Subnautica 2 has become one of the biggest success stories of 2026, selling over 4 million units in its first week of Early Access — and in a dramatic twist, publisher Krafton has been legally forced to pay developer Unknown Worlds the full $250 million earnout promised in their acquisition deal.
According to The Korean Economic Daily, Krafton has agreed to pay "$3.12 for every $1" of revenue up to $250 million, as Unknown Worlds' revenue surged past the established $69.8 million per month threshold following the game's launch on May 14.
Sales Performance
Alinea Analytics reports that Subnautica 2 generated over $100 million in revenue within its first week. The game sold 2 million copies within its first 12 hours on Steam and Xbox. The majority of sales have been on Steam, where the game maintains approximately 60,000 daily concurrent players. Additionally, 2.4 million players jumped in via Xbox Game Pass during the first week.
Publisher Drama
The earnout story is a remarkable business saga. Krafton had reportedly attempted to avoid paying the performance bonus, but a legal ruling forced the reinstatement of Unknown Worlds CEO Ted Gill and other senior team members, along with honoring the promised $250 million payout. Now, with Subnautica 2's explosive sales, the publisher has confirmed it will pay in full.
Early Reception
Eurogamer's Matt Wales praised the underwater survival-crafting game but noted that "co-op is a bit of an awkward fit" since "the breadcrumb narrative is explicitly designed to nudge you toward the important bits" in a way that feels better suited for solo play. On Steam, the game holds a Very Positive rating as players explore the vast new alien ocean world with up to three friends in co-op.
What's Next
Subnautica 2 is currently in Early Access on Steam at $29.99 and available day-one on Xbox Game Pass. The game is expected to receive regular content updates throughout its Early Access period before a full 1.0 launch. The game's unprecedented early success — both commercially and critically — positions Unknown Worlds for a very bright future under the Krafton umbrella, albeit one where the developers now hold significantly more leverage.