Subnautica 2 Delayed Amid $250M Bonus Row

Subnautica fans will need to wait longer—publisher Krafton has officially confirmed to IGN that the sequel won’t arrive until 2026. This decision follows reports suggesting the postponement could cost the development team a $250 million bonus payout.

Behind the Delay
Krafton, the Korean giant behind PUBG, acquired Subnautica developer Unknown Worlds back in October 2021 for a cool $500 million. At the time, they promised the studio would retain creative independence. The follow-up to the beloved underwater survival game was originally set to enter early access next year.

Last week, however, unexpected leadership changes sent shockwaves through the community. Founders Charlie Cleveland and Max McGuire, along with CEO Ted Gill, were replaced by ex-Striking Distance CEO Steve Papoutsis—a move that raised eyebrows about the sequel's direction.

Cleveland later revealed on Reddit that while the team believed Subnautica 2 was ready for early release, the final call rested with Krafton. The publisher soon hinted at an impending delay in a community update.

The $250 Million Question
Bloomberg reported this week that the delay means Unknown Worlds will likely miss out on a massive $250 million performance bonus. This payout was tied to hitting revenue targets by late 2025—targets that now appear unattainable without this year's planned release.


Unknown Worlds leadership had planned to distribute these bonuses across the 100-person team, with early employees potentially receiving life-changing sums ranging from six to seven figures.


Krafton's Official Statement
While confirming the 2026 delay, Krafton insists the decision wasn't financially motivated. In their statement to IGN, they claim playtest feedback prompted the move and discussions predated the leadership shakeup:


Community playtests reinforced our vision while revealing areas needing refinement. We're choosing to delay Early Access to 2026 to deliver a more polished experience—a decision driven purely by quality considerations, not financial factors. These discussions began before recent management changes.


For now, hopeful players must continue waiting as Unknown Worlds dives deeper into development.