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Steam's most-wishlisted game is out this week following a year of corporate drama that involved one of the most…
Subnautica 2, the most-wishlisted game on Steam, is launching in early access this week despite ongoing corporate disputes between publisher Krafton and developer Unknown Worlds Entertainment. Krafton CEO Changhan Kim's attempt to avoid a $250 million bonus payout to studio heads, even consulting ChatGPT for advice, led to legal battles and the eventual reinstatement of a studio founder. The survival adventure game is expected to remain in early access for two to three years.
Guerrilla Games co-founder developing European game engine to rival Unreal and Unity
Guerrilla Games co-founder Arjan Brussee is developing 'The Immensive Engine' as a European alternative to Unreal and Unity, emphasizing European hosting and compliance with local guidelines. The engine will integrate AI from the ground up, aiming to offer studios more choice and leverage AI for efficient development. Separately, Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii discussed the potential of AI companions in games, envisioning them as friends to players and confirming Dragon Quest 12 is still in development.
New Subnautica 2 gameplay teaser has just dropped and if you weren't excited before, you will be now
Unknown Worlds has released a new gameplay teaser for Subnautica 2, showcasing the environments, tools, and crafting players can expect. The game is set to launch into early access on May 14th, with a bonus in-game Reaper statue for first-week purchasers. Developers confirmed that no generative AI was used in the game's development, despite publisher Krafton's AI ambitions.
New PUBG game, inspired by Escape from Tarkov, gets free playtest
Krafton, the makers of PUBG, are developing a new extraction shooter called Black Budget, inspired by Escape from Tarkov. The game features a tropical island setting with supernatural elements and a 30-minute match limit. Players can sign up for an upcoming playtest on Steam.
'The team has weathered a lot': Subnautica 2 design lead says the community kept the dev team going 'when…
Subnautica 2 is set to launch into early access on May 14 for PC, priced at $29.99. Design lead Anthony Gallegos acknowledged the development team faced challenges due to legal disputes but emphasized the game's ambitious starting point. The early access period is expected to last at least two years, with players gaining access to all content up to and beyond the 1.0 release.
Subnautica 2 Coming To Game Pass At Launch
Subnautica 2 will launch on May 14 for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass members on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and ASUS ROG Ally. The game will be available in early access, known as Game Preview on Xbox, and is the most-wishlisted game on Steam. Unknown Worlds, a subsidiary of Krafton, plans to develop the game over the next few years, with a full release expected in 2026.
MMO Week in Review: Guild Wars in your pocket
ArenaNet announced a mobile port of Guild Wars Reforged with cross-progression, coinciding with the game's 21st anniversary. This week also saw Final Fantasy XIV patch 7.5, Pearl Abyss selling EVE Online studio CCP Games to its management, and Star Wars The Old Republic revealing the planet Ryloth for its 8.0 update.
The MOP Up: Subnautica 2 just says no to gen AI
Unknown Worlds has confirmed that Subnautica 2 will not use generative AI, with all development being handled by traditional methods. The article also rounds up other recent gaming news, including delays for MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries, updates for Dungeon Fighter Online and SMITE 2, and new content for Hearthstone and PSO2.
Subnautica 2 Team Says Krafton is Co-Publishing, “Still Very Much Helping” With the Game’s Launch
Subnautica 2 is set to launch in early access on May 14th for Xbox Series X/S and PC, with Krafton co-publishing the game. Despite some confusion regarding Krafton's publisher status on Steam, Unknown Worlds confirmed they are still actively involved in the game's launch and promotion. The early access version will feature co-op support for up to four players and will be available on day one with Game Pass.
Betawatch: Neverness to Everness and Heroes of Might & Magic Olden Era open their gates
Several MMORPGs have launched or entered testing phases, including the full release of Neverness to Everness and early access for Heroes of Might & Magic Olden Era. TERA 2 is confirmed to be in development with Unreal Engine 5, while Scars of Honor and Gods, Death & Reapers are undergoing playtests and alpha phases respectively. Reaper Actual has secured further venture capital funding.
Subnautica 2 Early Access release date set for May 14th
Unknown Worlds has announced that Subnautica 2 will launch into Steam Early Access on May 14th for $29.99, with all future updates included. The article also touches on past legal disputes between the developer and publisher Krafton regarding founder compensation.
Subnautica 2's early access system requirements are on the punishing side
Subnautica 2's PC system requirements for early access have been revealed, with a minimum of 12GB of RAM needed to run at 1080p and 30fps on low settings. The game, developed by Unknown Worlds and published by Krafton, will launch into early access on May 14th and runs on Unreal Engine 5. Recommended specs include 16GB of RAM and an 8GB graphics card, with 32GB of RAM required for 4K high settings at 60fps.
Subnautica 2 dev confirms there's no gen AI "at all" in its survival sequel
Unknown Worlds has confirmed that Subnautica 2 will not use generative AI in its development, despite publisher Krafton's interest in AI-first technology. Creative Media Producer Scott MacDonald stated that the studio chose not to use these tools as they do not suit their pipeline or creative vision. This clarification comes as the game approaches its Early Access launch.
Krafton Q1 revenue up 56.9% to $931m, driven by mobile content
Krafton reported record first-quarter results with revenue up 56.9% to $931 million, driven primarily by its mobile segment and the PUBG franchise. The company also reaffirmed its AI-first strategy, emphasizing its use of artificial intelligence for game development and enhanced player experiences.
Subnautica 2‘s early access will introduce you to a massive squid monster, before the first post-launch update sends you into its lair
Subnautica 2 is set to enter early access on May 14th, following a delay attributed to publisher disputes. Game design lead Anthony Gallegos revealed that the massive squid monster, The Collector, will be present at launch and will receive an explorable lair in the first post-launch update. The delay allowed for more development time, though the team is eager for player feedback.
Subnautica 2 early access confirmed for May 14
Unknown Worlds Entertainment has announced that Subnautica 2 will launch in Early Access on May 14, 2026, for PC, priced at $29.99 USD. The game will feature optional online co-operative multiplayer for up to three friends and is expected to remain in Early Access for 2-3 years. Krafton is no longer listed as the publisher, though they still own Unknown Worlds.
Subnautica 2 devs won't touch generative AI despite "AI first" pivot at owner Krafton: "It's interesting technology, but it's not something we're using"
Developer Unknown Worlds has confirmed that generative AI was not used in the development of Subnautica 2, despite its owner Krafton describing itself as an "AI first" company. This statement comes amidst ongoing discussions and concerns about AI's role in game development and a legal dispute involving Krafton leadership.
Subnautica 2 sets a May 14 early access date as Krafton’s Q1 2026 financials soar thanks to PUBG
Unknown Worlds announced that Subnautica 2 will launch in Early Access on May 14 for $29.99 USD on PC and Xbox Series consoles. The sequel introduces a new alien ocean world, expanded survival systems, and optional four-player co-op. This news comes as Krafton announced record Q1 2026 financials, largely attributed to PUBG.
Business and Finance
Krafton reported record-breaking quarterly revenue exceeding $927 million, driven by the PUBG franchise, with a 32% surge in operating profit. Meanwhile, OpenAI reportedly missed internal targets for active users, contributing to a market slump.
Subnautica 2 Is the Biggest Game Around Right Now, But When Is It Coming to PS5?
Subnautica 2 has achieved significant success in Early Access on PC and Xbox Series X, with nearly 500,000 concurrent players on Steam. A PlayStation 5 release is uncertain due to Sony's current lack of a formal Early Access program, though the game is expected to eventually launch on the platform in its complete form. The game's development was also marked by a legal dispute between developer Unknown Worlds and former publisher Krafton.
