In a surprising and quiet move, Krafton has been removed as the listed publisher of Subnautica 2 across major digital storefronts, including Steam, the Epic Games Store, and the Xbox Store. As of April 7, 2026, Unknown Worlds Entertainment now occupies both the developer and publisher credits on the game's Steam page.

What Changed

Previously, Subnautica 2's storefront listings displayed Krafton as publisher and Unknown Worlds as developer. Now, Unknown Worlds appears in both roles. Neither company has issued a formal explanation, leaving fans and industry observers to speculate about what the change means in practice.

Some outlets have also noted that certain tags on the Steam listing appear to have been removed or rearranged during the update.

Krafton Says It Still Supports the Launch

Despite being removed from the public-facing credits, Krafton has stated that it is still "supporting the early access launch of Subnautica 2." In a statement to media, Krafton said it looks forward to "working with Ted Gill to support a smooth transition and work toward a successful launch."

"We look forward to working with Ted Gill to support a smooth transition and work toward a successful launch." - Krafton

Importantly, Krafton still owns Unknown Worlds, so the change may be largely cosmetic rather than a full separation of the two companies.

The Legal Battle Behind the Change

The move comes on the heels of a highly public legal dispute between Unknown Worlds' former leadership and Krafton. In July 2025, Krafton removed CEO Ted Gill, co-founder and creative director Charlie Cleveland, and co-founder and technical director Max McGuire from the studio.

In March 2026, Delaware Vice Chancellor Lori Will ruled entirely in favor of the former leaders in Phase 1 of the lawsuit. The ruling included the reinstatement of Gill as CEO and extended the earnout payment window by 258 days — moving the deadline from December 31, 2025 to September 15, 2026.

Court documents also included a notable detail: Krafton's CEO had reportedly sought strategies to avoid paying the $250 million performance earnout, including consulting with AI tools for guidance on how to do so.

What It Means for Players

For players eagerly awaiting Subnautica 2, the practical impact of the publisher change appears minimal:

  • Early Access is still reportedly on track for May 2026
  • Krafton has confirmed it will support the launch
  • The game remains available for wishlist on Steam, Epic, and Xbox
  • Unknown Worlds continues to handle development with Ted Gill reinstated as CEO

A Strategic Distance?

Whether the removal represents an official publishing shift or simply a strategic move to distance the sequel from Krafton's name ahead of launch remains unclear. Given the ongoing legal tensions and public scrutiny surrounding the dispute, some observers believe the change may be designed to let Unknown Worlds present a cleaner public image as Early Access approaches.

Whatever the reasoning, the change marks another chapter in a turbulent saga between Unknown Worlds and its parent company. With Early Access just weeks away, all eyes are now on whether the launch itself can proceed smoothly — and whether Ted Gill can hit the September 15 earnout milestone.