Subnautica 2 developers scramble to clarify their game's direction, emphasizing a lack of live service elements: "It won't have season or battle passes or require a subscription."

Earlier today, Krafton revealed certain aspects about the highly anticipated Subnautica sequel, which it later retracted amidst developer Unknown Worlds' efforts to address concerns from alarmed fans over the game potentially shifting to a "games-as-a-service" model.

A slide that has now been amended in Krafton's recent financial report sparked concern among the Subnautica community. It described the project as accommodating 1-4 players through cooperative play, with a "games-as-a-service" approach, and identified it as a major title for 2024. Given that Subnautica is cherished for its single-player survival focus without ongoing monetization practices, this announcement sent fans into a panic.

While Krafton was making corrections to its financial presentation, Unknown Worlds issued a clarifying statement to reassure fans. Below you'll find the full statement, but let me highlight a key excerpt: "No season passes. No battle passes. No subscription."

"The launch is not projected for 2024, but rest assured, we will be sharing much more information as this year progresses!

"When we mentioned 'games-as-a-service,' our intention was to convey that we plan to support the game with updates over many years, aligning with what we did for the previous Subnautica titles. Consider it an extension of our Early Access update strategy. No season passes. No battle passes. No subscription.

"The game's core will not pivot on multiplayer. Cooperative play is simply an added choice. Fans can look forward to a fulfilling single-player experience.

"We want to express our heartfelt appreciation for our dedicated and passionate community who hold the Subnautica series close to their hearts.

"Thank you for staying tuned for updates on our progress with the upcoming game. We are thrilled about what we're creating and believe you will share our enthusiasm when you see it for yourselves."

The swift shift from tranquility to turmoil and back again among the game's community in just a few hours is a testament to the fervor of survival game enthusiasts, which is especially notable given the genre's current widespread success.