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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →The boycott call followed Unknown Worlds’ July 2025 leadership changes and the delay of Subnautica 2’s Early Access launch to 2026. A Reddit post alleged the delay was meant to keep developers from receiving a $250 million bonus, but that motive was not established by the later court ruling. The game has since launched in Early Access.
Why did people call for a Subnautica 2 boycott?
In July 2025, Insider Gaming reported a Reddit post titled “DO NOT BUY SUBNAUTICA 2.” The post alleged that Krafton had fired all three original Unknown Worlds founders and pushed the game’s launch to 2026 so developers would not receive $250 million in bonuses. That figure and explanation were the post’s allegations, not a verified payout or proven reason for the delay.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Subnautica (PS4) | $23.46 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Subnautica + Subnautica Below Zero Double Pack (Nintendo Switch) | $45.60 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Subnautica - Xbox One | $69.14 | Buy on Amazon |
The coverage also described comments suggesting review bombing. Those were proposed community actions; they do not establish that a coordinated campaign took place or show how many people joined a boycott.
What did the studio and Krafton say?
| Speaker and timing | What the statement addressed | What it does not establish |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown Worlds, July 3, 2025 | The studio acknowledged questions about publisher-led leadership changes, said Steve Papoutsis was transitioning into the CEO role, and stated: “When it comes to Subnautica 2, the team that has been working on the game day-to-day over the last few years remains completely unchanged.” | This was the studio’s public position at the time; it does not resolve the later contract dispute or establish why the launch was delayed. |
| Krafton’s position, as reported by GamesRadar+ | Krafton disputed the former leaders’ involvement and the characterization of events. | This reported position is not a court finding. |
| Delaware Court of Chancery, March 16, 2026 | The court found contractual breaches concerning the termination of key employees and operational control of Unknown Worlds. | The cited conclusion did not find that avoiding the alleged bonus was the reason for the delay. |
What did the court decide?
In its March 16, 2026 opinion, the Delaware Court of Chancery concluded: “Krafton breached the EPA by terminating the Key Employees without valid Cause and by improperly seizing operational control of Unknown Worlds.” The ruling addressed the employment terminations and control of the studio; it did not decide the community post’s claim about the motive for delaying the game.
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- Descend into the depths of an alien underwater world filled with wonder and peril
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The court reinstated Edward Gill as CEO, restored his launch authority, and extended the base earnout testing period by 258 days, to September 15, 2026. The court also preserved a contractual route for that period to extend to March 15, 2027.
How the boycott allegation differs from the court finding
The Reddit post made a claim about motive: that the delay was intended to prevent a bonus payout. The court’s finding concerned breaches of the acquisition agreement over terminations and operational control. The ruling gives an authoritative answer on those contract issues, but it should not be treated as proof of the alleged motive.
Rank #2
- Survival is key: gather valuable materials, craft tools, manage your hunger and thirst, all while evading the dangerous wildlife that sees you as its next meal
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Is Subnautica 2 still delayed or boycotted?
No: Steam lists Subnautica 2 as released in Early Access on May 14, 2026, with Unknown Worlds Entertainment as both developer and publisher. The listing describes single-player play and online co-op with up to three friends.
Steam’s listing warned that Early Access may include bugs, in-development features, and performance issues. In a May 20, 2026 feedback letter, Unknown Worlds acknowledged concerns about creature balance and player communication and described Early Access as a collaboration with players. That letter expressed a commitment to improvements; it did not say every concern had been fixed.
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Rank #3
- Dive into a vast underwater world - sub Nautica's ocean range from shallow coral reefs to treacherous deep-sea trenches, lava fields, and bio-luminescent underwater rivers
- Scavenge, craft, and survive - after crash landing in your life pod, the clock is ticking to find water, food, and to develop equipment needed to explore as you collect resources from the ocean
- Construct underwater habitats - build Bases on the sea Floor, choosing layouts and components, and managing hull-integrity as depth and pressure Increase
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What Steam’s review figures can—and cannot—tell you
On October 8, 2026, Steam displayed 93% positive English reviews across 71,784 reviews overall and 88% positive recent reviews across 2,155 reviews. These are volatile storefront figures, not boycott participation or sales data. They cannot establish whether the boycott call affected purchases.
What should a buyer take from the dispute?
If you are deciding whether to spend money on the game, separate the choice to buy from the unproven claim about why the delay happened. The court documented contract breaches on specified issues, while the bonus-motive allegation remains an allegation. For the purchase itself, Steam’s Early Access warning is the practical consideration: you may encounter unfinished features, bugs, or performance problems.
No reliable participation count, sales estimate, or independent measure of the boycott’s commercial effect is established by the reported Reddit appeal or Steam review figures. A boycott call is a request for consumer action, not evidence that a boycott reached a particular scale or succeeded.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
