By Fletcher Wilkinson 
After a long stretch of setbacks, internal shake-ups, and a very public legal dispute, Subnautica 2 is now officially on track to launch in Early Access this May.
According to new information, both developer Unknown Worlds and publisher Krafton have agreed that the sequel is finally ready to be released on Xbox and PC (Including Day One on Xbox Game Pass). While a specific release date hasn’t been locked in yet, the team is confident the game has reached a stage worth sharing with players.
Studio lead Steve Papoutsis recently addressed the development team, praising their efforts over the past several months. He highlighted major progress across the board, including expanded story content, new environments, fresh creatures, and additional gameplay features.
The project recently cleared a key milestone review from Krafton, paving the way for its Early Access debut. The studio now plans to move forward with an open development approach, allowing the community to play a role in shaping the game as it evolves.
This announcement comes after a chaotic period behind the scenes. Last year, former CEO Ted Gill and several senior figures were abruptly removed from the studio, with Krafton claiming the project wasn’t meeting expectations for an Early Access launch.
In response, the dismissed leadership filed a lawsuit, alleging that Krafton was attempting to avoid paying a massive $250 million bonus tied to the game’s timely release. The dispute quickly escalated, with serious accusations exchanged between both parties.
In a significant turn of events, a judge has now ruled that the bonus deadline must be extended and that Ted Gill should be reinstated to his previous role. While the legal battle is still ongoing, this decision appears to have stabilised the situation enough for development to continue moving forward.
Krafton has acknowledged the progress made by the team and confirmed that an Early Access launch in May is the current goal. Despite disagreeing with the court ruling, the publisher says it intends to avoid disrupting the game’s release and remains focused on delivering a strong experience for players.
With the project now back on track, fans can expect more updates in the lead-up to launch. Recent teasers have already shown off new features, including co-op multiplayer and a terrifying new deep-sea predator.
After a year filled with uncertainty, Subnautica 2 finally looks ready to resurface and players won’t have to wait much longer to dive in.
Jordan Campbell