Subnautica 2 will be released on May 14, 2026, and is the most wished title on Steam. During development, there were some conflicts and hurdles that the team had to overcome. The lead designer now names two reasons that contributed to the successful completion of the game.
What issues arose? Subnautica 2 is according to SteamDB currently the most wished game on Steam, but behind the scenes, there were some tensions. On one hand, the leadership was replaced by the publisher Krafton, on the other hand, there were accusations that the company delayed the game to 2026 for financial reasons.
In about a week, however, it will be time and Subnautica 2 will be released. Lead designer Anthony Gallegos addressed the fans in a new video blog on YouTube shortly before release. In addition to information about the actual game, he also provides insights into the feelings of the developers.
A clear goal in sight
What does the lead designer say? Although Gallegos does not mention the specific problems during the development of the game, he hints at them indirectly:
As some of you know, the team has been through a lot. But one thing I want to make clear: Despite all the difficulties, our goal has always remained the same: to provide the best possible Subnautica experience.
During the disputes with Krafton, creative director Charlie Cleveland had to leave the project. That and the numerous large and small problems likely caused a lot of stress in the team.
However, Anthony Gallegos emphasizes that the work on Subnautica 2 was particularly driven by two aspects – even when it was hardest to continue:
On one hand, there is the excitement of working on the next Subnautica game, and what we have is truly something special. On the other hand, it’s you [the community, note of the editors]. Your unwavering enthusiasm and anticipation drive us to create something worthy of the name.
The high wishlist numbers on Steam support Gallegos: Subnautica 2 is highly anticipated, and the excitement has likely transferred to the team as well.
What else is discussed in the blog? Among other things, that early access will start on May 14 at 5:00 PM in this country. This testing phase, in which bugs and issues may still occur, is expected to last at least two years, according to Gallegos. On MeinMMO, we explain why there is such a hype around the game: After 12 years, Subnautica 2 is finally coming – Why are so many excited about the game?
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