New Dispute Emerges Around Subnautica 2’s Early Access Release

A legal dispute has intensified between publisher Krafton and the leadership of Unknown Worlds regarding the upcoming early access release of Subnautica 2. Following a March 2026 ruling by Delaware’s Court of Chancery that found Krafton in breach of contract for firing the studio’s executive team—including CEO Ted Gill—to avoid performance-based bonuses, the court ordered the reinstatement of the original leadership. The current conflict centers on a May 2026 early access launch announcement, which the reinstated executives argue was made improperly by Krafton without their authorization.

The core of the disagreement involves the scope of authority granted by the court. While Krafton maintains that its internal memo announcing the May release was merely a celebration of development milestones and did not violate the court’s order, the reinstated leadership contends that the announcement was a unilateral action that undermined their authority and damaged the game’s potential market impact. The plaintiffs have filed motions seeking to hold Krafton in contempt, arguing that the publisher bypassed the reinstated CEO’s right to manage the launch, including critical marketing and community coordination efforts.

This ongoing litigation highlights the high stakes surrounding the title, which is currently the most-wishlisted game on Steam. With up to $250 million in performance-based bonuses tied to the game’s success, the legal teams are debating the timing and legitimacy of the release window. As of mid-March 2026, the court has yet to issue a final implementing order to resolve the disagreement, leaving the studio’s leadership and the publisher in a contentious standoff regarding the governance of the project’s release strategy.