Subnautica 2: immortal fish and a big bonus for Krafton

The recent release of Subnautica 2 has sparked mixed reactions among players. While the game has quickly reached a million-player audience, some users are concerned about design decisions from developer Unknown Worlds Entertainment, especially the invulnerable fauna in the game.

Player reactions

At launch, players were given the chance to explore the ocean of an unknown planet, but the ability to kill fish has been removed entirely. This is a major change from previous entries, and it has left part of the community unhappy. Players say the inability to kill fish breaks immersion and makes the experience feel less believable.

Although complaints about the immortal fish come from a minority of players, a recent Reddit discussion has received more than 2,600 upvotes, suggesting the concern is shared by a segment of the player base. One of the main points is that the game’s pacifist approach, where most challenges are not solved through violence, may not fit the survival scenario players expect.

Unknown Worlds Entertainment’s design choices

Unknown Worlds Entertainment has confirmed that larger creatures, such as the Leviathan, are immortal in Subnautica 2. The idea behind this design choice is to make the world’s ecology less "solvable," forcing players to adapt to their environment instead of relying on violence. This may be especially relevant in the game’s co-op mode, where groups could otherwise have made short work of large predators.

The criticism of immortal fauna therefore stems from players expecting survival and combat mechanics to be part of the experience. However, this approach is not new, as earlier Subnautica titles also emphasized exploration and avoiding conflict.

Krafton and the financial implications

Beyond the gameplay, there are also financial implications. In 2021, Krafton, the parent company of Unknown Worlds Entertainment, agreed to offer a large bonus if certain revenue targets were met. Given Subnautica 2’s strong start, with 2 million sales reported within the first 12 hours, Krafton now appears to be facing a potential $250 million bonus.

The bonus depends on reaching a revenue target of more than $69.8 million. For every extra dollar earned above that threshold, Krafton is required to pay $3.12. With a million players having purchased Subnautica 2, the target now seems likely to be reached soon, especially since the game is also available on Xbox Game Pass.

The discussion around Subnautica 2 highlights the complex relationship between game design and player experience. If the community continues to push back on the mechanics, the development team may reconsider its approach in the future.