Krafton pledges to turn Subnautica into “franchise IP” after Subnautica 2 surpasses 5m sales in just 22 days

Krafton has achieved record second-quarter growth, with revenue rising 94.9% to $889.1 million and operating profit jumping 67% to $283.1 million, driven primarily by the exceptional performance of Subnautica 2.

The submarine survival game, developed by subsidiary Unknown Worlds, surpassed five million units sold within just 22 days of its May 14 early access launch on Xbox Series X/S and PC. The entire Subnautica franchise, including the original game and Below Zero expansion, generated approximately $160.2 million in first-half revenue. The PUBG franchise also contributed significantly to the growth, with year-over-year revenue up 25 percent.

Amid this commercial success, Krafton has pledged to develop Subnautica into a broader franchise IP, signaling ambitions to expand beyond the core games.

However, the game’s journey to launch was marked by significant turmoil. Krafton and Unknown Worlds’ former leadership team recently settled a lengthy legal dispute that included accusations of sabotage and delays. Krafton had ousted the studio’s leadership in 2025 and postponed the early access launch, with allegations that the publisher deliberately delayed the game to avoid paying a promised $250 million earnout. The parties have now reached a settlement that includes bonus payments to Unknown Worlds developers.

The settlement represents a conclusion to what was described as an acrimonious legal battle, allowing Krafton to move forward with its franchise expansion plans while compensating the affected studio team.

Krafton pledges to turn Subnautica into “franchise IP” after Subnautica 2 surpasses 5m sales in just 22 days

Sources