In the latest development of a turbulent saga, Subnautica 2 developer Unknown Worlds Entertainment now appears as both developer and publisher on the game’s Steam and Epic Games Store listings, with parent company Krafton quietly removed from the publisher section. The changes were made on April 7th according to Eurogamer and Rock Paper Shotgun, though Krafton’s name has been added to the franchise section of the Steam page during the same update.
This store listing shift arrives amid a prolonged legal dispute between Krafton and Unknown Worlds leadership that began last summer when the PUBG publisher fired studio founder Charlie Cleveland and CEO Ted Gill. The former executives alleged that Krafton sought ways to avoid paying developer bonuses tied to performance targets the studio was on track to meet, with a reported $250 million payout hanging in the balance if Subnautica 2 launched successfully in 2025.
The legal battle took a significant turn last month when a judge ordered Krafton to reinstate Ted Gill as CEO of Unknown Worlds. While Krafton stated it “respectfully” disagreed with the ruling, the company said it would explore a new path forward while focusing on delivering the best possible experience for Subnautica fans, as reported by GameSpot.
Shortly after his reinstatement, Gill accused Krafton of pushing to leak a May 2026 early access release window without consulting him, claiming the move was “self-serving” and potentially damaging to the game. The timing of that announcement, coming just days after the court ruling, added another layer of complexity to the already fraught relationship between publisher and developer.
While the Steam page changes have remained in place for over a week without being rolled back, neither Krafton nor Unknown Worlds have officially commented on what the publishing shift means for Subnautica 2’s future. The game currently lists a 2026 release window, with the highly-anticipated underwater survival sequel targeting an early access launch later this year.
Krafton acquired Unknown Worlds in 2021, and still remains listed as publisher for the studio’s other post-acquisition title, Moonbreaker. Whether this store page modification represents a fundamental change in the publishing arrangement or is simply administrative remains unclear, though the timing amid ongoing legal proceedings suggests significant behind-the-scenes negotiations may be underway.