Publisher Krafton reports that Subnautica 2 has surpassed five million units sold across PC and Xbox Series S/X since its early access launch. The milestone comes alongside new financial disclosures and corporate restructuring at developer Unknown Worlds.
Quick Facts
- Sales: Over 5 million units sold during early access on PC and Xbox Series S/X.
- Publisher: Krafton (publishing Unknown Worlds' survival game).
- New Players: Approximately half of the player base did not play the original Subnautica or Subnautica: Below Zero.
Krafton Eyes Expansion and Future Franchises
Speaking during the latest quarter-year financial reports, head of investor relations Sophie Lee stated that Krafton views Subnautica 2's performance as confirmation of its potential to become the company's "second franchise IP" alongside PUBG. Executives outlined ambitions to scale up the intellectual property with a long-term perspective, suggesting future merchandise and cross-media opportunities.
The financial report follows a tumultuous period behind the scenes. Krafton recently agreed to pay a massive earn-out to Unknown Worlds following a courtroom battle where a judge found the publisher guilty of wrongfully usurping control from ousted studio executives, who have since regained control of the company.
Co-op Mode Drives New Player Influx
According to CEO Changhan Kim, roughly half of the players jumping into Subnautica 2 never played the original game or Subnautica: Below Zero. Krafton attributes this influx directly to the inclusion of co-op functionality.
The addition of multiplayer was controversial prior to release, with returning fans expressing concern that shifting focus toward co-op would dilute the solo survival experience. However, early reception indicates Unknown Worlds managed to preserve the core gameplay of the original while expanding its reach to new user groups.