Subnautica 2 Drama Explodes: Ousted Dev Actually Working on Subnautica Movie, Lawsuit Claims

Subnautica 2 has just been hit with a major wave—and no, it’s not an oceanic creature from below. A revealing lawsuit alleges that a former creative lead behind the beloved survival franchise wasn’t just taking a break to “focus on a personal project,” as publisher Krafton calmly put it. Instead, he was reportedly developing a full-blown Subnautica movie. If true, this shakes up everything we’ve been told—and calls into question who owns what in the burgeoning universe of Subnautica 2.

The Deep Rift Between Krafton and Unknown Worlds’ Ex-Chief

In what’s easily one of 2025’s most eyebrow-raising behind-the-scenes gaming bust-ups, a fresh lawsuit has surfaced around the development of Subnautica 2, the follow-up to Unknown Worlds’ hit sci-fi marine survival game. The complaint alleges that the game’s former creative director—ousted by Krafton earlier this year—wasn’t simply retreating into personal cinema ventures as Krafton previously told the press.

Nope. According to the filing, the developer was involved in making a Subnautica movie, potentially positioning it as a transmedia expansion of the IP. This would supposedly have happened without Krafton’s official blessing—and that’s the core of the drama. Krafton maintains they let the director go professionally, stressing he had switched gears and decided to “explore a personal film project.” But the suit paints a different scene—one that looks more like a rights battle over who gets to steer the ship that is the Subnautica universe.

Krafton’s control over Subnautica 2—especially with its pivot to cooperative multiplayer and ongoing live service elements—was already raising conservative fan eyebrows. Now, the idea that a Subnautica movie was secretly in development without the IP holder’s involvement? That’s the stuff of lawsuits, indeed.

What This Means for Subnautica 2 (and Its Movie Potential)

If you’re a hardcore Subnautica fan, this latest fallout puts a rather murky depth charge under the game’s future. Subnautica has remained one of the most atmospheric single-player survival stories in gaming since its original 2018 release. Its tension-heavy underwater exploration, mixed with the eerie unknown of its alien ocean world, brought a unique storytelling experience no other survival game quite nailed.

With Subnautica 2, the plan has shifted toward a multiplayer structure with live-service features, reportedly targeting co-op survival fans and those invested in shared-progress gameplay loops. It’s launching across major platforms, including PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, but now its development is marred by this IP-sharing spat.

The lawsuit’s implications go beyond legal drama. If it turns out the former lead was spearheading a Subnautica movie under the table, then fans have not only been denied transparency—they may’ve been robbed of a potential narrative expansion the series truly deserves. Imagine the cinematic potential of Planet 4546B, the Leviathans rendered in absolute IMAX terror, or the eerie solitude of below-zero zones. That’s goldmine material for any sci-fi filmmaker.

This situation is particularly notable in gaming’s current climate, where adapting games into films has moved from risky business into critically acclaimed territory. From HBO’s The Last of Us to the upcoming Ghost of Tsushima movie, studios are finally doing game stories justice. A well-done Subnautica film adaptation could’ve been perfect timing—if it was happening through the proper channels.

Krafton, however, appears to be lining up aggressively for damage control. Rumours of tighter creative oversight on Subnautica 2’s ongoing development have crept out since the former lead’s removal. This lawsuit only confirms that more has been stewing beneath the surface than they let on.

And fans? They’re torn. Some argue a movie without official blessing is shady IP mismanagement. Others feel this secret Subnautica movie was possibly the most exciting development for the series in years, one that could have reignited interest from veterans who weren’t sold on Subnautica 2’s multiplayer pivot.

At present, no trailer or release date has been spotted—or confirmed—for this purported Subnautica film. It exists simply as a rumour wrapped in legalese, hidden beneath layers of confidentiality agreements and claims. Still, if this lawsuit snowballs, we might see more details surface—and maybe even proper studio rights change hands. Stranger things have happened in the gaming world. Until then, Subnautica 2 continues to hold a tricky place between fan expectations and studio ambitions. The ocean is deep in this one, perhaps deeper than we originally thought.