Subnautica 2 Legal Battle Continues as Original Game Gets Updates & Discounts
▼ Summary
– Subnautica 2 is embroiled in controversy after publisher Krafton dismissed Unknown Worlds Entertainment’s leadership, leading to a lawsuit over alleged financial motives.
– Krafton claims Subnautica 2 wasn’t ready for early access, while former leaders accuse them of delaying the launch to avoid a payout.
– Both Subnautica and Below Zero received patches, including controller support and fixes for bugs like vehicles falling through terrain.
– Below Zero’s patch improves the Snowfox vehicle by reducing collision damage and fixing issues like disappearing terrain.
– Subnautica 2’s early access release is now slated for 2026, with both existing games currently discounted by 75%.
The ongoing legal dispute surrounding Subnautica 2 continues to make waves, with publisher Krafton and former Unknown Worlds Entertainment leadership locked in a contentious battle. The conflict erupted after Krafton dismissed key figures, including studio co-founders Charlie Cleveland and Max McGuire, who later filed a lawsuit alleging the publisher delayed the sequel to avoid contractual payouts. Krafton countered, claiming the game wasn’t ready for early access and accusing the former directors of neglecting their roles.
While the legal drama unfolds, Unknown Worlds has quietly rolled out updates for both the original Subnautica and its standalone expansion, Below Zero. These patches address long-standing player complaints while introducing subtle quality-of-life improvements. The 2025 update for the base game finally delivers proper controller support for modern gamepads, along with reworked input options for non-keyboard players. It also resolves frustrating bugs, such as the PRAWN suit glitching through terrain when using alien portals and Leviathans bizarrely launching into the sky during attacks—an unintended behavior some fans might have found amusing.
Below Zero’s update focuses on refining the notoriously unwieldy Snowfox, a hoverbike used to navigate icy landscapes. The vehicle’s collision mechanics have been adjusted to prevent it from snagging on obstacles, and damage from terrain impacts has been slashed from 100% to just 12%. Additionally, ice worm attacks now have a reduced chance of knocking players off the Snowfox, dropping the probability from 100% to 25%. The patch also eliminates the infuriating bug that caused the vehicle to vanish into the ground upon deployment—a small mercy for players who struggled with its finicky handling.
Both games now feature a new pop-up newsfeed system, likely intended to keep the community informed about Subnautica 2’s progress. To sweeten the deal, Subnautica and Below Zero are currently discounted by 75%, dropping their price to just $7.50 (£6.50) for a limited time.
For newcomers, the original Subnautica remains the standout experience, offering expansive biomes, polished underwater exploration, and a gripping survival narrative. Below Zero, while smaller in scope, shines with its Arctic environments, imaginative creatures, and a hauntingly beautiful score by Ben Prunty. As for the sequel, Krafton has tentatively pushed its early access launch to 2026, though concrete details remain scarce amid the ongoing legal turmoil.
For fans of deep-sea adventures, these updates and discounts present a perfect opportunity to dive back in—or experience Subnautica’s mesmerizing world for the first time.
(Source: PC Gamer)
