In a fascinating turn of events within the gaming industry, the highly anticipated Subnautica 2 has prompted a ripple effect among other game developers, reminiscent of the release date shuffle seen with Hollow Knight: Silksong. This week, the creators of Outbound, another open-world survival game, made the strategic decision to advance their launch from May 14 to May 11 on both PC and Xbox. This adjustment aims to sidestep the massive wave expected from Subnautica 2’s Early Access debut, which has already garnered significant attention, amassing over a million Steam wishlists.
Release Date Dominoes
What began as a friendly maneuver has evolved into a cascading series of release date changes. The developers of Farm to Table, a restaurant management simulation infused with base-building and farming elements, have also felt the impact. They expressed their excitement for both titles but emphasized a desire for a more relaxed launch experience for their players. In a recent tweet, they noted, “We genuinely want our players to enjoy Farm to Table without feeling rushed between big releases.” In light of this, they have opted to open their virtual restaurant doors a bit earlier, now set for May 9.
While two days may seem like a modest buffer for a more leisurely dinner service, the decision reflects a growing trend in the industry where developers are increasingly mindful of the competitive landscape. The influence of Hollow Knight: Silksong is evident, as it previously compelled at least eight other games to shift their release dates, given its status as Steam’s most-wishlisted title at the time. Now, Subnautica 2 appears to be following suit, having claimed the same title as the most-wishlisted game on Steam since the beloved, albeit buggy, Metroidvania.
Interestingly, despite the rising prominence of generative AI in various sectors, the developers behind Subnautica 2 have chosen to steer clear of this technology. In a statement reflecting their commitment to traditional game development, they remarked, “It’s interesting technology, but it’s not something we’re using,” even as their parent company, Krafton, pivots towards an “AI first” approach.
