Publishing
Ongoing coverage on Publishing.
Latest coverage
Krafton Removed as Subnautica 2 Publisher on Steam and Xbox
Krafton has been removed as the publisher for Subnautica 2 on Steam and Xbox store pages, with Unknown Worlds now listed as both developer and publisher. This change occurs amidst an ongoing legal dispute between Unknown Worlds' co-founders and Krafton regarding the game's delay and employee bonuses. The situation's implications for the project's future remain unclear, though an Early Access release on PC and Xbox Series X|S is still slated for May.
Krafton Drops Subnautica 2: Steam Page Shows Publishing Change
Krafton has been removed as the publisher of Subnautica 2 from its Steam page, with developer Unknown Worlds Entertainment now listed as the sole entity. This change suggests a potential shift in publishing strategy, possibly towards self-publishing for Unknown Worlds, similar to other successful studios. The exact reasons for Krafton's departure remain undisclosed, leaving fans to speculate about the future of the highly anticipated sequel.
Subnautica 2 Steam change suggests Krafton might be out as its publisher following long legal battle and reinstatement of studio leader
Subnautica 2 is nearing an early access release, with Krafton no longer listed as the publisher on its Steam page, suggesting Unknown Worlds Entertainment will self-publish. This change follows a legal battle where Krafton was ordered to reinstate Unknown Worlds CEO Ted Gill, amidst allegations of the publisher attempting to avoid paying developer bonuses and prematurely leaking a release window.
Subnautica 2's Steam page no longer lists Krafton as publisher, and some weird tags have been removed
Krafton is no longer listed as the publisher for Subnautica 2 on its Steam page, following a legal dispute where Unknown Worlds regained control. The game's Steam tags were also updated, with the 'hentai' tag being replaced by 'choices matter'. The game is currently slated for an early access launch in May 2026.
Krafton's publisher status vanishes from Subnautica 2 Steam and Epic Games Store pages amid ongoing legal drama
Krafton is no longer listed as the publisher for Subnautica 2 on Steam and the Epic Games Store, following ongoing legal disputes between the parent company and former leadership at developer Unknown Worlds Entertainment. This change occurred amidst legal battles concerning leadership changes, game delays, and alleged breaches of agreement.
Krafton are no longer listed as Subnautica 2's publishers on Steam and the Epic store, following a quiet switch
Krafton is no longer listed as the publisher for Subnautica 2 on Steam and the Epic Games Store, with developers Unknown Worlds now solely credited. This change follows recent legal actions between Krafton and former studio leads, and Ted Gill has been reinstated as Unknown Worlds CEO. While Krafton's name has been removed from the publisher sections, it still appears in the 'Franchise' section on Steam.
Subnautica 2's Messy Publisher Drama Takes Another Turn
Krafton is no longer listed as the publisher of Subnautica 2 on Steam, with developer Unknown Worlds Entertainment now handling both development and publishing duties. This change occurs amidst a legal dispute between the two companies, which began when Krafton allegedly delayed the game's release to avoid a significant payout to Unknown Worlds' founders. A judge had previously ordered Krafton to reinstate CEO Ted Gill.
Beyond Words Review - Jump Dash Roll
PQube announced it will publish Beyond Words, a new game from Steve Ellis and David Doak of Mindfuel Games, the creators of GoldenEye 007 and TimeSplitters. The game is slated for release on PC and consoles in early 2026.
Slay the Princess Developer Black Tabby Games Establishes Publishing Arm After Massive Indie Success
Following the success of Slay the Princess, Black Tabby Games has launched its own publishing arm, Black Tabby Publishing. The new venture aims to support other indie developers with fair deals and resources, with its first published title being Prove You're Human by sunset visitor 斜陽過客. The company also has an unannounced title signed with SmallBü.
