Perhaps it’s simply playing it safe after all the fuss over Unknown Worlds’ Subnautica 2, which has ultimately proven worth it from the looks of things, or perhaps it’s a sign of changing times on the live-service front. Either way, the studio has decided to cancel development of the extraction spin-off of the popular franchise.

Expressing regret over the decision, the studio pointed to concerns about delivering an experience “that players could enjoy in the long term,” which is probably the most telling. This is a space with big names and equally massive reputations and player bases to compete against. With ARC Raiders continuing to innovate and keep its players coming back, especially with Frozen Trail out this October, we’d understand even a franchise as big as PUBG backing off from that particular fight.

Well, let’s hope that Krafton can now focus a little more on making Subnautica a franchise IP like it wants to. That’s a space where the waters remain relatively untested and ripe for the taking, if you’ll excuse the pun.