*Subnautica 2*, the direct sequel to 2018's *Subnautica*, was first said to be in development in 2022.

Fans have been awaiting its release since, but a messy legal battle involving an embattled $250 million payout pushed the game back from a planned 2025 early access release. Part of that mess involved publisher Krafton, which bought *Subnautica 2* developer Unknown Worlds Entertainment in 2021, firing the studio's CEO as well as other members of its leadership team.

Now, a judge has ordered Krafton to rehire the CEO it fired last July.