Subnautica 2 Publisher Denies Sabotaging $250 Million Developer Payout As Fans Rebel: 'Subnautica's Soul Has Just Been Ripped Out'
Briefly

Unknown Worlds faced a significant setback as Krafton delayed the release of Subnautica 2, previously targeted for Early Access later this year. This delay jeopardizes a potential $250 million payout to the studio if revenue goals were met. Krafton attributes the delay to community feedback from playtests, despite the studio's founders asserting the game was ready for release. Krafton also recently replaced the studio's leadership, raising concerns about its commitment to studio independence established during acquisition in 2022.
Publisher Krafton stated, "This decision was based solely on our commitment to quality and to delivering the best possible experience for players," denying financial motivations.
Cofounder Charlie Cleveland expressed that the delay was unexpected, stating the game was originally ready for an Early Access release this year.
Krafton claims the delay was prompted by community feedback during playtests, stating, "the feedback highlighted a few areas that could benefit from further refinement before release."
Unknown Worlds' leadership was unexpectedly replaced by Krafton, despite previous promises of studio independence made upon acquisition.
Read at Kotaku
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