that would allow real-time modification of video game or movie content, which has raised concerns about the possibility of AI-managed censorship. This aspect has been viewed critically, raising questions about the ethics of these technological implementations in digital entertainment.
Eleventh Hour Games (EHG), developer of Last Epoch, has announced that its upcoming expansion, titled ‘Orobyss’, will be free for those who already own the base game. Those who purchase the game once the expansion is released will also receive access at no additional cost. This decision shows the studio’s commitment to players, reminding them of the promise made during their Kickstarter campaign in 2018. Completely free of controversy However, along with the expansion, a new class called ‘Paradox’ will be introduced, the price of which has not yet been revealed. This inclusion has generated speculation about a possible ‘pay to win’ system, although […]
Eleventh Hour Games (EHG), developer of Last Epoch, has announced that its upcoming expansion, titled ‘Orobyss’, will be free for those who already own the base game. Those who purchase the game once the expansion is released will also receive access at no additional cost. This decision demonstrates the studio’s commitment to players, reminding them of the promise made during their Kickstarter campaign in 2018.
Completely free of controversies
However, along with the expansion, a new class called ‘Paradox’ will be introduced, the price of which has not yet been revealed. This inclusion has generated speculation about a possible ‘pay-to-win’ system, although there is no concrete evidence suggesting that this new class will be excessively powerful or unbalanced compared to existing classes. Judd Cobler, founder of EHG, has argued that each class will follow an innovative design, although the community’s concerns about game balance are valid.
Since its acquisition by Krafton in July, fans have been alert to how this ‘AI-first’ policy of the parent company could influence EHG and its development approach. However, Cobler has assured that there will be no changes to the studio’s creative philosophy, reaffirming its commitment to maintaining the intuitive design and player experience focus that has characterized Last Epoch. Despite these reassuring comments, the fear that Krafton’s aggressive practices may impact development remains latent.
In the immediate future, EHG is focused on hiring new staff and preparing for the launch of Last Epoch on PlayStation 5, which could affect the usual pace of game updates in the upcoming seasons. The ‘Orobyss’ expansion is scheduled to be released next year, but the community is eagerly awaiting the news that will be revealed in the upcoming seasons.
The legal conflict between Krafton and the former executives of the studio Unknown Worlds, responsible for the development of Subnautica 2, has escalated in recent weeks, creating an atmosphere of uncertainty regarding the future of the anticipated title. Since July, both parties have filed legal actions, and the accusations have ranged from wrongful termination to mismanagement of the project. A CEO replaceable by a machine The former executives, including Subnautica designer and director Charlie Cleveland, CEO Ted Gill, and co-founder Max McGuire, allege that Krafton is trying to avoid paying bonuses stipulated in the acquisition contract of the […]
The legal conflict between Krafton and the former executives of the studio Unknown Worlds, responsible for the development of Subnautica 2, has escalated in recent weeks, creating an atmosphere of uncertainty regarding the future of the highly anticipated title. Since July, both parties have filed legal actions, and the accusations have ranged from wrongful termination to mismanagement of the project.
A CEO Replaceable by a Machine
The former executives, including Subnautica designer and director Charlie Cleveland, CEO Ted Gill, and co-founder Max McGuire, allege that Krafton is trying to avoid paying bonuses stipulated in the studio’s acquisition contract. In a document filed by their lawyers, it is stated that Krafton’s CEO, Changham Kim, was “desperate” not to have to make these payments, fearing it would cause him “professional embarrassment” by appearing to have overpaid for the studio.
The case becomes even more complicated with the revelation that Krafton allegedly consulted with artificial intelligence, specifically ChatGPT, in an attempt to find ways to evade payments. According to the court document, even the AI suggested that it would be complicated to avoid the earnout payment. However, Krafton dismisses these claims and accuses former executives of having destroyed relevant evidence.
The dispute between the parties has led to a significant delay in the launch of Subnautica 2, which is now scheduled to enter early access in 2026. Krafton, in an attempt to manage the situation, has implemented “Project X,” which seeks to negotiate with the founders or take control of the studio.
This situation raises questions about Krafton’s business ethics, especially considering its recent self-designation as an “AI company”. Meanwhile, the future of the anticipated game remains uncertain.