Some of the best writers making games today decided to form a publisher "an hour" after a call: Slay the Princess and 1000xResist devs team up for new sci-fi adventure
Black Tabby Games, the developer behind Slay the Princess, has announced the formation of a new publishing arm, Black Tabby Publishing. The company aims to support narrative-driven indie games, signing two titles so far, including Prove You're Human from 1000xResist developer Sunset Visitor. Co-founders Tony Howard-Arias and Abby Howard emphasized their goal to provide intimate feedback and support to developers beyond just funding.
Indie dev teams unite and form Nova Assembly, a company where indie companies share their expertise
Several indie game development teams, including Unfrozen, Sad Cat Studios, VEA Games, Game Garden, and Weappy, have united to form Nova Assembly, a new company designed to share expertise and resources. Denis Fedorov, founder of Unfrozen, will serve as CEO, aiming to foster collaboration without compromising creative independence. The company also plans to establish its own publishing arm in the future.
Replaced, Heroes of Might & Magic: Olden Era, The Secret Life of Goldman, 2 Other Developers Unite to Form 'Nova Assembly' Co-op
Five independent game studios, including the developers of Replaced and Heroes of Might & Magic: Olden Era, have formed a co-op called Nova Assembly. This new entity aims to provide mutual support for development and marketing, with the long-term goal of establishing a jointly owned publishing label.
Five studios form developer-led holding Nova Assembly
Five independent game studios—Unfrozen, Sad Cat Studios, VEA Games, Weappy, and Game Garden—have formed a developer-led holding company called Nova Assembly. The alliance aims to share resources and expertise, with plans to establish its own publishing division. Sad Cat Studios' game Replaced is slated as the group's first release in April 2026.
Morning Postmortems/Retrospectives
Avalanche Studios' unreleased game AionGuard was intended to be similar to Crimson Desert, but the project was cancelled. A representative from Avalanche Studios stated that the publisher ended their relationship via text message.
Peak co-developer Landfall might finance your next indie game
Landfall, the developer behind games like Content Warning and Peak, has launched a new publishing offshoot called Evil Landfall to finance external indie projects. Led by CEO Kirsten-Lee Naidoo, the label aims to provide project-based investment and advice, potentially investing up to $1 million in a few games per year. Evil Landfall has already quietly invested in titles such as REPO, How To Fish, and Voidigo.
'We Had Everything from Crimson Desert': Just Cause Dev Recalls Cancelled Fantasy Game
Avalanche Studios co-founder Christofer Sundberg recalled the studio's cancelled fantasy game, AionGuard, which was in development during the PlayStation 3 generation. Sundberg believes AionGuard shared many ambitious features with Pearl Abyss's Crimson Desert but was ultimately cancelled after its publisher changed business direction. The team also worked on Arcadia Rising, which was also cancelled due to publisher THQ's financial issues.
New matchmaking platform Sail.game launches to combat "discovery fatigue" between developers and publishers
A new matchmaking platform called Sail.game has launched, founded by industry veterans Vladimír Geršl and Guillaume Jamet, to connect game developers with publishers. The platform aims to combat "discovery fatigue" by ensuring publishers only see games that align with their specific mandates, thereby making the pitching process more efficient and effective for both parties.
Avalanche's cancelled AionGuard 'would have been Crimson Desert' but the publisher 'broke up with us…
Avalanche Studios co-founder Christofer Sundberg revealed details about the cancelled fantasy open-world game AionGuard, which he claims would have been similar to Crimson Desert. The project was reportedly cancelled by a major publisher, later identified as Disney Interactive Studios, due to a shift in business strategy. Sundberg also discussed another cancelled project, Arcadia Rising, which was affected by THQ's financial troubles.
Report: Take-Two lays off the head of AI and multiple team members
Take-Two Interactive has reportedly laid off the head of its AI division and multiple team members. In separate news, Nexon has partnered with Blizzard Entertainment to publish Overwatch in South Korea, with services tailored for the region.
Nexon agrees to publish Overwatch in Korea
Nexon has agreed to publish Blizzard Entertainment's Overwatch in Korea. The companies are collaborating to provide services specifically tailored for the Korean market, with PC being the primary platform.