Why Is Subnautica 2 Facing Delays According to Krafton?

Seoul, July 19 (NationPress) The South Korean game publisher Krafton announced on Saturday that its recent choices regarding the development of Subnautica 2 were made with the intention of safeguarding the interests of gamers and ensuring the franchise's lasting success. This comes as the company navigates a legal conflict with the previous leadership of its U.S. development subsidiary, Unknown Worlds.

According to the company, "Launching the game too soon with inadequate content, which would not meet the expectations of fans for a sequel, would have disappointed our players—who are central to everything Krafton does—and could have tarnished the reputations of both the Subnautica and Unknown Worlds brands," the company stated.

They further remarked that their decisions were made to ensure that Subnautica 2 is optimized to be the best game possible, meeting fan expectations, as reported by Yonhap news agency.

This announcement arrives amid a significant legal battle with the former leadership of Unknown Worlds.

Krafton acquired Unknown Worlds in October 2021 in an effort to broaden its portfolio beyond its flagship PUBG shooter franchise. At the acquisition time, the company emphasized the studio’s strong intellectual properties and reputation for creating globally appealing and community-driven gameplay experiences.

However, earlier this month, Krafton dismissed Unknown Worlds co-founders Charlie Cleveland and Max McGuire, along with Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ted Gill, citing leadership deficiencies and delays in the development of Subnautica 2.

In retaliation, the former leaders of Unknown Worlds have initiated a lawsuit against Krafton, accusing them of breach of contract. They allege that Krafton attempted to evade a $250 million bonus payment by delaying the game using "pressure tactics."

"While we regret that Charlie, Max, and Ted have opted to file a lawsuit seeking a substantial payout, we are eager to defend ourselves in court. Meanwhile, Krafton remains concentrated on what truly matters: delivering the best game possible to the fans of Subnautica as swiftly as possible," the company stated.

The public dispute has sparked concern among Subnautica enthusiasts, with some calling for a boycott of the sequel due to apprehensions regarding the game’s creative direction and the publisher’s involvement in recent modifications.

In previous comments, Krafton reaffirmed, "Our fans are always at the core of every decision we make," and committed to rewarding their patience with a "polished and exceptional gameplay experience."