The wave keeps getting bigger.
Subnautica 2 is still making enormous waves beneath the surface. Less than a week after launch, Unknown Worlds confirmed that the underwater survival sequel has now crossed four million sales, continuing a striking launch run beneath the waves.
“We're incredibly grateful for the response from players around the world,” executive producer Fernando Melo said in a press release reported by PC Gamer. “Seeing millions of players dive into this new world during Early Access has been an incredible moment for the team. Community feedback continues to help shape the future of Subnautica 2, and we're excited to keep building the experience together with our players.”
Subnautica 2
Release Date: 14 May, 2026 (Early Access)
Price: US$29.99
Platform: Xbox Series and PC via Steam, Epic Games Store, and the Microsoft Store
Developer: Unknown Worlds Entertainment
How is Subnautica 2's early access launch going so far?
Despite concerns previously raised by Unknown Worlds parent company Krafton, the game’s unfinished state has not slowed its momentum. Instead, players have continued descending into its alien oceans in huge numbers, with Steam reviews remaining overwhelmingly positive as exploration continues across its underwater world.
The sequel’s launch numbers have continued to climb through its opening week. Subnautica 2 previously reached one million copies sold within its first hour before surging to two million sales in just 12 hours, turning its release into a massive launch beneath the waves. The game has peaked to 467,582 concurrent players so far, and maintains a Very Positive average Steam rating, with 93% positive reviews.
The developer was briefly under fire after telling players to “Go Play Sons of the Forest” in response to player feedback about adding combat and weapons in the game. The devs have since apologised in a letter, and have begun working on some improvements to the game, although weapons are still out of the question.
According to them, community feedback is important to the game, with Unknown Worlds continuing to refine and expand the experience based on player input during Early Access.
What is happening with the Subnautica 2 Krafton and Unknown Worlds dispute?
Subnautica 2’s strong launch has also brought an earlier dispute back to the surface. The discussion centres on the dismissal of Unknown Worlds founders Ted Gill, Charlie Cleveland, and Max McGuire. Courts reportedly ruled that the removals were linked to efforts to avoid paying a US$250 million earnout bonus tied to certain Subnautica 2 sales targets.
Krafton was eventually ordered to reinstate Unknown Worlds leadership, including its CEO, while also extending the US$250 million bonus window.
A 2025 filing reportedly shared by Kotaku’s Ethan Gach suggested Krafton had projected sales of two to three million copies by the end of the year, which are figures that may have been enough to trigger the full payout. With the game's Early Access launch proving to be a massive success and surpassing those projected numbers within merely weeks, Unknown Worlds could be getting closer to hitting the target sales needed to trigger the payout, if the report holds true.
