Subnautica 2 is in early access, having sold over 4 million copies since its May 2026 launch. The legal dispute between Krafton and Unknown Worlds has been settled, and CEO Ted Gill has stepped down.
Subnautica 2 entered early access on May 15, 2026, and quickly drew a large audience. The game attracted over 460,000 players in its first week, generating an estimated $100 million in revenue. The launch also drove a surge in the original Subnautica, which hit a new all-time concurrent player peak of 51,446 on Steam around May 25, surpassing its 2018 record.
Developer Unknown Worlds released a development roadmap on June 21, outlining the first months of early access. The period is expected to last 2 to 3 years. Version 1.1 will focus on quality-of-life improvements, version 1.2 will address cooperative online multiplayer requests, and later updates will add new biomes and story content. A feedback voting page was also opened to incorporate community input.
On July 2, Krafton and Unknown Worlds announced they had fully settled a legal dispute over a $250 million performance bonus. Under the settlement, bonuses will be paid to all employees, and CEO Ted Gill will step down amicably. The game has sold over 4 million copies since its early access launch.
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Aug 2
KRAFTON reported its consolidated results for the second quarter of 2026 on July 29, with sales of 1.2902 trillion won (about 147.86 billion yen), up 94.9% year-on-year, and operating profit of about 47.09 billion yen, up 67.0%. Both figures set records for a second quarter. The PC platform led growth, with sales up 155.1% year-on-year, driven by the PUBG IP and Subnautica 2, which entered early access in May 2026. Subnautica 2 surpassed 5 million cumulative sales in 22 days since early access launch, and on Steam it holds a 'Very Positive' rating from over 113,700 user reviews, 91% of which are positive. PUBG franchise sales rose 25% year-on-year in Q2, with modes like Xeno Point and PAYDAY improving user engagement. For the second half of 2026, KRAFTON plans to expand collaborations with global animation IPs, following automotive and K-POP brands. The company also announced it will exhibit five new titles targeting release by 2027 at gamescom 2026 in August, including an unannounced PUBG IP project, NO LAW, Project ZETA, Age Twisters, and TARAE: The Unbound.
Jul 2
Krafton and Unknown Worlds Entertainment have fully settled their legal dispute over a $250 million bonus. Under the settlement, bonuses will be paid to all employees, and CEO Ted Gill will step down amicably. The game has sold over 4 million copies since its early access launch in May 2026.
Jun 21
Developer Unknown Worlds has released the development roadmap for Subnautica 2, which entered early access on May 15. The early access period is expected to last 2 to 3 years. The roadmap covers the first few months, with version 1.1 focused on quality-of-life improvements, version 1.2 addressing cooperative online multiplayer requests, and later versions adding new biomes and story content. A feedback voting page has also been opened.
May 27
The original Subnautica reached a new all-time high of 51,446 concurrent players on Steam around May 25, surpassing its previous record of 51,156 set at the 2018 full release. The surge follows the May 15 early access launch of Subnautica 2, which attracted over 460,000 players and generated an estimated $100 million in its first week. A 75% discount on the original game also contributed to the spike.