Subnautica 2 developer Unknown Worlds may have dropped Krafton as publisher on Steam, Epic, and Xbox

As the ongoing legal battle between Unknown Worlds and Krafton continues, fans have noticed that Krafton is no longer listed as the publisher on Subnautica 2’s Steam store page. The upcoming sequel to the hit underwater survival game now credits Unknown Worlds as both the publisher and the developer. However, this doesn’t appear to be an error or an isolated incident, as the same changes have been seen on Subnautica 2’s Epic Games Store page and its Xbox listing, where the game is reportedly heading to Early Access in May of this year.

According to SteamDB, this change occurred on April 7, 2026, which is more than a week ago and has given developers plenty of time to check changelogs and correct any flukes or errors. Instead, it has remained in place.

Krafton is no longer listed as the publisher for Subnautica 2 on Steam following the update. Along with a few changes to the tags and categories section, Krafton now only appears in a small “Franchise” section of the Steam store page.

All of this stems from an ongoing legal battle that has dragged on for several months. For context, Krafton acquired Unknown Worlds for $500 million, with the promise of an extra $250 million if Subnautica 2 met certain sales milestones during Early Access.

However, Krafton later dismissed Unknown Worlds CEO Ted Gill and co-founders Charlie Cleveland and Max McGuire, allegedly to avoid paying the additional sum. The former leadership filed a lawsuit, arguing that Krafton was trying to delay the game and withhold the bonus payment. In March 2026, a Delaware judge sided with the former leadership of Unknown Worlds, leading to Ted Gill’s reinstatement as CEO and giving him control over Subnautica 2’s direction once again.

An unclear move amid an ongoing legal battle

Despite this, it is unclear what’s happening behind the scenes, beyond the fact that some feel Krafton’s association with the project might potentially be a PR disaster for both the publisher and the title’s reputation. Many are speculating whether the publisher has been officially changed or whether Ted Gill has decided to distance Unknown Worlds from Krafton by removing the company from its publisher status on Steam, Epic, and Xbox.

Many news outlets have reached out to Krafton and Unknown Worlds for comment. However, neither the company nor the studio has made a public statement as of now. The legal battle is still ongoing behind the scenes. For now, the only certainty is that Unknown Worlds is credited as both the publisher and developer of Subnautica 2, with Krafton no longer listed in that role.