Subnautica 2 planned for release in 2024, 4 player GaaS model using Unreal Engine 5

From GameWatcher: "Publisher Krafton, in collaboration with developer Unknown Worlds Entertainment, is actively developing Subnautica 2, slated for release this year on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X.

The sequel was confirmed in a recent financial earnings report for 2023, which contained a slide about the publishers plans for 2024, and included a listing for Subnautica 2 with the following details."

[Jin_Sakai]

“Subnautica 2 is being developed with Unreal Engine 5, adopting a Game as a Service model.“

Jesus Christ does everything have to be live service? These developers never learn.

[Jin_Sakai]

Edit: I loved the first game. Didn’t really care for Below Zero. Really happy Subnautica 2 will have co-op though!

[raWfodog]

In this case, their GaaS is only referring to regular game updates. “No season passes. No battle passes. No subscriptions”. It will still have single-player mode with just the option for up to 4-person multiplayer. Doesn’t sound too bad to me.

[Jin_Sakai]

Let’s hope they stay true to their word. Can’t wait to play this in co-op.

[cerberusofall]

If true this could be a total disaster for the Subnautica series. The first two games where developed as single player experiences and were relatively successful with that focus. Recently we have seen multiple examples how studios who specialize single player games, being pressured to produce GaaS style games (such as the recent Suicide Squad game), end up being empty and devoid of what made the originals such a success. I for one do not hope this is true, or there is a change in course.

[Inverno]

Who the actual fizzle asked for this??

[SimpleSlave]

🤣💨💩

That felt good. Anyways, what were we talking about, again?

[Dspdspes]

Found this on reddit:

Appending Subnautica Team's update to the top post.

"Hello Subnauts,

A few of you noticed some information shared online by our publisher, KRAFTON 🕵

While some of the news is exciting, we’d like to clarify:

Early Access is not intended for release in 2024, but we plan to share a lot more information later this year!

In reference to “Games-as-a-Service,” we simply plan to continually update the game for many years to come, just like the previous two Subnautica games. Think our Early Access update model, expanded. No season passes. No battle passes. No subscription.

The game is not multiplayer-focused. Co-op will be an entirely optional way to play the game. You’ll be able to enjoy the game as a single-player.

As always, we are so proud and incredibly grateful to have such a passionate and engaged community, who love the Subnautica games deeply.

Thanks for keeping an eye out for any news about our progress on the next game.

We’re so excited to show you what we’ve been working on and hope that you love it as much as we do.

– The Subnautica Team"

There is still hope.

[Ninver]

Source or it never happened.

[arkard]

https://www.ign.com/article...

[Ninver]

Thanks for the source. I was hoping it was the truth.

[Escamotage]

They should really focus on a Subnautica VR.

Or at least update the original Subnautica game to be VR compatible.