Steam’s Most Wishlisted Game Won’t Hit PS5 Anytime Soon
▼ Summary
– Subnautica 2 will launch in Early Access on PC and Xbox Series X|S on May 14, following a legal dispute that removed publisher Krafton and reinstated fired CEO Ted Gill.
– The game is currently Steam’s most wishlisted title, which may lead to massive sales despite wishlists not always converting.
– Sony’s restrictive policy on Early Access games means there is no PS5 release date yet, though a finished version is expected to arrive eventually.
– Developer Unknown Worlds won a legal battle against ex-publisher Krafton, resulting in the ejection of the dev’s CEO and his subsequent return to work.
– The game will evolve throughout Early Access based on player feedback, with the team aiming for a complete, finished version for the eventual PS5 release.
Unless you’ve been living deep beneath the ocean surface, you’re likely aware that Subnautica 2 has been tangled in a messy legal battle. Former publisher Krafton and developer Unknown Worlds were locked in a bitter dispute that led to the ousting of the studio’s CEO and a cascade of behind-the-scenes drama. A judge eventually ruled in favor of the San Francisco-based team, and now, there’s no mention of the Korean giant anywhere in the game’s latest trailer. In fact, the recently reinstated CEO, Ted Gill, is quoted in the press release as though the turmoil never happened.
Madness, indeed.
“We’re excited for players to experience Subnautica 2, beginning 14th May,” Gill stated. “Our team cannot wait to hear your feedback as the game evolves throughout Early Access.”
That Early Access launch is now just two weeks away, and it’s poised to become one of the biggest releases on the planet. Subnautica 2 has held the top spot as Steam’s most wishlisted game for what feels like an eternity. While that metric doesn’t always guarantee blockbuster sales, in this case, it’s hard to imagine anything less than massive numbers.
Here’s the catch: Sony has a tricky relationship with Early Access titles. There have been exceptions where the company bent its rules to allow them on the PS Store, but the company generally prefers finished, polished products. That means Subnautica 2 will launch on PC and Xbox Series X|S on May 14th, but PS5 players will have to wait.
The silver lining? When the game does eventually arrive on Sony’s console, it will likely be the complete, finished version. Until then, you might want to revisit the original Subnautica or its Below Zero spin-off to pass the time.
(Source: Push Square)
