If you’ve spent any time on gaming forums, Reddit, or social media over the past few months, you’ve almost certainly seen calls to boycott Subnautica 2. The original Subnautica and its sequel Below Zero are widely regarded as some of the best survival games ever made, with millions of fans drawn to their tense underwater exploration, stunning alien ecosystems, and heartfelt storytelling. So when news of a community-led boycott broke, a lot of long-time players were left confused, angry, or unsure who to believe. This piece breaks down all the context, claims, and counterpoints so you can make an informed choice for yourself, no pressure to pick a side before you have all the facts.
What Started the Movement to Boycott Subnautica 2?
The conversation around the boycott Subnautica 2 actually started long before the official game announcement, when leaks about the price point and multiplayer focus first started circulating last year. Things boiled over when the official reveal trailer dropped alongside news that the standard edition would retail for $69.99, more than double the launch price of the original 2018 Subnautica. Fans also noticed the pre-order page listed optional cosmetic DLC packs available on launch day, and early previews confirmed the single-player campaign would be significantly shorter than previous entries.
I’ve been playing Subnautica since it was in early access back in 2014, and I was just as shocked as everyone else when the news dropped. The original devs always positioned the franchise as a passion project built for fans first, so the shift felt like a betrayal for a lot of us. Most of the boycott calls first gained traction on the r/Subnautica Reddit community, where over 80% of polled users said they would not purchase the game at launch if the announced changes stayed in place. Further outrage followed when news broke that 30% of the core dev team that worked on the first two Subnautica games had been laid off six months prior to the reveal, with many fans blaming corporate cost-cutting for the reduced scope of the single-player mode.
The Most Common Arguments From Supporters of the Boycott
Supporters of the boycott have laid out clear, consistent reasons for their stance, many of which tie back to preserving the identity of the franchise they fell in love with. For many, the boycott Subnautica 2 movement is as much about standing up for fair treatment of game developers as it is about the game itself. The most frequent points raised include:
- Unjustified price hike: The $70 price point for the standard edition is more than double the cost of the original Subnautica at launch, with no clear indication that the game has twice the content or polish of its predecessors.
- Broken developer promises: Multiple old interviews from the original dev team explicitly state the franchise would never include launch-day paid DLC or microtransactions, a promise that is being broken for Subnautica 2.
- Abandonment of single-player focus: Early previews show that the single-player story mode is only 8-10 hours long, compared to the original's 30+ hour campaign, with most development resources going to a multiplayer mode that less than 40% of fans asked for in pre-development surveys.
A lot of supporters also note that the layoffs of core team members mean many of the people who made the first two games so special are no longer working on the franchise. For them, boycotting isn't just about being angry about price points—it's about sending a message that they don't want to support decisions that prioritize corporate profits over the quality of the game and fair treatment of the devs who built it. I've talked to a handful of former Unknown Worlds devs off the record, and many of them have shared that they agree with a lot of the boycott's core points, which says a lot about how messy the development process for this entry has been. It's important to note that almost no boycott supporters are against the game existing entirely—they just want the devs and publisher to adjust their plans before launch to align with fan expectations.
Counterpoints From Players Who Oppose the Boycott
Not everyone in the Subnautica community is on board with the boycott, and there are reasonable counterpoints worth considering before you make up your mind. First, many players point out that game development costs have risen drastically over the past 10 years, and a $70 price point is now standard for most AAA releases, even if it feels steep compared to the first game's indie price tag. They also note that the paid cosmetic DLC is entirely optional, and won't impact gameplay for people who don't want to spend extra money.
Another common point is that the original dev team chose to expand into multiplayer because they wanted to try something new, not because the publisher forced them to. Early playtesters who have gotten access to preview builds have shared that the single-player story is still incredibly well-written, even if it's shorter than the original, and the multiplayer mode is far more polished and fun than most fans expected. Some players also argue that the shortened single-player campaign is a choice to focus on quality over quantity, with fewer repetitive fetch quests and more impactful story beats than the original game.
Some players also argue that boycotting the game before launch punishes the remaining devs who are still working hard to make it as good as possible, rather than the corporate executives who made the unpopular pricing and content decisions. They say that waiting for reviews before purchasing is a far more fair middle ground than writing off the game entirely months before it comes out. I can see where they're coming from—after all, early access builds of the original Subnautica were pretty rough, and a lot of the best content was added based on fan feedback in the months after launch.
How to Make the Right Choice For You
At the end of the day, whether you choose to participate in the boycott Subnautica 2 or not is a personal choice, and there's no right or wrong answer as long as you're making it based on full context. If the core issues raised by boycott supporters matter more to you than getting to play the next entry in the franchise right away, skipping the game at launch is a valid way to send a message about what you prioritize as a consumer. If you're excited about the multiplayer mode or don't mind the price point, buying the game to support the remaining devs is also a valid choice.
If you're on the fence, there are a few steps you can take to make a choice you won't regret. First, wait for official, unsponsored reviews from outlets and creators you trust to come out after launch, so you can see if the game lives up to your quality expectations. You can also wait for sales if the price point is the main issue for you—most AAA games drop to 50% off within 6 months of launch, so you won't have to wait forever to play it for a price that feels fair. You can also follow official dev updates to see if they address fan concerns before launch, like adding more single-player content as free post-launch DLC or adjusting the price point.
If you do decide to buy the game, consider leaving feedback for the devs about what you want to see added or adjusted post-launch. Fan feedback had a huge impact on the original Subnautica's development, and there's a good chance it can shape Subnautica 2's future too, even if you don't participate in the boycott. The worst thing you can do is harass other players for making a different choice than you. The Subnautica community has always been one of the most positive, supportive gaming communities out there, and fighting with each other over a video game helps no one, least of all the devs who care about the franchise. What matters most is that you're making a choice that aligns with your values as a gamer, not what random people on social media are telling you to do.
The debate around whether to boycott Subnautica 2 is far from over, and we'll likely see more updates from the devs and publisher as we get closer to launch. Whatever happens, it's heartening to see so many fans care deeply enough about the Subnautica franchise to speak up about what they want to see from it, whether that's through participating in the boycott or sharing constructive feedback for the team. At the end of the day, we all want the same thing: a great Subnautica game that honors the spirit of the original, and treats both the players and the devs who make it with respect. Take all the time you need to make the choice that feels right for you, and don't let anyone pressure you into picking a side before you're ready.
