Unknown Worlds is back under its original leadership, and Subnautica 2 now has a confirmed Early Access release window: May. The news broke just a day after a Delaware court ordered publisher Krafton to reinstate ousted CEO Ted Gill, co-founder Charlie Cleveland, and technical director Max MacGuire to their former positions. The ruling also restored their authority over the game’s launch and access to Steam.
Why this matters for players
The legal chaos between Krafton and Unknown Worlds had left Subnautica 2 in limbo. Last year, Krafton replaced the studio’s leads with executives from The Callisto Protocol, delayed the game, and withheld a $250 million bonus. Lawsuits and countersuits followed, with the fate of the game (and its dev team) up in the air. Now, with the original team back, the project is moving forward-and players finally get a timeline.
Studio head Steve Papoutsis told the team: “Over the past nine months, you have worked incredibly hard to bring Subnautica 2 close to the finish line. That effort has resulted in a game we are truly proud of, one that each of us and our partners at Krafton unanimously determined is ready for Early Access release in May.”
Krafton confirmed the internal message is accurate and said the team has made “meaningful progress following the milestone review approved earlier this month”. However, Krafton also stated they “respectfully disagree with this week’s court ruling” and plan to “explore all legal avenues.” Speculation: More legal drama could still impact the game’s long-term roadmap, but the May Early Access launch is now locked in.
What to expect in Early Access
Details on content are still under wraps, but the studio’s focus is clear: get the game into the hands of the community. The Early Access launch will be on Steam, with more info expected closer to May. No pricing details have been announced yet, but the previous Subnautica games launched in Early Access at a mid-range price point.
For players, this means a playable build is just weeks away. Wishlist the game on Steam if you want to be notified the moment it goes live. The leadership shuffle shouldn’t impact the core vision, since the original team is back in charge and has the publisher’s (begrudging) approval for now.
The bottom line
- Subnautica 2 launches in Early Access on Steam in May.
- Original studio leads are back after a court order, but Krafton may keep fighting in court.
- Players can expect a playable build soon; pricing and content details still to come.