Subnautica 2 studio responds to publisher claims sequel is a multiplayer live-service game

Subnautica 2 developer Unknown Worlds has moved to tackle fan considerations following publisher Krafton’s announcement that the underwater survival sequel might be a multiplayer title adopting a “game-as-a-service model”.

Krafton made the claims in its newest monetary earnings report, which additionally introduced the information Subnautica 2 – the third game in Unknown Worlds’ sequence, following on from the acclaimed 2018 authentic and its 2021 continuation Subnautica: Below Zero – could be out this 12 months. And with followers starting to specific displeasure on the obvious swerve away from the solo, self-contained survival motion of earlier Subnautica video games, Unknown Worlds rapidly sprung into motion, providing clarification on its blog.

Starting with the multiplayer announcement, that a lot is apparently true, with Subnautica 2 confirmed to be playable co-operatively with up to 4 gamers. However, Unknown Worlds stresses the sequel “is not multiplayer-focused”, and that co-op is “entirely optional”, with gamers additionally in a position to play the game completely solo in the event that they select.

As for the alarm bells Krafton’s “games-as-a-service” declare set ringing, Unknown Worlds insists there is no cause to panic, saying, “We simply plan to continually update the game for many years to come… Think our Early Access update model, expanded.” That, it continues, means, “No season passes. No battle passes. No subscription”. As for microtransactions? It does not say.

Which, lastly, brings us to Krafton’s announcement Subnautica 2 might be out this 12 months – which the studio says is not true. “Early Access is not intended for release in 2024,” Unknown Worlds explains, “but we plan to share a lot more information later this year”. “Thanks for keeping an eye out for any news about our progress on the next game,” it added. “We’re so excited to show you what we’ve been working on and hope that you love it as much as we do.”

Unknown Worlds – which was acquired by PUBG firm Krafton in 2021 – at present has two confirmed initiatives within the works: Subnautica 2 and tabletop-inspired tactical battler Moonbreaker, which bought its 1.0 replace at the beginning of February following 4 months of Steam early entry. That game was initially supposed to characteristic loot containers, a battle go, digital forex, and a premium in-game store, however Unknown Worlds walked again on these plans in October 2023 after “reading and evaluating” participant suggestions – a welcome reversal, given Eurogamer’s Robert Purchese had some good issues to say about Moonbreaker outdoors of its monetisation when he performed it final 12 months.