Publisher Krafton has revealed ambitious plans to grow Subnautica into a major franchise, after strong sales and player data for Subnautica 2 suggested the underwater survival series can reach beyond its existing fanbase. The comments, made to investors, matter because they signal Krafton wants Subnautica to become its second flagship franchise alongside PUBG, potentially spanning sequels, merchandise and other spin-offs, despite the game's fraught development history involving a legal dispute with former Unknown Worlds executives.

According to Krafton's latest quarterly financials, Subnautica 2 has sold more than five million units since launching into early access, with roughly half of its players new to the series, having not played the original Subnautica or Below Zero. Krafton executives, including CEO Changhan Kim and investor relations head Sophie Lee, credited the game's co-op mode for attracting this new audience, despite it being a divisive addition among returning fans before release who feared it would divert resources from the solo experience. The company says it now plans to "scale up" the Subnautica IP long-term while maintaining game quality and community trust through to full launch.