What did the judge order in the Subnautica 2 case?

Court ruling and immediate consequences

A Delaware court has issued a ruling that restores the leadership team at Unknown Worlds, the developer of the long‑awaited Subnautica 2, and specifically ordered the reinstatement of the studio’s ousted CEO. The judge concluded that the publisher’s removal of the executives was improper and that control of certain company decisions should be returned to the original leadership.

The judgement also criticised parts of the publisher’s legal strategy, noting the use of AI tools in formulating how it handled the dispute. As a result, the court placed specific limits on the publisher’s ability to proceed unilaterally, and it granted the reinstated executives authority over the game’s release timetable — including the decision to enter early access.

How this affects the game and the studio

• Release control: the developer’s original leaders now have the power to determine when and how the game moves into early access.
• Early access timing: the studio has signalled an early access launch in May, and the court’s order makes it clear that the reinstated executives can approve that move.
• Publisher response: the parent company said it is evaluating its options in light of the ruling and has indicated it will comply with the court while considering next steps.

Why it matters

The decision is a striking reminder of how corporate disputes can directly delay or reshape game development. It restores project stewardship to the team that built the title, which could stabilise the studio and ease tensions with staff and partners. But it also raises broader questions about how publishers deploy legal and AI tools during disputes, and whether courts will increasingly scrutinise those methods in the games industry.