Update: Subnautica developer Unknown Worlds posted to their website to clear up some details regarding Krafton’s report. According to them, Subnautica 2 is not targeting an early access release in 2024, and the game will not feature typical GaaS factors such as battle passes or subscriptions. Instead, it will just receive regular updates as the two previous games have. They also reiterated that co-op will be entirely optional, and that singleplayer will still be just as viable of a play style. The original story continues below.
Original Story:
According to a financial earnings report from publisher Krafton, a sequel to the popular deep-sea survival game is slated for release this year. Subnautica 2 will reportedly also be a switch-up from the first title and feature multiplayer and a Games-as-a-Service (GaaS) structure.
Plans for Subnautica 2 were included on a slide amidst Krafton’s plans for 2024. According to the slide, the game is being built in Unreal Engine 5. It’ll operate under a GaaS model, allowing for seasonal updates and likely offering players plenty of ways to dump more money into it after their initial purchase.
Additionally, the sequel will feature multiplayer for the first time. While players can still explore the ocean in singleplayer, they’ll also have the option for 4-player co-op. This’ll allow them to explore a mysterious alien planet with their friends at their side, making for a less purely horrifying experience.
Subnautica 2 is slated to release this year, though Krafton did not yet specify a date. We’re hoping that the sequel retains all the magic of the original game and isn’t ruined by the shift in structure. It’s not uncommon for a big publisher like Krafton to acquire a smaller studio like Unknown Worlds and then guide them down the wrong path in an attempt to capture a trend such as live-service games.
We’ll be sure to update our readers as soon as we learn more.
Source: Krafton via GameWatcher
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