Subnautica 2 team stayed focused despite delays and legal drama

Up until Subnautica 2 released in May, the writing on the wall made the aquatic survival game look like a blood-splattered horror movie: Unknown Worlds and parent company Krafton clashed over launch delays, spontaneous firings, and a missing $250 million bonus at the center of an ongoing lawsuit.

Lead designer Anthony Gallegos said the development teams “always just kind of put their heads down and made the best thing they possibly could.” Gallegos argued that controversy and delays often lead people to “start assuming the worst,” and that the studio wished it could have shown more while work continued.

“I think you're wrong,” he added, pushing back on the idea that the project was doomed. The studio’s state felt delicate at times — Krafton abruptly replaced Subnautica leadership “effective immediately” — but Gallegos said a genuine love for the series kept the team focused.

subnautica 2, subnautica, unknown worlds, krafton, anthony gallegos, launch delays, lawsuit, missing bonus, firings, development team