The Steam page for Subnautica 2 has removed Krafton as its listed publisher, with Unknown Worlds Entertainment now appearing as the self-publisher. This change occurred on April 7, according to SteamDB, amid an ongoing legal battle between the studio and Krafton. The update coincides with tensions over executive dismissals and bonus payments.
Unknown Worlds Entertainment updated the Steam listing for Subnautica 2 on April 7, stripping Krafton from the publisher field and adding new tags and categories. The change has not been reversed, fueling speculation of a potential shift to self-publishing for the upcoming early access title. Eurogamer noted the alteration after it was highlighted by industry observers, and the outlet has contacted Krafton for comment. SteamDB records confirm the modifications happened over a week ago, ruling out a simple error that would have been quickly fixed. The backdrop involves a protracted dispute between Krafton and Unknown Worlds leaders. Last summer, founder Charlie Cleveland and CEO Ted Gill were dismissed. The former executives accused Krafton of dodging bonus payments tied to studio performance targets. Last month, a judge ordered Krafton to reinstate Gill. Krafton expressed respectful disagreement with the ruling and stated it would pursue a new direction while prioritizing the game for fans. Days after the court decision, Gill alleged Krafton attempted to leak a May early access release date without his input. Subnautica 2 remains on track for early access, but the publisher uncertainty dominates recent discussions.
